Bits and Pieces: A Weekly Update from the Strafford Region

A coastal area of Durham on Great Bay at Adams Point (Photo credit: Chris Nevins, @flyingsig)

Planning

Principal regional planner, Kyle Pimental, attended a meeting with the Durham Leadership Team on Tuesday, Feb. 16. The Leadership Team is made up of various department heads from the different municipal offices and departments.

The meeting was requested by the Town to gain a better understanding of the New Hampshire Coastal Flood Risk Summary Guidance. The guidance provides science-based and user-informed guiding principles and a step-by-step approach for incorporating the updated coastal flood risk projections into private, local, state, and federal projects, including planning, regulatory, and site-specific efforts. Nathalie Morison DiGeronimo, Resilience Project Manager at the NHDES Coastal Program, explained how the guidance can be used for planning purposes and provided a local example of how the guidance was used to inform design decisions for a small bridge replacement project at Wagon Hill.

Following Nathalie's presentation, Kyle updated the Leadership Team on the progress of the Climate Adaptation Chapter, which is being drafted by SRPC and colleagues at UNH Extension and NH Seagrant. This is a new chapter and is intended to be included into the town's master plan. Kyle addressed how the flood guidance will be linked and included as actions in the plan for the town to consider.

For more information on the Durham Climate Adaptation Chapter contact Kyle Pimental . For more information on the New Hampshire Coastal Flood Risk Summary Guidance contact Nathalie Morison DiGeronimo.

Pieces of Interest

LCHIP Announces 2021 Grant Round

The Crow's Nest: Winter 2021 [NH Coastal Adaptation Workgroup Newsletter]

Transportation

On Wednesday, Feb. 18, Strafford Metropolitan Planning Organization staff launched the public comment period for its draft updates to the 2021-2024 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the 2021-2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan. The TIP is a prioritized list of federal and state funded regional transportation projects, like intersection safety improvements to the US 4/NH 152 intersection on the Northwood/Nottingham line, or constructing all electronic tolling at Dover and Rochester Tolls.

In line with the TIP update, Strafford MPO must also update its Metropolitan Transportation Plan to incorporate the TIP. Following the approval of both documents, Strafford MPO will continue making update to its MTP, to be finalized in spring 2021.

To allow for public input on both documents, the thirty-day public comment period will allow for comments and questions to be send to senior transportation planner Colin Lentz at clentz@strafford.org.

A public hearing will take place on Friday, March 19 at 9 a.m. via Zoom. This meeting is being held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with the Strafford MPO Public Participation Plan and state requirements. Those interested can join using the zoom info below:

Online Access: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83329379249

Meeting ID: 833 2937 9249

Telephone-only Access: 1-646-558-8656

If anybody has a problem accessing the meeting or needs special arrangements, please email clentz@strafford.org. The documents are available on the SRPC website and the Rochester, Somersworth, and Dover Public libraries. Copies can be sent to interested parties upon request.

Pieces of Interest

Check out NHDOT's new website!

NH Primary Source: Pappas rolls out infrastructure plan after being named to transportation panel

Economic Development

Strafford Economic Development District (EDD) recently opened its project solicitation process for the ongoing update to its Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). Each CEDS update includes a priority project list consisting of projects that promote economic development throughout Strafford EDD's communities and region. Projects listed under this section of the CEDS ensure regional communities and non-profits eligibility to receive funding for implementation from the Economic Development Administration.

The form for submitting projects can be found online here. Strafford EDD staff are asking that the forms be submitted to senior regional planner James Burdin by Mar. 5. They can be emailed to jburdin@strafford.org. Questions can also be directed to James.

For Nottingham, Northwood and Newmarket, which are in the Strafford Regional Planning Commission's planning region but not in the EDD region, project can be submitted to Regional Economic Development Center (REDC). REDC is running its project solicitation through Mar. 12. Their form can be found here.

For more information, or for assistance with filling out the form, contact James.

Pieces of Interest

New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority Consolidated Plan Survey

NNECAPA Webinar Series: Main Street After COVID-19: What Do Downtowns Need to Adapt?

Strafford Regional Planning Commission | 603-994-3500 | srpc@strafford.org| www.strafford.org

Feb. 19, 2021