Bits and Pieces: A Weekly Update from the Strafford Region

BITS AND PIECES

A Weekly Update from the Strafford Region

Planning

On Friday, September 20, the SRPC HOP team presented an update on their various works to the full commission at their meeting. In New Hampshire, Housing Opportunity Planning (HOP) grants were introduced as part of the American Rescue Plan Act to accelerate work being done by cities and towns to address the housing crisis.

Senior Planner Natalie Gemma recalled the Barrington and Somersworth master plan updates, Senior Planner Mark Davie presented the findings of the Somersworth zoning audit, Principal Planner Blair Haney recalled the New Durham master plan updates, and Principal Planner Kerrie Diers presented the Newmarket master plan updates and Dover zoning audit. Wow! It’s been a busy year!

The SRPC HOP team is gearing up with some of the above communities and some new ones to apply for the last HOP grants to do more master plan and zoning work in 2025 and 2026. We are looking forward to it!

STAFF CONTACT

Jen Czysz

PIECES OF INTEREST

UNH Facilitator Training is Back! Next Session Wed October 2, 12 noon

NEARC’s Fall Conference: Sun-Wed October 27-30, Burlington, Vermont

NNECAPA’s Annual Conference: Mon-Wed October 28-30, Stowe, Vermont

NHMA’s Annual Conference: Wed-Thurs October 30-31, Manchester

Coming Soon: DES Climate Pollution Reduction Grants

2025 Local Source Water Protection grant applications due Tues November 1!

Not sure what this is? Contact Assistant Director Kyle Pimental

Transportation

Next week is the National Week Without Driving and the start of Walktober, making it the perfect month for CommuteSmart’s annual Busses, Bikes, and Brooms Challenge! The challenge returns this fall and encourages EVERYONE to think critically about how we get to school and work! When we commute sustainably, by walking, biking, carpooling, taking transit, or telecommuting, we can save time, expenses, and gas, and maybe get some cardio in! In planner terms, we call this reducing SOV trips, or Single-Occupancy Vehicle trips.

When you join the CommuteSmart Busses, Bikes, and Brooms Challenge, you are entered to win a gift card raffle, and as a Halloween extra, you can enter a second raffle when you commute in costume!

Compete with your colleagues and sign up to use CommuteSmart’s commute log!

STAFF CONTACT

Mark Davie

PIECES OF INTEREST

Free Walktober Walkinar webinar series! Starting next Thursday!

NHTSA proposes new vehicle design standard to better protect pedestrians (AP) | Have thoughts? NHTSA is taking public comments now. See blue “comment” box above orange “document details” on Regulations.gov

MBTA launches reduced fares for low-income riders (Boston Globe)

Economic Development

On Monday, September 23, 2024, the City of Rochester and local affordable housing non-profit Community Action Partnership of Strafford County (CAPSC) celebrated a grand opening of the new affordable senior residential units at the former Gafney Home. SRPC staff Jen Czysz and Blair Haney attended the ribbon cutting and heard from local officials who spoke at the event, including Betsey Andrews-Parker, CEO, CAPSC, and City of Rochester Mayor Callahan.

SRPC wrote the grant application for and administered the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds that helped support the project. Construction began during the pandemic which led to massive supply chain issues and rapidly rising labor and materials costs. The City, CAPSC, and SRPC scrambled to successfully secure additional CDBG gap funds to cover the shortages.

The renovated Gafney Home will provide 21 affordable senior apartments walkable to downtown Rochester. The property, formerly a historic mansion, was most recently used as an assisted living facility. The renovation preserved the mansion's historic interior throughout the first-floor communal spaces. Interested residents can apply today for available units; income qualifications are required. To learn more, go to https://www.alliancenh.com/gafneyhome.

(Top, attendees of the ceremony tour the home. Bottom, CAP Director Betsy Andrews-Parker speaks.)