 |
SWRPC |
September 2009 |
| Commission Highlights |
Vol. 15 - No. 8 |
Southwest Region Brownfields Forum Scheduled
The Planning Commission's Brownfields Advisory Committee is hosting a Brownfields Forum: A Celebration of Success in Southwest New Hampshire at the National Guard Armory site in Peterborough on October 21, 2009 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The purposes of the event include describing how the Brownfields program can work for towns and property owners in the Region, and to draw attention to the successes and acknowledge the efforts of those involved in the SWRPC Brownfields Assessment Program since its inception in 2003. Those scheduled to attend include U.S. Environmental Protection Agency staff, NH Department of Environmental Services staff, members or staff of our U.S. Congressional Delegation, state and local elected officials, town officials, business and community development leaders, and other stakeholders. To review the Forum program, please visit http://www.swrpc.org/brownfields/102109%20Brownfields%20Forum%20Flyer.pdf. For more information, please contact Eric R. Smith, AICP of Commission staff.
DES Grants Awarded to Regional Planning Commissions
The NH Department of Environmental Services (DES) recently awarded a grant to each of the nine RPC's in the state. The grant awarded to SWRPC is to be used to fund four projects through June 2010. The projects include: 1) preparing an Ashuelot River Corridor Management and Implementation Plan; 2) participation in the development of the Contoocook and North Branch Rivers Management Plan Update; 3) providing assistance to communities with water quality related techniques contained in the Innovative Land Use (ILU) Guide; and, 4) participation in DES's efforts to advance, streamline and improve coordination in the environmental permitting process. All four projects are in their early stages. For additional information on any of these projects, please contact Lisa Murphy of Commission staff.
Road Safety Audits Completed
During September the Planning Commission completed three Road Safety Audits. Areas of focus include the intersection of NH 119 and NH 12 in Fitzwilliam; the intersection of Old Street Road, NH 101, and NH 123 in Peterborough; and NH 10 (Manning Hill Road), north of the intersection of NH 119, NH 78, and NH 10, in Winchester. Individual Road Safety Audit teams were formed which included staff from SWRPC and NH DOT, town officials, and residents to perform data analyses and field reviews. Individual reports for each area of focus have been submitted to NH DOT for review. These reports contain statistical and descriptive information as well as suggestions for low-cost alternatives related to improving the accessibility, safety and use of these roads. For more information, please contact J.B. Mack of Commission staff.
2009 Fall Commission Meeting Scheduled
The Planning Commission's 2009 Fall Meeting is scheduled for November 3rd at The Inn at East Hill Farm in Troy, NH. The program includes a social at 6:00 p.m. with dinner served at 7:00. Our featured guest speaker is John R. Harris, Director of the Monadnock Institute of Nature, Place and Culture at Franklin Pierce University. Register by October 23rd. Review the program announcement at http://www.swrpc.org/FallDinnerInv1109.pdf.
2009 Traffic Research Season
During September the Planning Commission successfully completed its 2009 traffic research season. This year 134 traffic counts were conducted for NH DOT in order to assist with understanding the flow and volumes of traffic in the Region. An additional 16 counts were completed for DOT and towns to analyze traffic speeds and vehicle classes. Counters were deployed in the towns of Chesterfield, Dublin, Francestown, Gilsum, Greenfield, Greenville, Hancock, Hinsdale, Jaffrey, Keene, Langdon, Marlborough, Marlow, New Ipswich, Peterborough, Richmond and Walpole this season. For more information regarding the Traffic Research Program, please contact J.B. Mack or Tara Germond of Commission staff.
RFP Deadline for Assistance with Innovative Land Use Guide
Fall Planning & Zoning Conference
The NH Office of Energy and Planning's Fall Planning and Zoning Conference is scheduled for Saturday, October 17th at the Mountain Club on Loon in Lincoln, NH. For more information or to register, please contact Michele Zydel of NH OEP at 271-2155 or visit http://www.nh.gov/oep/events/fall_conference/index.htm.
Ten Year Transportation Improvement Plan Hearings
During September and October, the Governor's Advisory Committee on Intermodal Transportation (GACIT) is conducting 36 public hearings throughout the state to receive input on projects for inclusion in New Hampshire's 2011-2020 Ten Year Transportation Improvement Plan (TYP). A hearing was conducted in Keene on September 30th. Remaining hearings in the Southwest Region are as follows:
- October 14th, 8:00 a.m., Alstead Town Offices Conference Room, 15 Mechanic Street
- October 29th, 6:30 p.m., Peterborough Town Hall, Upper Hall, 1 Grove Street
For more information about the GACIT hearings, please contact J. B. Mack of Commission staff.
|
|
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
|
Check out the