May 13, 2022
STRAFFORD REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION NEWSLETTER
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Cinnamon Bay in St. John (Photo Courtesy of Shayna Sylvia)
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Greetings,
I'm back from a beautiful vacation on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and I brought back with me some beautiful weather for you all to enjoy! But in all seriousness, we have some lovely, warm days to look forward to this weekend. I'm already beginning to plan my summer with lots of camping, staking out new spots to kayak and getting ready to spend as much time outdoors as possible!
Here at SRPC we are planning our first in-person annual meeting since 2019, preparing for the 2022 data collection season to kick off on Monday, and finalizing work with New Durham on updates to water resource-related zoning ordinances.
In this issue you will find information on SRPC’s latest video, report, and map set; funding opportunities in our ‘grant corner’; GRANIT preparing to launch an updated NH Geodata Portal; a date change for SRPC’s upcoming Resiliency Roundtable; a save the date for SRPC’s Annual Meeting; planning events of interest; staff news including a a welcome to our newest employee and a thank you to our municipal record digitization interns; an update on the CommuteSMART Seacoast B2B Challenge; a final opportunity to take SRPC’s housing survey; public input opportunities related to economic development and active transportation; and community happenings.
Until Next Month,
Shayna Sylvia
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IN THIS ISSUE
SRPC's Latest Video, Report & Map Set
Grant Corner
GRANIT Prepares NH Geodata Portal Launch
SRPC Postpones May Resiliency Roundtable
Save the Date: SRPC 2022 Annual Meeting
Planning Events of Interest
Staff News: Welcome & Thank You!
B2B Challenge Week #2 Update
In Case You Missed It: Housing Survey
Public Input Opportunity: CEDS & Active Transportation
Community Happenings
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We don't have any pretty pictures to share this month :( |
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Video - April 2022 Policy Committee Meeting
The April 2022 Policy meeting was held as a dual meeting of the Strafford Economic Development District (EDD) on Friday, Apr. 15.
EDD business included a preliminary approval of the CEDS project list. Business of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) included approval of draft minutes, and a discussion on whether MPO staff should provide testimony on state legislation in development.
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Report - 2022 Data Snapshot
The Regional Data Snapshot contains a region-wide analysis of data in the categories of demographics, economic vitality, livability and quality of life, mobility and accessibility, and resiliency. It is meant to be referenced as a stand-alone document, or in conjunction with SRPC’s core plans, the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), and the regional comprehensive plan.
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Map Set - Watersheds
SRPC's GIS planner Jackson Rand recently launched a new standard map set for watersheds in the region. This new addition to SRPC's standard maps will complement the water resource maps.
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Recreational Trails Program - Due June 17 at 4 p.m.
The New Hampshire Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is now accepting applications for its FY 2023 funding round. Interested applicants must attend one of three RTP workshops scheduled in-person on May 18 and 25.
Eligible projects include maintenance and restoration of existing trails, purchase and lease of trail construction and maintenance equipment, construction of new trails, development and rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities and trail linkages. Applicants may be non-profit organizations, private groups, educational institutions, or government entities.
Access the application forms, learn more about the workshop locations, and about the program in general on the NH State Parks website.
Culvert Flood Risk Assistance Grants - Due July 1 at 4 p.m.
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) is now accepting Culvert Flood Risk Assistance Grant applications for the replacement of outdated, undersized, perched and/or degraded culverts that are highly susceptible to flooding.
The purpose of this funding opportunity is to encourage the replacement of high-risk culverts with better designed crossings that meet improved structural and environmental design standards and flood resiliency criteria. Incorporating these standards into culvert replacement designs will reduce flood hazards and risks to public safety, including culvert failure and road washout.
Eligible applicants include New Hampshire municipalities and non-governmental organizations. Total anticipated funding available for the Culvert Flood Risk Assistance Grant Program is approximately $1 million. Funds are made available to NHDES through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Applicants may request a maximum of $400,000 per culvert replacement project. A portion of the grant award may be used to fund non-construction related activities, including engineering and design, permitting, bidding/construction contract services, and project management and reporting, up to a maximum of 20% of the grant award. A match commitment will not be required for this grant program.
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GRANIT Prepares for June Launch of NH Geodata Portal |
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Over the past two years SRPC’s GIS team has collaborated with other Regional Planning Commissions across the state to create a resource that compliments GRANIT's NH Geodata Portal.
Expected to go live in June, GRANIT's updated portal will link to a statewide RPC hub which hosts available data, maps, and applications that each of the individual RPCs create, all together in one space.
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SRPC Postpones Upcoming Resiliency Roundtable |
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SRPC is postponing its Resiliency Roundtable meeting focused on, 'Protecting Our Local Food Systems', which was scheduled for Thursday, May 19.
This meeting will be rescheduled momentarily. Feel free to contact regional planner Autumn Scott with any questions.
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Save the Date for the SRPC Annual Meeting |
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PLANNING EVENTS OF INTEREST |
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Resiliency Academy for Small Businesses and Communities - May 25, and Jun. 1 and 7
Facilitated by UNH Cooperative Extension and offered in partnership with the NH Small Business Center, the three-session Resiliency Academy brings together small businesses and community leaders to work towards a resilient future.
The academy will focus on the intersection of small business and community resiliency and is designed for community leaders and volunteers, municipal officials, small businesses, economic development professionals and those interested in economic recovery.
The three sessions include one webinar (May 25), an online SBDC-led small business resiliency plan training (June 1) and in-person tours of your closest of three NH communities – Littleton, Keene and Somersworth – highlighting small businesses and community leaders practicing the many aspects of resilience (June 7)
Learn more and register via UNHCE.
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NH Planners Association Events
Field Trip to Franklin on Jun. 2 from 1- 5 p.m.
Join NH Planners Association for a Field Trip to Franklin, NH on June 2. This professional development workshop, which will take place from 1-5 p.m., will highlight revitalization in Franklin, including an update and walking tour of Mill City Park. An optional whitewater rafting trip has been organized in the morning, and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
2022 Spring Conference on Jun. 15 from 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Join NHPA for its first in-person spring conference since 2019! Session topics will include a law update, affordable housing, placemaking, and outdoor dining and accessibility.
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NH Listens Local Lunch Box: Effective Co-Facilitation - June 1, 2022 from 12:30 - 1:00 p.m.
Join NH Listens on Jun. 1, for a training intended for sharing skills and tips for effective co-facilitation. Attendees will learn how two (or more) facilitators can support each other by handling logistics, as well as the dynamics of a group, while keeping the event running smoothly. Learn more and register on the NH Listens site.
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Leveraging COVID-19 Relief Funds to Support an Equitable and Inclusive Recovery - June 9, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. - noon
Join the NH Fiscal Policy Institute as they explore the potential opportunities the State has to deploy COVID-19 recovery funds, granted through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), to support New Hampshire’s workforce, residents, and economy through three key policy areas: housing, caregiving, and education.
This virtual event will feature a brief NHFPI presentation and a moderated panel discussion, followed by an audience question-and-answer session.
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SRPC Welcomes Jane Tuttle
Strafford Regional Planning Commission welcomes Jane Tuttle, who started as a temporary records digitization assistant on May 3.
Jane, alongside records digitization intern Tyler DiStefano, will be visiting interested municipalities to scan historic and current paper resources. The goal behind this project is to create a digital network for each municipality, that can be accessed when employees need to work remotely. This came about as a new program in response to the Covid-19 pandemic as a key means to build community resilience.
When not at work, Jane enjoys gardening, computer games, and home improvements.
Please join us in welcoming Jane!
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SRPC Thanks Record Digitization Interns
Sarah Tazziz, a senior at the University of New Hampshire ended her position on April 7.
Aiden Toth and Jackson Shiebler will be working through the end of May, and Tyler DiStefano will be staying on through the summer to continue scanning efforts.
SRPC would like to extend a big thank you to the work of the interns, who collectively helped to scan over 4,000 documents to date.
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RECENT & UPCOMING STAFF MILESTONES |
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Kyle Pimental, principal regional planner will celebrate fourteen years in June.
Jen Czysz, executive director, celebrates four years at SRPC this month.
Stephen Geis, planning technician, will celebrate three years in June.
Megan Taylor Fetter, office coordinator, celebrates one year this month.
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Zuzana Duffy, economic development intern, celebrates one year this month.
Mark Davie, data collection intern, celebrates one year this month.
Autumn Scott, regional planner, celebrates one year this month.
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Update After Week #2 of the CommuteSMART Seacoast B2B Challenge |
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Employees can register their employer to participate at any point throughout the month by creating an account via the CommuteSmart NH web and mobile app (available on android and apple).
As of Thursday, May 12, the following teams are in the lead:
Small: Placework with 59 reduced trips
Medium: Seacoast Science Center with 40 reduced trips
Large: B2W Software with 116 reduced trips
X-Large: IAPP with 99 reduced trips
XX-Large: Lonza with 292 reduced trips
Great job to these, and the rest of the smart commuters who have collectively achieved these feats:
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Last Call to Take SRPC's Housing Survey |
In February, SRPC released its housing survey so that residents could share their housing challenges and successes. To date, SRPC has heard from over 300 individuals, and this important feedback will help shape an update the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA).
SRPC staff encourages those interested in sharing their housing story to fill out this important survey before it closes out at the end of the month.
Next steps for the project will include focus interviews with key stakeholders, informed by the survey results, a larger public input workshop, and then using this input to write the 2022 assessment.
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PUBLIC INPUT OPPORTUNITIES |
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Share your thoughts on biking and walking in the region! |
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Strafford Regional Planning Commission (SRPC) is developing a plan to improve spaces for active transportation, and needs insight from residents who benefit from trails, bike lanes, bike racks, crosswalks and other biking and walking infrastructure and facilities.
Active Transportation includes getting around by foot, bicycle, wheelchair, rollerblades etc. Think human power, not gas power.
With your help, SRPC's active transportation plan will guide development of non-motorized transportation facilities & maximize future investments for a safer and better connected region.
Share your active transportation habits and barriers, favorite places to recreate and ideas for improvements in the Strafford region.
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2022 Update to the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Out for Public Comment |
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The Strafford Regional Planning Commission (SRPC) in its role as an Economic Development District (EDD) is soliciting comments on adoption of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) 2022.
Comments can be submitted up until Monday, June 6, 2022, or at the public adoption hearing at 9 a.m. on Friday, June 17. Those with questions or comments should contact senior regional planner, James Burdin by email, phone (603-994-3500 x103), or mail (address in newsletter footer).
Those interested can view the draft document on the SRPC website.
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Dover High School
Presents “The Music Man”
Dover High School
May 13, 14 at 7 p.m. and May 15 at 2 p.m.
Enjoy Dover’s High School’s production of “The Music Man” which follows fast-talking traveling salesman, Harold Hill, as he cons the people of River City, Iowa, into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band that he vows to organize – this, despite the fact that he doesn’t know a trombone from a treble clef.
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Annual Branch River Paddle and Hike
Branch Hill Farm
May 21, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Join Moose Mountain Regional Greenways and Branch Hill Farm for the annual Branch River Paddle and Hike. Local canoe and kayak enthusiasts will enjoy the opportunity to paddle on the beautiful Branch River in Milton Mills, NH.
Due to its’ overwhelming popularity last year, participants will once again partake in a hike along the lovely trails on Branch Hill Farm passing through forests and fields back to the launch site while the kayaks/canoes will be trucked back from the upper end of Milton Three Ponds. The walk back is approximately 1 hour. Lunch will be offered to all the participants walking along the trail to either sit and enjoy or take with them for later.
This year’s guest speaker will be Nels Liljedahl, Outreach Coordinator for the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Nels will be speaking on what makes up a “watershed” and how certain activities on the upper reaches can impact the drinking water below.
Paddlers will need to bring their own kayaks or canoes and wear US Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices.
A $15 per person donation is suggested. There is no rain date and pets are not permitted. Those interested in attending should register online.
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