11th Annual Spring Planning and Zoning Conference

The NH Office of Energy and Planning (formerly the Office of State Planning) held its 11th annual planning and zoning conference on Saturday, May 8, 2004, at the Center of New Hampshire in Manchester.

The conference was attended by over 350 planning board members, zoning board members, conservation commissioners, historic district commissioners and other local officials and professionals involved with land use regulation from all around the state.

20 different sessions were held during the morning until mid after noon covering such topics as "the basics" for planning and zoning board members, legal update, master planning, community visioning, building codes, shoreland protection, groundwater supplies, the National Flood Insurance Program, smart growth, wildlife conservation, historic preservation and dealing with big box retailing.

30 volunteer planners, lawyers, local officials and others gave up their time to present sessions. The cost for participants was $20 pp, which covered use of the facility, lunch and session materials. Handout materials can be downloaded from the new OEP website: www.nh.gov/oep/programs/MRPA/PastConferenceInformation.htm

OEP Director MaryAnn Manoogian opened the conference with brief welcoming remarks. This was the first year the conference was held in Manchester. It has previously been held at the New Hampshire Community Technical College in Concord but each year many people had to be turned away due to the limited space at the facility.

Plans are underway now for the fall conference which is usually smaller and based on a single topic. Last year the fall conference was focused on the basics for land use board members and was held in the newly renovated Boyd Hall at Plymouth State University. We are looking to hold the conference north of Concord again this fall.