What’s New

Virtual NH Housing Toolbox Training Sessions

The NH Housing Toolbox is a collection of twenty planning and zoning strategies for housing production in New Hampshire Communities. Join NH BEA Office of Planning and Development for a series of virtual training sessions, where they will discuss the toolbox overall and do a deep dive on specific tools. These session will feature planners who have implemented these tools and can provide insights for implementation elsewhere.

All webinars will be held on Thursdays in June 2023 from 12pm to 1pm.

You can register here or by clicking on the webinar name below.

June 1 – Housing Toolbox Overview

Get an overview of the NH Housing Toolbox, each of the tools involved, and how to find the tools that are right for you.

June 8 – Housing in Nature: Open Space/Cluster Housing Ordinances

Cluster housing is a tool that groups housing in a development while preserving the rest of the land as open space. Learn how to update this classic zoning tool to meet today’s needs and to see cluster housing developments actually get built.

June 15 – Shifting Housing Potential: Transfer of Development Rights

With Transfer of Development Rights, you can direct new housing to areas that better support development while preserving areas with high conservation value. Learn how to pull off this complex strategy at the local level.

June 22 – Tax Relief for Housing: RSA 79-E

New Hampshire’s RSA 79-E enables local tax incentives for development and redevelopment of housing. Also known as the Community Revitalization Tax Relief, RSA 79-E also contains the new affordable housing focused Housing Opportunity Zone tool. Learn where these tools can be appropriated and how to use them effectively.

June 29 – Intuitive Zoning for Housing: Form-Based Codes

Form-based codes start with a community’s desired building types and create rules to enable that kind of development. Learn where it can work and how to get started.

You will receive a confirmation email from Microsoft Teams, which will include an attached calendar meeting that can be saved to your calendar (you may need to check your spam folder).

Can’t make it? These webinars will be recorded and posted to the NH Office of Planning and Development YouTube Page.

Information including links to previous webinar slides, recordings, handouts and resources can be found on the NH OPD PLAN Webinar page.

CommuteSmart 2023 Spring Statewide Challenge May 1st-31st

This May join the CommuteSmart Spring Statewide Challenge to compete with organizations across the state to reduce the most single occupancy car trips! Anyone who participates will be eligible for rewards and gift card raffles. To join the challenge create or sign in to your CommuteSmart NH account, update your profile information to include your current organization, and track a sustainable trip during the month of May. To learn more visit the challenge page or join now on our online platform or app in the Apple Store and Google Play.

CAPBM Transportation Service Provider Request for Qualifications

Community Action Program Belknap Merrimack County (CAPBM) invites you to apply for the FY 2024 CAPBM TVP VDP Transportation Service Provider Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to provide taxi service or wheelchair accessible transportation for non-emergency medical and other trips working under contract with CAPBM’s Taxi Voucher Program and Volunteer Driver Program. All trips will originate in Merrimack or Belknap Counties or the towns of Hillsborough, Deering, or Windsor with destinations within or outside this area. The purpose is to help serve older adults and people with disabilities in your community with transportation.

Applications are invited from licensed taxi providers or licensed, certified or otherwise qualified wheelchair accessible transportation providers.

All proposals must be submitted by June 15, 2023, 11:59 PM Eastern Time. All questions related to the invitation should be directed to Cindy Yanski at cyanski@capbm.org. The full RFQ, which provides more detailed information about this opportunity and application instructions is included here: FY24 CAPBM TVP VDP RFQ.

CNHRPC Regional Housing Needs Assessment

CNHRPC has prepared the draft 2023 Regional Housing Needs Assessment.  The draft RHNA can be downloaded here: Draft CNHRPC RHNA.  As part of the project CNHRPC worked with The NH Office of Planning Development, the eight other NH RPCs, and Outwith Studio to develop the NH Housing Toolbox.  The Toolbox can be found at nhhousingtoolbox.org.

To learn more about the project or to review the draft CNHRPC RHNA document please visit the project page. Central NH Regional Housing Needs Assessment.

Green Your Fleet Event at NH Motor Speedway & NASCAR Track, June 9

You’re invited to Green Your Fleet! (GYF) at the NH Motor Speedway on June 9. GYF is a full day event and demonstration spotlighting Alternative Fuels, Electric Vehicles, technology and infrastructure. Learn from fleet managers and industry experts how to transition municipal, commercial, and light-duty vehicles and equipment to biodiesel, electric, propane, natural gas, telematics and more. Attend for networking, lunch, a keynote speaker, panel presentations, vendor exhibits, an on/off-road vehicle and equipment showcase, and a thrilling ride-and-drive on the NASCAR racetrack. Contact Jonathan.M.LaBier@des.nh.gov for more info and register today: Learn More

Floodplain Management Basics for Community Officials Webinar

Join the NH Office of Planning and Development for an upcoming webinar, Floodplain Management Basics for Community Officials, which will be held on June 20, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM. The webinar will provide basic information and guidance about the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), FEMA flood maps and studies, community floodplain regulations, and the responsibilities of a NFIP participating community to remain in good standing in the program. Registration for this webinar is now open: Register Today!

Approved 2025-2034 CNHRPC Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

The 2025-2034 CNRPC Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) was approved by the CNHRPC Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) on March 24th and by the CNHRPC Full Commission at their meeting on March 30th.

The TIP is a culmination of work beginning in July of 2022 seeking confirmation of continued support for transportation projects in the current 2023-2032 NHDOT Ten Year Plan, and soliciting new projects for consideration in the upcoming 2025-2034 Ten Year Plan. Several new potential projects were proposed by CNHRPC communities, which were subsequently evaluated scored by the TAC over the course of the summer and fall. These projects and proposed funding allocations are described in the Draft TIP document and were forwarded to NHDOT on March 31st.

Questions and comments can be directed to Craig Tufts at ctufts@cnhrpc.org or Mike Tardiff at mtardiff@cnhrpc.org, or by reaching us at 603 226 6020.

2025-2034 TIP

Changes to RSAs Governing Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment Timelines

The NH Legislature has enacted several changes to Planning and Zoning RSAs that will impact how boards conduct business and timelines governing processes. Among these are the duration of time Planning Board’s have to act to deem an application complete and the consequences of missing such deadlines. Please see the summaries provided in the links below:

A description of the changes: https://www.nh.gov/osi/resource-library/legislation/documents/opd-nhma-hb-1661-1021-advisory.pdf 

A table comparing the revised language to the previous language: https://www.nh.gov/osi/resource-library/legislation/documents/hb-1661-summarytable.pdf 

U.S. Census Bureau Releases 2020 Census Demographic Data Map Viewer

The U.S. Census Bureau has released an interactive data map viewer for a variety of 2020 demographic characteristics. Be sure to zoom in to see county- and tract-level data!
2020 Census Demographic Data Map Viewer

CNHRPC Regional Transportation Plan Corridor Spotlights

As part of the RTP, eight regionally significant corridors throughout the region have been identified to examine closely for key demographic trends, recent and historic land use patterns, and specific transportation projects. Titled Corridor Spotlights, the draft versions of these can be seen below. Also available for viewing is a historical timeline of transportation development within the region. CNHRPC Regional Transportation Plan Draft Documents:

CNHRPC Community Profiles Have Been Updated

The CNHRPC Community Profiles have been updated with newly released 2014-2018 American Community Survey data! View them here! 

CNHRPC Member Communities