Central New Hampshire Regional Planning Commission

Central New Hampshire Regional Planning Commission
Name	Central New Hampshire Regional Planning Commission
Type	Regional planning commission
Headquarters	Concord, New Hampshire
Established	1960s
Region served	Central New Hampshire
Membership	Municipalities in Merrimack and Belknap Counties

Central New Hampshire Regional Planning Commission

The Central New Hampshire Regional Planning Commission is a regional planning agency serving central New Hampshire, centered in Concord and collaborating with municipalities across Merrimack and Belknap Counties. It provides planning, technical assistance, and coordination among local entities, interacting with state and federal agencies to support transportation, land use, hazard mitigation, and economic development. The commission works with town and city officials, county bodies, and organizations to implement regional strategies that align with state statutes and federal program requirements.

History

The commission traces roots to mid‑20th century regionalization efforts influenced by statewide initiatives and federal acts, engaging with entities such as the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, United States Department of Transportation, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Economic Development Administration. Early collaborations connected Concord planning staff with counterparts in Manchester, New Hampshire, Nashua, New Hampshire, and Laconia, New Hampshire, while interfacing with regional institutions including Saint Anselm College and Plymouth State University. The commission evolved alongside statewide planning frameworks like the New Hampshire Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act and state regional councils, and interacted with neighboring councils such as the Rockingham Planning Commission and Strafford Regional Planning Commission to coordinate cross‑jurisdictional matters.

Organization and Governance

Governance is structured around a board of commissioners drawn from member municipalities, county representatives from Merrimack County, New Hampshire and Belknap County, New Hampshire, and liaisons to state bodies including the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and New Hampshire Office of Strategic Initiatives. Administrative functions are led by an executive director who coordinates staff divisions—transportation planning, community development, environmental planning—while engaging with professional associations such as the American Planning Association and the National Association of Regional Councils. The commission negotiates interagency agreements with entities like the Federal Highway Administration and maintains compliance with state statutes administered by the New Hampshire Legislature.

Member Municipalities and Membership

Membership includes cities and towns across central New Hampshire, encompassing municipalities such as Concord, New Hampshire, Pembroke, New Hampshire, Bow, New Hampshire, Hopkinton, New Hampshire, Henniker, New Hampshire, Franklin, New Hampshire, Laconia, New Hampshire, Tilton, New Hampshire, Belmont, New Hampshire, and Gilmanton, New Hampshire. Municipal representatives, planning boards, selectboards, and city councils participate in commission committees alongside county commissioners from the two counties. The commission also interacts with regional institutions including New Hampshire Department of Safety, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, Mount Washington Observatory, Belknap County Conservation District, and nonprofit partners such as Granite State Future and Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission for programmatic coordination.

Planning and Services

The commission provides technical assistance in transportation planning tied to the National Environmental Policy Act, local master plan support influenced by precedents from Portland, Maine and Burlington, Vermont, hazard mitigation planning aligned with FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, and environmental review practices consistent with Clean Water Act implementation. Services include grant writing for programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, mapping and GIS support using standards from the National Geospatial‑Intelligence Agency, economic development assistance in coordination with the New Hampshire Economic Development Authority, and transit planning in partnership with operators like the Concord Area Transit and regional bus networks.

Regional Projects and Initiatives

Initiatives have included regional transportation improvement programs coordinated with the Federal Transit Administration, watershed management projects related to the Merrimack River, downtown revitalization efforts in Concord, New Hampshire and Laconia, New Hampshire leveraging historic preservation standards developed by the National Park Service, and multi‑jurisdictional hazard mitigation plans informed by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Irene recovery lessons. Collaborative projects have engaged the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food, regional trail development tied to the Northern Rail Trail, and downtown streetscape improvements modeled after projects in Keene, New Hampshire and Hanover, New Hampshire.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding sources combine federal grants from agencies including the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, Economic Development Administration, programmatic funds from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, municipal dues from member towns and cities, and project grants through the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and philanthropic entities. Partnerships extend to universities such as Dartmouth College and University of New Hampshire, regional development corporations like the Northern Border Regional Commission, and nonprofit organizations including Trust for Public Land and The Nature Conservancy for conservation and recreation projects.

Performance and Impact

The commission measures impact through metrics tied to transportation project delivery, hazard mitigation adoption rates, grant dollars secured, and implementation of local master plan recommendations. Outcomes have included completed road safety improvements funded through the Highway Safety Improvement Program, adopted multi‑jurisdictional hazard mitigation plans recognized by FEMA for mitigation funding eligibility, and regional land‑use coordination that supports conservation priorities identified by state agencies and regional land trusts such as the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. The commission’s work influences municipal decision‑making across central New Hampshire, shaping investment in infrastructure, resilience, and community development.

Category:Regional planning commissions in the United States Category:Organizations based in Concord, New Hampshire