BITS AND PIECES

A Weekly Update from the Strafford Region

Regional planner Autumn Scott presents on the Dover Equity Project at the Community Transportation Association of American Small Urban Network Conference in Manchester on Thursday, Aug. 18. (SRPC photo)

Planning

On Tuesday, August 16, SRPC held its first workshop as outreach for its Regional Housing Needs Assessment. The event, targeted at municipal planning staff and representatives, allowed SRPC to get important feedback about unique housing needs in each regional community able to attend. 

The event included a presentation on regional data and on the preliminary results of the public outreach survey, before SRPC staff facilitated three activities: two group conversations surrounding needs and goals, and barriers and means of implementation, and a mapping exercise. 

The exercise, using base zoning maps and clear overlays showing available buildable land, encouraged participants to mark areas for potential housing and note factors influencing housing placement. An important outcome of this exercise was conversations about regional collaboration centered around topics like sharing water and sewer resources and leveraging potential trail connections through multiple communities. 

SRPC also learned additional ways it can be of assistance to its communities through providing resources like one-pagers to incoming developers with information about the area. 

SRPC will be holding a second workshop in late September open to broader groups like real estate, developers, social service providers and the public. Stay tuned to www.strafford.org for more information. 

PIECES OF INTEREST

Connect To Protect: NH Coastal Watershed

Conservation Plan | Fall '22 Virtual Workshop Registration

Transportation

On Thursday, August 18, senior communications and outreach planner Shayna Sylvia and regional planner Autumn Scott presented at the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) Small Urban Network (SUN) Conference in Manchester. 

In their presentation, "Louder Now: Elevating Marginalized in Public Participation" Shayna and Autumn reviewed SRPC's equitable approaches to outreach, focusing in on the Dover Equity project.  

Shayna introduced the audience to SRPC, the documents that guide its outreach, and some basic approaches to ensuring equity in its planning and engagement.  

Autumn shared the framework for the Dover Equity project, that while not focused entirely on transportation, could be replicated for the purpose of transportation planning and outreach.  

A robust conversation followed the presentation, allowing SRPC staff to engaged with transportation stakeholders from across the U.S.  

View the presentation slide deck online. 

PIECES OF INTEREST

Temporary Bridge Closure on Route 202 in Barrington *Rescheduled*

'This is transformational': COAST to receive $7.7 million to build new facility in Dover

Economic Development

GIS planner Jackson Rand recently began working with the City of Somersworth on building out an online and interactive StoryMap with various historic locations throughout the City. The map will feature sites such as Station 319 and the G.A.R Memorial Building / Masonic Hall. 

The project is funded through a grant the City received from the National Park Service in its role as a Certified Local Government, which it has been designated as since July 29, 1989. 

The intent of the map is to highlight the City’s historic district and serve as an educational resource for residents and community leaders. 

This map will be finalized in the coming weeks, so check back to SRPC's ArcOnline site.

PIECES OF INTEREST

Exeter Community Walking Tour: Housing Hiding In Plan Sight

N.H. expands access to free online tutoring for students: Seacoast education news 

August 19, 2022