Photos of the Dover Community Trail site walk and tour. (SRPC Photo)
Public Input Opportunity:

As part of the Promoting Outdoor Play! project, SRPC has released a survey asking residents and visitors to identify their favorite recreation sites in the Strafford region. Simply visit the link online, add the name of your site, share why you love it, and drop a pin on the map with a photo - it's that easy! Visit the survey here; we can't wait to learn about your favorite places to recreate.
Planning

Principal Planner Kyle Pimental attended a meeting of the New Hampshire Coastal Adaptation Workgroup (CAW) outreach committee on Wednesday, Oct. 14. Meeting participants were updated on plans for the King Tide photo contest, a yearly event held to raise awareness about sea-level rise in New Hampshire.  

The term “King Tide” refers to the highest high tides that occur multiple times a year when the moon is in alignment with the sun and closest to the earth. These higher than normal tides often can cause coastal flooding, especially in low-lying areas, and are increasingly viewed as harbingers of what could become the “new normal” as sea level rises.[i]  

This year's contest will take place between Nov. 14 and 17, and encourages citizens to document the event in the Seacoast communities of Dover, Durham, Exeter, Greenland, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Madbury, New Castle, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, North Hampton, Portsmouth, Rollinsford, Rye, Seabrook, and Stratham. To enter, participants take a photo of the abnormally high tide, and then post it to Instagram, Twitter, and/or Facebook using the hashtag #KingTideNH2020. Those wishing to participate without social media may enter by e-mailing submissions to nhcoastaladaptation@gmail.com.

Learn more on the contest webpage, or follow NHCAW on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

[i] NHDES Coastal Program definition of a King Tide  
Pieces of Interest


Transportation
Senior transportation planner Colin Lentz attended two important events in Dover during the week of Oct. 12, both with a focus on community transportation options.  

On Tuesday, Oct. 13, SRPC staff took part in a walking tour of the Dover Community Trail with Dover Planning Department staff. This tour was also attended by Congressman Chris Pappas and Senator David Watters, and allowed City staff to share the trail's history, current uses, ongoing upgrades and future plans. During the tour, staff learned about the current Phase III trail upgrades. This includes expanding and paving the trail from Fisher Street to Central Avenue at the south end and creating a connection off of Fourth Street near Downeast Energy along the Cocheco River and behind the Beckwith park. 

On Thursday, Oct. 15, Colin joined COAST staff, board members, planners, and NH Executive Council candidate Cinde Warmington at the COAST headquarters. Participants conversed outdoors to keep a safe distance and enjoy the warm, fall weather. Discussion centered on the diverse services COAST provides, its recent service redesign, impacts on ridership from COVID-19, and new challenges with sustainable funding due to economic impacts under the pandemic. Also discussed, was COAST’s vital role in providing transportation for employment, healthcare, education, shopping, and recreation. The meeting finished with a tour of one of COAST’s buses to demonstrate new protocol for sterilizing buses and keeping drivers and passengers safe from COVID-19. 

Pieces of Interest


Economic Development
On Thursday, Oct. 16 Jen Czysz, executive director, virtually attended a presentation given by Joe Minicozzi, AICP and principal of Urban3. This presentation was the first of a series in NH to present the results of an analysis contracted by NH Housing. The study assessed the property tax revenues associated with different land uses and forms of development across 15 NH communities.  

Minicozzi's presentation used 3D visualizations to illustrate the data results and revealed the potential for improving the fiscal health of the 15 communities This statewide event provided an overview of Urban3’s analysis of property tax revenues in Berlin, Claremont, Concord, Dover, Exeter, Hanover, Hudson, Keene, Laconia, Lebanon, Nashua, Pelham, Peterborough, Portsmouth and Rochester. 

For those that missed the presentation, or would like a deeper dive into data for the Seacoast region, another presentation will be held by Minicozzi on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m.  

Portsmouth Smart Growth and Plan NH, and is presented by New Hampshire Housing.

It will be recorded for those that cannot attend virtually. To learn more and register visit the WHC's event webpage.

 Pieces of Interest


Strafford Regional Planning Commission | 603-994-3500 | srpc@strafford.org| www.strafford.org
October 16, 2020