The 10 Principles of the Housing and Conservation Planning Program:

As established by Chapter 348 Laws of 2007 (SB 217)

1. Plan for and promote development that is consistent with the State’s smart growth principles established in RSA 9-B:3.
2. Develop a comprehensive growth and development strategy that integrates housing and conservation planning at the municipal level.
3. Identify and plan for the full range of current and future housing needs for families of all income levels, as encouraged in RSA 672:1, III-e.
4. Identify valuable natural and historic resource and plan for their protection, as encouraged in RSA 36-A:2, including the preservation of working forests and farmlands as provided in RSA 672:1, III-b and III-c, and critical or sensitive natural areas and resources, including water resources as provided for in RSA 674:2, III-d.
5. Evaluate conservation and housing issues on a community-wide, site-by-site, and regional basis.
6. Understand the interrelationship between natural resources and housing development within a municipality and the impact each has on the other.
7. Encourage higher density, compact development and allow for the infrastructure needed to support such development.
8. Encourage the reuse of existing properties, especially historic structures.
9. Integrate the growth and development strategy into the municipal master plan and implement the strategy through the local regulatory structure.
10. Encourage community input and education of citizens about the growth and development strategy and the need to plan for future conservation and housing growth.