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SWRPC |
May 2010 |
| Commission Highlights |
Vol. 16 - No. 5 |
Planning Commission's Annual Meeting set for June 22, 2010
The Planning Commission's Annual Meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center in Greenfield, NH. Our featured speaker will be Dennis Delay of the NH Center for Public Policy Studies. Mr. Delay's presentation will provide an objective economic analysis and forecast regarding the effect the recession has had on New Hampshire and how our economy compares to other New England states. The program includes a social beginning at 6:00 p.m. with dinner served at 7:00 p.m. For additional information or to register, please contact Becky Baldwin of Commission staff.
Commute Green 2010 Kickoff Breakfast
To kick-off this year's six-week Commute Green promotion, the Travel Demand Management Advocacy Group hosted a free breakfast at Railroad Square in Keene on May 21st for individuals who commuted by bike, foot, bus, or carpool. Cheshire Medical Center distributed healthy breakfast items to individuals on their way to work, school or other destinations. Local community organizations and groups such as the Monadnock Cycling Club, Cool Monadnock, Bicycle Benefits, the Antioch University Green Bike Program, Contoocook Valley Transportation Company, and Vision 2020 were present to provide information on the benefits of green commuting. For more information on upcoming events, please visit: www.monadnockTMA.org or contact Tara Germond of Commission staff.
NH OEP 17th Spring Planning and Zoning Conference
Planning Commission staff attended the Annual Spring Planning and Zoning Conference on Saturday, May 8th. The day-long conference was held at the Radisson Hotel in Nashua, NH. Attendees included municipal officials and citizen volunteers from Planning Boards, Zoning Boards of Adjustment, Conservation Commissions, and Energy Committees. Planning Commission staff attended sessions on form-based code, energy efficiency and the community master plan, energy efficiency in historic districts, plan reading from start to finish, floodplain regulations in depth, and engaging the public in decision-making. For more information, please contact Tara Germond or Rebeckah Bullock of Commission staff.
New Hampshire Wildlife Action Plan Updates
The Planning Commission along with the Harris Center for Conservation Education and the Monadnock Conservancy, co-sponsored a workshop on May 6, 2010 entitled Taking Action for Wildlife. Emily Brunkhurst, wildlife biologist for the NH Fish and Game Department, discussed the changes that have been integrated into the NH Wildlife Action Plan and provided examples on the uses of the maps included within the Plan. She demonstrated ways in which towns could benefit from the information contained in the Wildlife Action Plan such as natural resource inventories and conservation plans. This is the first update to the Plan (released in 2005) and included changes to data on wildlife habitats, species locations, and more. Many of the data collected was from local residents who provided identification of a species with the location and a picture for verification. The Wildlife Action Plan can be viewed at: http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/wildlife_plan.htm . For additional information about the workshop, please contact Lisa Murphy of Commission staff.
Planning Commission Staff Attends National Transit Institute Course on Coordinated Mobility
Planning Commission staff recently attended a training session on coordinated mobility sponsored by the National Transit Institute in Providence, RI. This course examined creative approaches to resolve fragmented and/or duplicative transportation systems in order to create a more seamless and cost-efficient network with a customer-focused mindset. Participants learned about mobility management strategies, funding sources, resources and tools, and case studies of successful models. For more information, please contact Tara Germond of Commission staff.
Local Housing Commission Workshop
The Planning Commission co-sponsored an event with Heading for Home entitled Local Housing Commission Workshop on May 13, 2010 at Keene State College. Approximately 40 people attended including members of select boards, planning boards, zoning boards of adjustment, the business community, and local residents. Len Cadwallader of the Hanover Affordable Housing Commission shared his experience as a member of a housing commission and some of the obstacles that have had an effect on workforce housing. Other featured speakers, George Reagan and Ben Frost, both of New Hampshire Housing provided information to help the participants better understand the benefits of forming a local housing commission and the various roles that they can have within the planning process. For additional information, please contact Lisa Murphy of Commission staff.
SWRPC 2010 Traffic Research Season Begins
Starting in mid-May, Planning Commission staff began the 2010 Traffic Research season by performing traffic volume counts in Winchester. Over 140 traffic counts are to be completed this season in over 17 towns in the Southwest Region. These counts are intended to assist the NH Department of Transportation with understanding the flow and volumes of traffic across the Region's roadways. Keep an eye out for the SWRPC traffic research team, who will be out in the field throughout the summer. For more information on the program or on having a traffic count performed in your municipality, please contact J.B. Mack of Commission staff.
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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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