2024 Master Plan Update - Land Use & Natural Resources Chapters
In January 2024, Planning staff and partners from the Strafford Regional Planning Commission began kicking off updates to the City's Land Use and Natural Resources Master Plan chapters, through a project funded by a grant from the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership. Through March, the project team will work with the Planning Board and Conservation Commission to gain insight on implementation progress toward existing actions in the plan, generate new goals, and craft a vision for the future. The current Master Plan hasn't seen an update since 2010, and the last update to the City's Natural Resource Inventory occurred in 2016. This project seeks to generate an engaged planning process to identify and characterize critical and natural resources, build consensus among community members around management approaches, and create an ambitious but achievable and measurable implementation plan that balances community interests, integrates local and regional goals, and is based on the most up to date and best available science. Stay tuned for opportunities to participate in the project process and use your voice to create a sustainable future for Somersworth!
Natural Resources & Land Use Survey
On August 8th, 2024, the Natural Resources & Land Use Survey was launched. Upon conclusion of the survey, over 300 responses were received. Responses were used to inform the Natural Resources & Land Use chapters in the Master Plan. We appreciate the community's input and participation.
Draft Chapters for Public Comment
At the October 16th, 2024 Planning Board meeting, Strafford Regional Planning Commission presented the draft Land Use Chapter and Natural Resources Chapter. The public comment period closed on October 23, 2024.
Natural Resources & Land Use Chapter Adoption
The Land Use & Natural Resources Master Plan Chapters were adopted at the November 20, 2024 Planning Board meeting. Please see below for PDF links to the chapters.