Land Use Planning Services
NRPC staff is available to provide support to member planning boards in a variety of ways from reviewing draft ordinances and regulations, to providing guidance and suggestions about land use issues, and customized land use board trainings and resources.
Community planning includes Master Planning, as well as neighborhood plans, town center master plans, overlay districts, corridor plans, and recreation plans. Why work with NRPC? We know our communities and appreciate their unique character. We’ll work with you on a customized approach that considers the goals and priorities of the Board, the status of existing community regulations, and other concurrent planning initiatives.
Our plans are also distinguished by realistic and effective strategies for public outreach, plan development, and adoption—all of which can be scaled up or down according to available fiscal, staffing, and information resources.
NRPC offers contract-based planning support, otherwise known as circuit-riding, to communities that may lack the resources, expertise, and staff time to manage a variety of local land use planning functions.
Examples of local planning support may include:
- Assistance to applicants in preparing subdivision or site plan applications and/or review of submitted subdivision and site plan review applications
- Attendance at public hearings to provide planning expertise on behalf of the Board and Town staff.
- General consulting related to notice preparations, zoning, subdivision, and site location ordinance development, warrants for Town Meeting, and modifications to impact fee schedules
The Towns of Litchfield, Mason, and Wilton utilize NRPC’s circuit riding contract services to directly assist the Planning Board.
Planning as a region, especially for issues that cross municipal boundaries such as transportation, environment, economic development and impacts from land use planning, helps communities to grow into the places that they aspire to become. Regional plans are advisory documents intended to assist communities in developing their own plans and in coordinating with one another. Planning as a region, especially for issues that cross municipal boundaries such as transportation, environment, economic development and impacts from land use planning, helps communities to grow into the places that they aspire to become. Regional plans are advisory documents intended to assist communities in developing their own plans and in coordinating with one another. The Nashua Regional Plan was adopted in December 2014.
Through a compilation of relevant demographic and housing data for each of the region’s municipalities, a regional housing needs assessment examines existing housing inventory and future housing needs for people of all levels of income. A regional housing needs assessment assists the region’s municipalities in complying with the state master plan statute, and provides specific assistance to municipalities as they seek to plan for the anticipated housing needs of the region.
Through a compilation of relevant demographic and housing data for each of the region’s municipalities, a regional housing needs assessment examines existing housing inventory and future housing needs for people of all levels of income. A regional housing needs assessment assists the region’s municipalities in complying with the state master plan statute, and provides specific assistance to municipalities as they seek to plan for the anticipated housing needs of the region. NRPC’s most recent Housing Needs Assessment doubles as the housing chapter for the Regional Plan.
By integrating transportation, land use, and environmental planning, NRPC’s Integrated Services program, otherwise known as iTRaC, helps communities to deal with the challenges of growth in a manner that sustains community character and fosters a sense of place. iTRaC services include community-specific special projects, and resources such as fact sheets, guidebooks and trainings. Best of all, iTRaC services are available free of charge.
Vibrant communities with well-designed and aesthetic places such as neighborhoods, streetscapes, parks, and gardens contribute to a regional landscape that promotes and enhances human, social, cultural, and environmental needs. Properly executed, landscape design can provide environmental services such as shade, promote traffic calming, and even reduce crime incidents.
A professional NRPC site plan review will include a thorough examination of the aesthetic impacts of the overall design. A detailed review of the plantings will ensure they are appropriate with respect to the site’s hardness zone, sun and wind exposure, as well as sized and located as to provide shade, screening, wetland enhancement, and other services as dictated by goals of the plan.
Does your audience understand your planning vision? NRPC’s professional illustrations and renderings can bring to life the positive impact of your initiatives and proposed investments. These graphics can be designed as figures within larger documents or stand-alone, quick-reference products such posters or brochures.
