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SWRPC |
September 2008 |
| Commission Highlights |
Vol. 14 - No. 8 |
Annual Fall Planning & Zoning Conference
The NH Association of Regional Planning Commissions is assisting the NH Office of Energy and Planning in conducting this year's Fall Planning and Zoning Conference scheduled for Saturday, October 25, 2008 at the Mountain Lodge, Loon Mountain in Lincoln, NH. Sessions covering basics for planning and zoning board members, workforce housing, introduction to the Innovative Land Use Guide and tools for agricultural preservations will be featured. For more information or to register, please visit www.nharpc.org/conference.html or call 226-6020.
Communities Selected for Safe Routes to School Funding
The New Hampshire Department of Transportation and the State Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Committee have selected the City of Keene and the Towns of Antrim and Troy for grant awards under the SRTS program. SRTS is a federal grant program in support of pedestrian and biking infrastructure projects, as well as educational, promotional and enforcement activities to encourage students K-8 to walk from home to school. The Planning Commission anticipates another round of funding to be available late this year. For towns that are interested, now is a good time to start planning for a grant application. For more information, please contact J. B. Mack of Commission staff.
Innovative Land Use Planning Guide
Planning Commission staff will be providing an overview of the Innovative Land Use Guide at a seminar at the Harris Center on November 8, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The information presented will cover chapters from the following categories: MultiDensity Zoning, Environmental Characteristic Zoning, and Site Level Design. This session will represent outreach to community leaders in the Southwest Region for this project conducted in partnership with the NH Department of Environmental Services. Topics to be covered include density related land use regulations, access management, water resource protection and related tools. For more information, please contact Lisa Murphy of Commission staff. The event is free, however, registration is required. To register, please contact the Harris Center at (603) 525-3394.
Regional Economic Development Planning
The Planning Commission was recently selected for a grant award by the US Economic Development Administration (EDA). The grant will be used to assist with the continuation of the development of the Southwest Region's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). Match funding will be provided by various state and local entities to meet EDA requirements. The broad based goals of the CEDS include:
- Maintain a high-quality labor force
- Prepare for future development
- Balance housing opportunities with trends in income, employment and community character
- Strengthen the economic base
- Support climate for helping business to create a diverse range of employment opportunities
- Promote the concept of Regionalism
- Strengthen local governments
- Strengthen the quality of health services.
For more information, please contact Matthew Suchodolski of Commission staff.
Transportation Planning Projects Approved
The Governor and Executive Council recently approved three transportation planning projects for the Southwest Region. Road Safety Audits will be conducted for three locations with a history of safety issues that were omitted from the State's Ten Year Transportation Improvement Plan. The areas that will receive audits include the Route 10 Manning Hill area in Winchester, the intersection of Routes 12 and 119 in Fitzwilliam and the intersection of Routes 101 and 123 in Peterborough. The audits will be designed to evaluate low cost alternatives to improve safety at each of the locations. Another project is a transit feasibility study to extend existing transit service from Brattleboro, VT into New Hampshire along Route 119 in Hinsdale and possibly beyond to Winchester. The third project is an effort to update a Coordinated Community Transportation Plan for the Region as well as help the Eastern Monadnock Region form a Regional Coordinating Council to guide shared ride transportation options in the Region. For more information, please contact J. B. Mack of Commission staff.
Neighborhood Stabilization Program
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is making funding available to the State of New Hampshire to assist local governments in acquiring or redeveloping foreclosed properties that might otherwise become sources of abandonment and blight within their communities. The state's award of $19.5 million in Neighborhood Stabilization Program funding will be available through the NH Community Development Finance Authority. For more information, please contact Matthew Suchodolski of Commission staff or visit www.nhcdfa.org and http://www.hud.gov/nsp.
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Southwest Region Planning Commission
20 Central Square, 2nd Floor, Keene, NH 03431
Ph: (603) 357-0557, Fax: (603) 357-7440
General E-mail: admin@swrpc.org
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