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Municipal and Regional Planning Assistance |
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13th Spring Planning and Zoning Conference, Radisson Hotel/Center of NH, Manchester - April 1, 2006 |
TRACK I - PLANNING BOARD BASICS
- Session A. Getting Organized
Michael Donovan, Attorney & Planning Consultant, and Mayor - City of Concord
This housekeeping session is designed for new planning board members, or those who want a refresher course on the basics. The topics under discussion at this session include rules of procedure, conflict of interest, the right-to know law, and conducting public hearings and meetings.
- Session B. Roles and Responsibilities
Vicki Smith, Senior Planner - Town of Hanover
Planning, subdivisions, and site plans -- do you have trouble keeping it all straight? This session is designed with you in mind. Join Vicki for a review of the relationship between zoning, subdivision, and site plan review and last, but certainly not least, the master plan. Learn the fundamentals of these basic tools of the planning process and how you can become a more effective board member.
- Session C. "The Ins and Outs of How to Run a Meeting"
Steve Buckley, Esquire - Hodes, Buckley, McGrath & LeFevre, PA
Is your board following the correct procedures for public hearings? As the chairman, what is your role in conducting a meeting? Are you a new board member who needs clarification on hearing procedures? What is the most effective way to run a joint meeting with planning and zoning boards? Join Steve for answers to these questions that all land use boards periodically ask themselves.
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TRACK II - BASICS FOR ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
- Session A. Getting Organized
Peter J. Loughlin, Esquire - Peter J. Loughlin, Portsmouth (Session Materials ) (Land Use Cases )
Tim Bates, Esquire - Mitchell and Bates, Laconia
Here’s your opportunity to get some excellent assistance in your "role" on the ZBA. Peter and Tim will share their considerable expertise on how to keep your board’s affairs in order, including rules of procedure, the do’s and don’ts for conducting meetings and hearings, and the issuing of decisions and rehearing procedures.
- Session B. Roles and Responsibilities
Paul G. Sanderson, Esquire - Local Government Center, Concord
Variances, setbacks, nonconforming uses - learning the nuts and bolts of your duties on the ZBA is no easy assignment! Your struggle may be over if you participate in this session with Paul. The session will cover in detail the three major responsibilities of a ZBA -- administrative appeals, special exceptions, and variances. Some highlights include understanding the distinctions between the different types of appeals and guidelines to follow in decision-making.
- Session C. ZBA Role Play
Chris Northrop, AICP, Principal Planner - NH Office Energy and Planning
Join OEP staff and assorted other characters as we explore the ever-changing and often-confusing world of variances. What was the Boccia decision and how is that different from Simplex? Are there still 5 variance criteria? How do we vote on this thing? Put all that you learned earlier in the day to the test and be prepared to take an active role in determining the outcome for your "board!"
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TRACK III - ADVANCED PLANNING TOPICS
- Session A. Recreation Planning and the Resources in Your Community
Emily Brunkhurst, Conservation Biologist - NH Fish and Game Department
Shari Colby, Program Assistant - Land Water Conservation Fund, NH Division of Parks and Recreation
Shanna Saunders, Planning Director - City of Laconia
Come take a fresh look at recreation planning. You will learn how the NH Wildlife Action Plan can help you look at and balance natural resource needs and community needs; how this information can help you effectively apply for Land Water Conservation funds to accomplish your recreation goals; and how one community is doing it.
Session Materials:
- Session B. Legal Update
Tim Bates, Esquire - Mitchell and Bates, Laconia
Peter J. Loughlin, Esquire - Peter J. Loughlin, Portsmouth
Another busy time in the courts and legislature! Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from Tim and Peter about what’s been happening in our Supreme Court on planning and zoning issues and the impact of these rulings on local land use regulations. Tim and Peter will also provide a heads-up on some of the legislative changes that have occurred which affect the responsibilities of both the planning board and zoning board of adjustment.
- Session C. "Make No Little Plans" - Planning Essentials for Small NH Towns
Moderator: Kerrie Diers, Assistant Director - Nashua Regional Planning Commission
Richard Mellor, Conservation Commission Chair - Town of Rindge
Jeff Taylor, Jeffrey H. Taylor & Associates ("Master Plans" , Big Plans for Small Towns )
Melinda Willis, Hollis Selectman
How do you produce the essential planning documents and studies that your town needs when you have an all-volunteer board, no staff, no time and a limited budget? Our panel of seasoned planners & experienced board members will guide you through the "How To’s" of how they have developed plans and conducted studies with little or no outside assistance. Come with questions, leave with answers! Sponsored by the New Hampshire Planners Association. |
TRACK IV - SMART GROWTH
- Session A. Creating Housing and Keeping it Affordable
Ben Frost, Housing Awareness Coordinator - NH Housing Finance Authority (presentation materials )
Lisa Fisher Henderson - NH Workforce Housing Council (presentation materials )
Lisa and Ben will explore different means of promoting workforce housing within communities and the ways that municipalities can keep it affordable over the long term. This session will be of particular interest to planning board members who have been vexed by the problem of maintaining affordability of housing after the permits are granted, the structures are built, and the developer has moved on.
- Session B. Cutting Lots Down to Size - Good or Bad Idea?
Ross Moldoff, Planning Director - Town of Salem
Lawrence E. Morse, President - NH Soil Consultants, Inc., Newmarket
Do you have questions or concerns about lot size regulations? Join our two speakers for an in depth discussion on this topic. Learn the latest from Ross about what communities are doing to regulate lot sizes, shapes and building envelopes. Come listen to Larry lead you through a discussion on soil based lot sizing - what it is, how it works and why it is an important tool for land use planning.
Session Materials:
- Session C. Developments of Regional Impact
Jennifer Czysz, Planner - Southern NH Planning Commission
Cynthia Copeland, AICP, Executive Director - Strafford Regional Planning Commission
Sharon Wason, AICP, Executive Director - Central NH Regional Planning Commission
Determining when a development of regional impact can create conflicting points of view among neighbor communities. This session will examine what developments of regional impact are and how to identify them, the related State Statutes, and explain how regions and municipalities can work together to review these projects.
Session materials:
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TRACK V - ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES
- Session A. Mapping the Future - The National Flood Insurance Program
Jennifer DeLong, Principal Planner - NH Office of Energy and Planning
Jennifer Merriam, GIS Project Manager - Complex Systems, University of New Hampshire
What is the National Flood Insurance Program? How does it affect my community? What are the Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps and what can I do with them? If you have questions like these, come find the answers during a session on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) presented by Jennifer DeLong and Jennifer Merriam. This introductory session will provide an overview of NFIP, including history of the program, flood insurance, ordinances and regulations, permits and applications, and mapping and on-line map tools.
Session Materials:
- Session B. Planning for Renewable Energy Development
Joseph C. Broyles, Energy Program Manager - NH Office of Energy and Planning
Robert A. Danderson, Mayor - City of Berlin
Mark Adams, Planning Board Chair - Town of Lempster
Renewable energy: solution or blight? Opinions aside, renewable energy’s growing momentum is already posing challenges to New Hampshire communities. Informed consideration of renewable energy’s promise and challenges can result in better decisions about whether, where and how to accommodate renewable energy facilities. Learn from the experiences of two communities with different reactions to wind developments.
Session Materials:
- Session C. Reducing the Environmental Impact of New Subdivisions
Carolyn Russell, Environmental Quality Impact Planner - NH Department of Environmental Services
Jeffrey Marcoux, Watershed Assistance Specialist - NH Department of Environmental Services
This session will cover the key elements of Conservation Subdivision Design. Special attention will be given to strategies to maximize the protection of water quality and wildlife habitat under this approach. Community septic options, stream crossings, and protection of public water supplies will also be covered.
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TRACK VI - PLAN READING
- Session A. Plan Reading Basics
Sylvia Von Aulock, Town Planner - Town of Exeter
You’ve just volunteered for your local board (planning, conservation, zoning) and suddenly you are being asked to review engineered plans. Don’t panic, this session will help you learn what all those lines mean and give you an introduction to basic engineering terms. The class will go through a step-by-step process of highlighting plans to make them "readable." Please bring 3 or 4 of your own highlighters to mark up handouts.
- Session B. Beyond Basic Plan Reading and Plan Analysis
Sylvia Von Aulock, Town Planner - Town of Exeter
Interested in learning more about how to read and analyze plans? This session will review the basics and introduce you to some technical areas of plan reading. Site and subdivision plans, road cross-sections, profiles, drainage analysis issues, and other typical plan review items will be covered. The class will go through a step-by-step process of highlighting plans to make them "readable." Please bring 3 or 4 of your own highlighters to mark up handouts. (See the handout for Session A)
- Session C. New and Improved Site Development Regulations
Gordon Leedy, Director of Land Development - Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.
Bryant Anderson, PE, Project Manager - Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.
Robin Bousa, Traffic Engineer - Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.
How can planning boards improve their site development regulations? Join our three speakers for a primer on development review. Come hear about site development regulations and their impact on site design. Bryant will give board members information on what planning boards should look for from a review consultant and Robin will offer specific information on traffic reports and permitting.
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TRACK VII - HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLANNING
- Session A. Historic Preservation and Master Plans
Scott Bogle, Senior Transportation Planner - Rockingham Planning Commission
Elizabeth Durfee Hengen, Historic Preservation Consultant
Whether your town is starting its master plan process, or you’re a long time from the next version, the panelists will offer practical advice on how to best incorporate preservation goals in these municipal "road maps" and offer examples of recommendations from communities around the state.
- Session B. The Department of Transportation, Historic Resources and You
Bill Hauser, Administrator - Bureau of Environment, NH Department of Transportation (materials and DOT Plans, Reports and Studies)
Ansel Sanborn, Administrator - Bureau of Planning and Community Assistance, NH DOT
Linda Ray Wilson, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer - NH Division of Historical Resources
Kerrie Diers, Assistant Director - Nashua Regional Planning Commission
Transportation planning and mitigation continue to be major forces on the historic character of our communities. Take home information from this session on the rules and regulations that you need to know, tips on citizen participation, and data on DOT’s new focus on context-sensitive design.
- Session C. Blue Ribbon Heritage Commissions
Jeananne Farrar, Keene Heritage Commission - Keene Historic District Commission
Linda Frawley, Vice Chair - Belmont Heritage Commission
Jennifer Goodman, Executive Director - NH Preservation Alliance
James McConaha, State Historic Preservation Officer/Director - NH Division of Historical Resources
This conservation commission analogue is in use in about 40 communities around the state. Whether your community has one or not, this session will offer advice on guiding municipal planning and decision-making, survey and inventory work, building preservation and stewardship, and education and promotion projects.
Session Materials:
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