Bits and Pieces: A Weekly Update from the Strafford Region 12/22/2023

BITS AND PIECES

A Weekly Update from the Strafford Region

The SRPC office will be closed for the Holidays on Monday, December 25, 2023 and Monday, January 1, 2024. The staff at SRPC wish you a merry holiday season!

Planning

Newmarket Site Walk

On Wednesday, December 13th Regional Planner Autumn Scott and Principal Planner Angie Cleveland attended a site walk along Newmarket’s downtown riverfront area led by Town Staff Bart McDonough (Director of Planning & Community Development) and Lyndsay Butler (Town Engineer), and in partnership with professionals from PLAN NH, Tiffany Tononi McNamara, Alissa Del Tufo, and Brian Pratt. This excursion provided a firsthand look at the challenges and opportunities and helped set the stage for a mid-2024 community design charrette. This event is part of a larger effort between project partners to advance a comprehensive update to Newmarket’s Master Plan.

As we look ahead to the 2024 charrette, this collaboration promises to foster a dynamic and inclusive planning process that harnesses the wisdom of the community. Through hands-on workshops, interactive sessions, and collaborative brainstorming, the community will actively contribute to shaping the vision for the Town’s waterfront. Stay tuned as we bring you more details through the new year!

For questions relating to the riverfront design charrette and how it relates to the Town’s Master Plan update, please email Autumn Scott at ascott@strafford.org.

To respond to the ongoing survey for updates to Newmarket’s Housing and Open Space chapters, please follow this link.

STAFF CONTACT

Autumn Scott

PIECES OF INTEREST

CDFA will host a series of online webinars in January 2024 for organizations interested in applying for the Tax Credit and/or Community Economic Development Capacity Building Programs in 2024:

January 5, 2024 from 12-1 PM: Understanding the Role of Market Channels in our Food System with New Hampshire Food Alliance. Register here.

January 16, 2024 at 10:00 AM: Tax Credit & Community Economic Development Capacity Building Program Overview Webinar. Register Here.

January 18, 2024 at 10:00 AM: Tax Credit & Community Economic Development Capacity Building Application Writing Webinar. Register Here.

January 23, 2024 from 12:30-1:30 PM: NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Chris Lent is presenting a webinar “On-Farm Solar” hosted by the Cheshire County Conservation District in New Hampshire. Register here.

Jan 25, 2024 at 12:30 PM: Thinking the unthinkable: Preparing for Climate Change at the Coast webinar. Register here.

Granite Post Article: Rural NH businesses can get cheaper clean energy from new federal funding

Energy News Network: New Hampshire seeks IRA grant to help low-income residents tap the benefits of solar

PAID summer '24 UNH Sustainability Fellowship positions open on December 22!

Transportation

SRPC Commissioners Take a Field Trip to UNH and Durham

Last Friday, SRPC Commissioners and staff were hosted by staff from UNH and Durham for a tour of sites around town and campus. Beverly Cray, UNH Transportation Services Operations Manager drove the group to several sites on one of UNH Transit's new compressed natural gas buses. Durham Director of Planning & Community Development Michael Behrendt and Town Administrator Todd Selig described the many ways the town and university collaborate to address challenges and plan for the future of the "town-gown". Ken Weston, Director of Campus Stewardship, highlighted UNH's efforts to fully update the campus Master Plan. Adam Kohler, Director of Energy & Utilities, described UNH's numerous energy innovations. Steve Pesci, UNH Director of Special Projects (and SRPC alumni), organized the tour and provided local and regional planning context.

This was the first Commissioner's "field trip" to visit sites where planning is happening in the region. Stay tuned for information about the next one.

STAFF CONTACT

Colin Lentz

PIECES OF INTEREST

Federal Highway Administration releases New Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) will permanently close the E-ZPass Walk-In Center (WIC) on the Spaulding Turnpike (Route 16), at Exit 16 in Rochester on Friday, December 29, 2023.

Economic Development

New Durham Development Committee on Taxes

The New Durham Development Committee has been working with Housing Navigator Courtney Grugnale on what topic they would like to tackle first. The most common theme they have come across is the impact that business and housing have on taxes. As a small town, they understand the need for affordable housing but want to better understand cost benefits from a property tax perspective. Many in town also have questions about how business development impacts community costs and tax revenue. The committee has decided to research more on these topics in the hopes of making informed decisions for their town's future.

STAFF CONTACT

Courtney Grugnale

PIECES OF INTEREST

Freakonomics Radio Network Newsletter: Should Public Transportation Be Free? It boosts economic opportunity and social mobility. It’s good for the environment. So why do we charge people to use it? The short answer: it’s complicated.

U.S. Small Business Administration offers 8-week virtual program to rural small businesses either directly in a recreation business or a retailer that provides gear or apparel. Registration is first come, first serve. Space is limited, so sign up today!

SRPC posts the final report for the Communities for Healthy Aging Transition Project

January 23, 2024 from 11:15 am to 12:45 pm: Recalibrating Our Economic Compass: Embracing Circularity for a Healthy Planet webinar. Register here.

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

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December 22, 2023