Pubdate: Thu, 29 Aug 2002
Source: Foster's Daily Democrat (NH)
Copyright: 2002 Geo. J. Foster Co.
Contact:  http://www.fosters.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/160
Author: Brad Morin

MCINTOSH LAND USE QUESTIONED

Dover To Examine How Former Motel Became College Dormitory

DOVER - The McIntosh College campus on Silver Street, currently under 
scrutiny by police, has some land-use issues to sort out next week.

The city's Technical Review Committee will meet next Thursday, Sept. 5, to 
decide whether the conversion of the old Holiday Inn Express into a 
dormitory constitutes a change of use and should be examined by the 
Planning Board.

McIntosh also wants to raze portions of the old single-story motel and make 
room for new kitchens and classrooms for its Atlantic Culinary Academy. 
College President David McGuire has said those additions will cut down on 
traffic from culinary students who currently must travel to the Rutland 
Street campus for some of their courses.

It is unknown what effect, if any, Tuesday's police raid will have on the 
decision. Nine McIntosh students were charged with selling or possessing 
drugs as the result of a two-month undercover investigation by the police 
department and New Hampshire Attorney General's Drug Task Force. Chief 
William Fenniman believes the dormitory should be seized under federal drug 
forfeiture laws. McIntosh owner Career Education Corp. leases the property 
from McIntosh Properties LLC, whose president is former school owner Robert 
DeColfmacker.

The police department has a representative on the Technical Review 
Committee, but Fenniman declined to comment on the change-of-use issues 
until the school has a chance to make its presentation.

McGuire said he plans to go forward with the meeting, which is scheduled 
for 1:30 p.m. at the City Council conference room.

Dover Planning Director Steve Stancel said McIntosh came before the 
planning board when it wanted to build the Atlantic Culinary Academy and 
when it expanded the former Holiday Inn Express.

The school did not seek approval when it leased out the entire new portion 
of the hotel as dormitory space, but Stancel said it is unknown if Planning 
Board approval was required. That will be sorted out by the Technical 
Review Committee, which is made up of representatives of the police, 
planning and fire departments, city engineer, code enforcement officer and 
others.

Whether it is considered a hotel or dormitory, the use is allowed in that 
zone, Stancel said. After the city received complaints from Silver Street 
neighbors last fall, the current inquiry was started to determine if the 
impacts from the converted hotel were more than what was approved for the 
site, Stancel said.

"The use itself is allowed, now we have to look at the impacts," Stancel said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth