Marcia Moreno-Báez, GIS planner, reviews maps with the Barrington Conservation Commission.
( SRPC Photo)
Planning
Marcia Moreno-Báez, GIS planner, and Kyle Pimental, principal regional planner. met with the Barrington Conservation Commission on Thursday, Feb. 21. This meeting was the second of many, as the commission updates data from the town’s 2009 Natural Resources Inventory . The project is referred to as a natural resource assessment and uses GIS-based co-occurrence mapping as a framework for prioritizing future lands for protection. Co-occurrence maps identify key geographic areas where multiple natural resource features are co-located or in near proximity.

At Thursday's meeting, conservation commission members reviewed two maps that used different methodologies to decide the best suited approach, and discussed mapping criteria and priority weightings. Over the next month or two, SRPC staff will work with a subcommittee of the Conservation Commission to fine-tune the weighted scores and produce an updated map.

A draft of the compiled data can be found online . 
Pieces of Interest

Transportation
Jen Czysz, executive director, and Colin Lentz, senior transportation planner attended a roundtable event with Congressman Chris Pappas on Thursday, Feb. 21. The meeting was hosted by Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission, and was attended by staff from seven of the nine regional planning commissions (RPCs).

Congressman Pappas was recently appointed to House Transportation and Infrastructure committee and was eager to discuss regional and statewide transportation issues with planners from across New Hampshire. Topics included:

  • The need for a new federal transportation authorization bill in two years that includes a more equitable allocation of federal funds for New Hampshire.
  • Increasing support for non-motorized modes and other vulnerable users of the transportation network.
  • The importance of assisting communities and the state as they prepare for climate change.
  • The value of public transit for mobility and economic development .
  • Increasing support for transit services for seniors and people with disabilities (especially with the increasing senior population).

The roundtable provided a great opportunity for SRPC staffers to meet with Congressman Pappas, especially considering SRPC's goal of building stronger connections with state and federal legislators, and to engage Policy and TAC members in the legislative process. Moving forward SRPC will be working with committee members to review bills and initiatives that are important to transportation and regional development.
Pieces of Interest


Economic Development
This week SRPC staffers explored a variety of opportunities for collaboration in the region.
 
On Thursday, Feb. 21, Jen Czysz, executive director, and James Burdin, regional economic development planner, met with the Rochester’s Economic Development Commission, after being invited alongside Strafford Economic Development Corporation executive director Dennis McCann. Jen, James, and Dennis provided input as the committee discussed Rochester’s business retention plan.
 
On Wednesday, Feb. 20, James and Colin Lentz, senior regional transportation planner, met with economic development staffers from Rochester, Dover, and Somersworth at the COAST Bus headquarters. The meeting allowed for discussion on ways in which to incorporate public transit into economic development strategies, and included a presentation by COAST director of operations Michael Williams.
 
On Friday, Feb. 22, Jen attended the Investments to Sustain a Vibrant Economy conference, hosted by the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute (NHFPI). The conference highlighted the economic state of New Hampshire, and identified key areas within the state budget where investments can enhance the health and well-being of New Hampshire residents.
Pieces of Interest

Strafford Regional Planning Commission | 603-994-3500 | srpc@strafford.org | www.strafford.org
February 22, 2019