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Happy August!
I'm sure others are feeling the common sentiment of disbelief over the fact that it's already August. Unfortunately, one of the best seasons to live in and visit the seacoast also seems to be one of the shortest. Before we know it the leaf peepers will arrive in hoards and the smell of apple and pumpkin pies will be wafting from kitchens across the region. For now, I hope you will join me in soaking up as much summer sun as we can in the next month.
Here at SRPC we are busy planning for our September Commission meeting, assisting Dover with the climate adaptation chapter of the city's master plan, and preparing for additional assessments of potentially hazardous properties through the Brownfields program.
In this issue, you will find information on the release of the DRAFT Public Participation Plan, the latest round of the Municipal Technical Assistance Grant (MTAG) program, upcoming conferences of interest, a
trail workshop offered through the NH Urban Forestry program,
trainings through the Technology Transfer Center, and Community Happenings.
Until next month,
Shayna Sylvia
Communications and Outreach Specialist
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Strafford MPO releases the draft 2017 Public Participation Plan
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The draft 2017
Public Participation Plan
was released for public comment on Tuesday, August 1. The plan details outreach techniques the Strafford MPO uses to provide information and opportunities for feedback from the public. This document includes 'Strafford MPO In Action' features which exemplify outreach, meetings, and involvement processes conducted by the MPO over the past four years (since the last version of the document). We hope you will take a chance to flip through the plan and share your feedback! The document and public notice are located at
http://strafford.org/noticesDetail.php?292
. The comment period runs until September 14.
Contact Shayna Sylvia, communications and outreach specialist, at
ssylvia@strafford.org, or at 603-994-3500 for more information.
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Plan NH seeks applications for next Municipal Technical Assistance Grant (MTAG) round
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Plan NH has announced the continuation of the Municipal Technical Assistance Grant (MTAG) program in 2018! This program can be used to fund the review of current zoning and related regulations that pertain to housing, the re-writing of those regulations to permit a wider range of choices in home location and design, and the writing of new zoning regulations to support a wider range of housing choices.
In the last round of MTAG grants the City of Rochester was awarded funding. The award will be used to hire a consultant to study the impact of the current zoning ordinances on downtown development, and how they can be revised to increase density in the downtown region and encourage a wider variety of more affordable housing developments.
The 2018 grant round is now open, with an application deadline of September 29.
For more information, and to learn how to apply, visit:
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Save the Dates: Annual Planning Meetings Galore
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Lots of planning agencies and organizations are gearing up for their annual meetings in the coming months. Here are some meetings you won't want to miss:
The Northern New England Chapter of the American Planning Association (NNECAPA) will hold its annual meeting on September 7 and 8 in Manchester, Vermont. This year's theme will be
What's Popping Up In Planning. SRPC's own Nancy O' Connor will be part of a panel discussing performance measures and the Partnering for Performance NH project.
The Northeast ARC Users Group fall conference will be held from November 5 to 8 in Newport, Rhode Island. This conference allows GIS users who gather there to and learn the most recent technologies and mapping tools that are part of ArcGIS and ArcGISonline. More information is available at:
The NH
Municipal Association will hold its annual conference at the Raddison Hotel in Manchester on November 15 and 16. This event is geared toward municipal staffers, planners, and consultants. It features booths and multiple plenary sessions.
Learn more at:
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NH Urban Forestry Program sponsors workshop
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The NH Urban Forestry Program is offering 1-day workshops on August 10 and 17 to teach community leaders and volunteers how to design and build recreational trails that increase access to the natural environment. The workshops are geared toward park department, public works, municipal, nonprofit, and state and federal staff members. Discussion will focus on ways to maximize accessibility while maintaining the natural environment. The training-Creating Sustainable Recreational Trails for All: Trail Design, Construction, and Funding Sources-will be held at the Urban Forestry Center in Portsmouth on August 10 and at the Shieling Forest in Peterborough on August 17. Each session will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information visit:
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Technology Transfer Center releases list of fall 2017 trainings
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 The Technology Transfer Center recently released its list of 32 trainings for fall 2017. The courses, which begin as early as August 23, target a variety of audiences. Trainings such as culvert maintainer certification and beyond pavement preservation may be useful to public works and highway related positions, while programs such as "A Hard Road to Travel" are often attended by planners and other municipal staffers.
The fall program offers seven brand new courses including "Is a Good Road A Safe Road?" to be held in Barrington in September, and "Road Maintenance & Rehabilitation" in Concord in November.
See the complete listing guide for date and registration information, located
here
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Community Happenings
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Dover Dinner and Movie Series - The Princess Bride, August 8, at 7 p.m. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Head on over to the Cocheco Mill Courtyard on Tuesday, August 8 for the third in a series of four outdoor "dinner and movie" events. Buffet style food courtesy of Thompson Tavern will be available at $15 per person. Tickets are on sale for $11.54 (inclusive of online fees) and can be purchased here.
Woods, Water, & Wildlife Festival, Saturday, August 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Moose Mountains Regional Greenways (MMRG) will hold its 15th annual WW&W Festival on Saturday, August 12 at Branch Hill Farm (307 Applebee Rd., Milton Mills).
This family-friendly celebration of the natural world features fun and educational outdoor activities. New events this year include a Permaculture Garden, making sustainable Fairy Houses and Gnome Homes, and Here Comes the Sun - all about solar panels. The event cost $5/person, $10/family, and is free to kids 12 and under and to MMRG members. Learn more at http://bit.ly/2fbRtex.
Preserve The Harvest: Food Dehydration Workshop, Sunday, July 20, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
August is New Hampshire Eat Local Month! Join Seacoast Permaculture to learn how to extend your local food season with a safe, easy, energy-efficient way to keep preserved foods for longer. The event will take place in Barrington at the Living Land Permaculture Homestead, 219 France Rd.
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You may unsubscribe to this E-Bulletin anytime you wish.
Sincerely,
SRPC Staff
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