On Tuesday, Jan. 14 Shayna Sylvia, communications and outreach planner, attended Dover's Land Use Meet and Greet event to present on the City's Recreation Master Plan chapter. The presentation included an overview of work tasks associated with drafting the plan, in addition to a summary of the outreach conducted and input received over the last four months.
This project has been unique in that SRPC staffers have tried outreach techniques new to the Commission, a lot of which stemmed from
UNH Cooperative Extension's Community Engagement Academy
. Staffers used a large chalkboard, sticky dot visual preference surveys, online surveys, an interactive sticker exercise for children, and produced graphic renderings for public art options in the city. The different types of outreach techniques allowed SRPC staffers to reach a variety of audiences.
Other important details covered in the presentation included the two new components in the 2020 update to the recreation plan, programming and public art, the partnership with the Dover Arts Commission, and the invaluable role the steering committee has played.
With the outreach completed, and most of the demographic and recreational data mapped, staffers are now geared up to complete the draft plan, which will go to the City's Planning Board for adoption in late winter/early spring.
For more information on the project contact
Donna Benton
. Dover city planner, at 603-516-6008.
Pieces of Interest
|
|
Strafford Metropolitan Planning Organization is hiring for a data collection intern for the summer 2020 field work season. This position provides an opportunity to work with a collaborative team focused on using technology and data to inform regional and statewide decision-makers. The successful candidate will assist with data collection, report writing, and map creation services.
The position is a 12-week full time internship beginning in mid-May. The rate of pay is $15/hour and candidates must be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program studying planning, transportation data management, GIS, environmental science, or other related fields.
For a list of job responsibilities and candidate qualifications visit the
SRPC website
.
Pieces of Interest
|
|
On Monday, Jan. 13 senior regional planner James Burdin attended a meeting with Strafford Economic Development District's (EDD) Brownfields consultant Tim Andrews from Nobis, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) representative Amy Jean McKeown and representatives from the City of Rochester at the City Hall Annex. The meeting was focused on the
Scenic Theatre and Salinger Block
, which are owned by the City and are being marketed for redevelopment.
Prior to recent redevelopment announcements, the City previously hired a contractor to assess the sites, which included a Phase I Brownfields assessment. A brownfield, as defined by the EPA, is "real property, where the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse...may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant." Examples of brownfields include former gas stations, mills or industrial buildings, dry cleaners, leaking underground storage tanks, or schools with lead or asbestos. "
With Strafford EDD now having its second Brownfields Assessment grant in place, it can assist Rochester, through its contractor Nobis, with conducting another Phase I assessment. Having an updated Phase I is important to keeping liability protections in place and can be provided to parties interested in developing the space.
The City is continuing to explore options for selling and redeveloping the building, which aligns with its focus on the redevelopment of the downtown.
For more information on Strafford EDD's Brownfield program contact
James Burdin
at 603-994-3500.
Pieces of Interest
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
