Community Planning
Master Plan Updates
Responsible Staff: Tara Bamford
There are several services that we offer in the field of community planning which include Update of Master Plans, zoning ordinances, specialized ordinances (such as open space, lighting, noise, etc.), subdivision regulations, site plan regulations and circuit rider contracts. This is not the limit of Community Planning Services NCC offers and if a community is seeking additional assistance with a service not listed in this section they should contact NCC for a description, quote and timeframe.
Purpose
A Town’s Master Plan is the visioning document for the future of the community which drives land use regulations and town policies. Although not a regulatory document, the town must have a Master Plan which correlates with the towns regulations in order for those regulations to be binding. The Master Plan should be reviewed annually for edits and updated substantially every five years. NCC works with towns on these updates and has worked on updates of the Vision and Land Use sections only , which are the only sections required by state law. NCC also has completed entire Master Plan updates, including the various chapters listed as recommendations under RSA 674:2.
Description of Work
Depending on the community’s needs, the Master Plan Update service can be designed several different ways. Sections and work to be considered for the Master Plan include the Community Attitude Survey, Vision Section, Land Use Section, individual chapters as recommended in RSA 674:2, and an Implementation Section. Below is a breakdown of the work involved for each of these tasks. It is up to the community to decide which work tasks they need assistance in completing.
Community Attitude Survey
Before updating a Master Plan, it is highly recommended that a town distributes a Community Attitude Survey. NCC has several sample surveys that can be shared with towns at no cost. These surveys should be sent out to taxpayers in the town and returned to a single point location by a set deadline. The results of the survey then need to be sorted and compiled. These results should give the planning board or Master Plan Committee a good understanding as to the vision, concerns, and ideas of the citizens of the town. This serves as the basis for developing new goals and objectives; the Vision Section. NCC can be involved in all or part of the Community Attitude Survey process.
Vision/Goals and Objectives Section
One of the most important sections of the Master Plan is the Vision/Goals and Objectives section. This section is compiled by reviewing the results of the community attitude survey, growth statistics of the town and region, and input from the planning board or Master Plan committee. The town can create an overall vision statement for the town but it is important to have a list of obtainable goals and more specific objectives and tasks to help the community implement their vision.
Land Use Section
This section includes two subsections, Existing Land Use and Future Land Use. The Existing Land Use section gives the committee an idea as to what is currently happening with development, resources, housing, and infrastructure so they can make a comparison with their goals and vision. The Existing Land Use Section includes a map of parcel level land use data and a write-up of percentages of current land use and current land use trends. The Future Land Use section matches the vision to what the future land use should be for the community. This section includes a map created by the committee of future land use locations, a report of what the most compatible uses are, and where the most appropriate location is and why. The Land Use section of the Master Plan in conjunction with the Vision Section should provide direction for the remaining chapters of the Master Plan and the implementation plan.
Other Chapters of the Master Plan
There are many recommended chapters for a Master Plan listed in RSA 674:2 including transportation, community facilities, economic development, natural resources, natural hazards, recreation, utility and public service, cultural and historic resources, regional concerns, neighborhood plan, community design, housing and implementation. A town can choose to do one or several of the recommended chapters listed under RSA 674:2 and may update maps in these sections as well. For each chapter, the planner will rely heavily on the committee, town reports, and any other resource information the town may have on these subjects to complete the chapter. NCC will use regional data collected such as traffic counts, the housing needs assessment, and the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy to develop these chapters.
Entire Master Plan Update
This service would include assistance with the Goals and Objectives Section, Land Use Section and updates to all chapters of the Master Plan including updates to existing maps.
Zoning Ordinance Update
Responsible Staff: Tara Bamford
Purpose
A town’s zoning ordinance is the regulatory document that implements the town’s Master Plan. It is important for a community to remember that zoning ordinance regulations are not binding without a well developed Master Plan that correlates with these regulations. A community should update or develop zoning regulations within a reasonable time frame of updating or developing their Master Plan, so that the regulations reflect the current vision and direction of the community.
Description of Work
If a town already has regulations, the process would begin by reviewing current regulations for compliance with the Master Plan and other long range plans for the town. NCC and the planning board would work through the changes needed to be made in order to bring the current regulations into compliance. The next step involves discussion of new regulations needed in order to comply with the vision and a discussion of how and where those regulations should be added into the zoning ordinance in order for the ordinance to be as clear and decisive as possible. NCC will also work with the town to create a zoning map which can be added into the regulations, clearly defining zoning districts and any overlay zones. The service will conclude with a minimum of one public hearing to discuss the changes made to the zoning ordinance with the citizens of the town and the importance and reasoning for these changes. NCC will also assist the town in preparing a warrant article for town meeting for the adoption of the new zoning ordinance.
Subdivision Regulations
Responsible Staff: Tara Bamford
Purpose
Whereas zoning regulations govern the location of land uses within a community and details related to lot dimensions, subdivision regulations govern the details of residential construction in any given area of town. Subdivision regulations legislate how a subdivision should be laid out taking drainage, street layouts and connections, lot size, and other attributes into consideration. Subdivision regulations, like zoning ordinances, should relate to the town’s Master Plan. A discussion of the types of residential communities and their layout that are appropriate to the town’s vision should be addressed in the housing and land use section of the Master Plan.
Description of Work
In order to update or develop a town’s subdivision regulations, NCC staff will begin by reviewing the town’s Master Plan and zoning ordinance. The key is to identify areas in those documents that are not covered under subdivision regulations and should be addressed. Second, NCC staff will review any current subdivision regulations that may exist for formatting issues, unclear language, and legality of the regulations. NCC staff will then go over any development issues the planning board is aware of that should be addressed in the subdivision regulations and discuss residential development trends. The final part of the work consists of developing a set of draft regulations or amendments to existing regulations to meet all issues brought up by the board and to bring the regulations in compliance with the zoning, Master Plan, and state statutes. NCC will assist the planning board at a public hearing which must be held before final approval of the regulations.
Site Plan Regulations
Responsible Staff: Tara Bamford
Purpose
While subdivision regulations govern the details of residential development, Site Plan regulations govern all non-residential development in town such as an industrial complex, retail store, or restaurant. Site plan regulations look at drainage on and off site, layout of access points, parking, height, size, lot dimensions, and other aspects attributed to non-residential development and its effects of the surrounding areas. Site Plan regulations should also be in compliance with the town’s Master Plan and zoning regulations.
Description of Work
The scope of work for developing and updating site plan regulations is very similar to the scope of work for subdivision regulations. NCC staff will begin by reviewing the town’s Master Plan and zoning ordinance to identify areas in those documents that are not covered under site plan regulations and should be addressed. Second, NCC staff will check any current site plan regulations that may exist for formatting issues, unclear language, and legality of the regulations. NCC staff will then go over any development issues the planning board is aware of that should be addressed in the site plan regulations and discuss commercial and industrial development trends and overall economic development in the town and subregion. The final work step consists of developing a set of draft regulations or amendments to existing regulations to meet all issues brought up by the board and to bring the regulations in compliance with the zoning, Master Plan, and state statutes. NCC will assist the planning board at a public hearing which must be held before final approval of the regulations.
Other Ordinances
Responsible Staff: Tara Bamford
Purpose
Circumstances arise where a town may seek assistance in developing regulations for a specific use or area. The purpose of these types of regulations is to allow the planning board to be more stringent in regulating a certain aspect of development and growth without making the zoning ordinance too strict. An example of these types of ordinances includes, but is not limited to, telecommunications, lighting, noise, floodplain, signs, aquifer protection, big box (large scale commercial), and ridgeline development ordinances. These regulations can be developed as stand alone documents, appendices of an existing zoning ordinance, or as a chapter or section of an existing zoning ordinance.
Description of Work
NCC would start by providing some sample regulations to review in order to examine the possibilities of what could be contained in the new ordinance. NCC staff would then work with the planning board on identifying the details of what needs to be protected, regulated and/or enhanced which has warranted such an ordinance to be developed. NCC staff would draft regulations and work with the board through the drafts until all aspects and concerns have been addressed. NCC will assist the planning board in a public meeting to discuss the details of the ordinances with the citizens prior to town meeting.