[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6087944,"mediaKeyId","2887339-00cc516c82f237b75197fbde0dcbcc18","parentId",2887339,"title","Plymouth planning board opens broad review of 2018 master plan as housing chapter work begins","audioSeconds",4768,"startMs",1321000,"endMs",6089000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2887339-00cc516c82f237b75197fbde0dcbcc18&start=1321&end=6089","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2887339-00cc516c82f237b75197fbde0dcbcc18/thumbnail_1321000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6087944/Plymouth/Grafton-County/New-Hampshire/Plymouth-planning-board-opens-broad-review-of-2018-master-plan-as-housing-chapter-work-begins","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6087944-c2cc17367034220217470cfc3bf1d6ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179259&Signature=hGiRZkUQjVUdW8gvIMQXQdTYNQGMIX4GtU2pQnOgxaK03VOv~yXoqu49i2xm8ZlWysuuoAozhTcU8ya2IyJg5RgkV8VbIrYzVJaUqkmMugiDVU2lNsH2wqkDK~dS2cRfF-bxuY3vqTaKtN0lLqVXgkkc3nWgCW6aGOC5E2lTFsYB92~OuPbXDkzxeu0l19ZkhGdVh3bktrNa2TU5QGUxvCUGS2oTkQPPrB65lH5-TIvy-xfQn7zmBFyI64r0i6DCbVhGG2RPFjNJI5a1T6PzYKrSfInTtLtC1sgljspqP1aVR5vDZzRcWBfqNUmpcDD3f1W25K39ZWAZ1u1~7tXnNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Plymouth, NH","date","2025-04-05T19:05:05.297Z","article","The Plymouth Planning Board on April 17 reviewed the implementation section of the town’s 2018 master plan and gave early direction to consultant Judy Barrett and Barrett Planning Group as they prepare a work plan for a funded housing master plan chapter.

Board members and planning staff said the housing chapter should reflect what was accomplished since 2018, identify priorities that were not completed, and test alternative scenarios — including lower university enrollment and different development paths for Tenney Mountain — as the town updates planning guidance.

Joseph (Planning Department staff) told the board the housing chapter work — funded through an InvestNH planning grant and led by Barrett Planning Group — should connect the new housing material to the broader 2018 plan. “You write it perhaps with an eye to the past, to what we’ve done well, and also to the future,” Joseph said. He reported that Barrett asked the board for feedback on the existing implementation section so the consultant can prepare a community engagement plan and project timeline.

Board members identified priorities they want the housing chapter and master plan update to address. Several members urged revisiting policies for downtown housing, advocating a form-based approach that defines building form, height and streetscape rather than only unit counts. One member described how some downtown buildings were converted to more units “without actually changing what the building looks like,” arguing that the town could allow more units while protecting downtown character.

Parking rules downtown drew extensive comment. Joseph summarized the current zoning: in Plymouth’s village commercial zone, most uses do not require parking minimums, but residential uses on a building’s ground floor require a special exception that includes additional criteria touching on parking. Board members called the arrangement “strange” and inconsistent and asked staff to clarify the language and whether the board wants parking minimums or managed shared parking approaches downtown.

Members and staff also raised non-housing but related issues they want reflected in the housing chapter: continued work on multiuse trails and sidewalks (particularly along Tenney Mountain Highway and the corridor between Main Street and the amphitheater), the town’s brownfields assessment for the former Plymouth Inn site, and the possibility of a standing economic development committee to help attract and coordinate redevelopment.

The board discussed redevelopment incentives and statutory tools. Joseph summarized state programs the town could adopt, including RSA 79‑E tax-exemption options for property revitalization and newer state categories for housing opportunity zones and office-to-residential conversions. The board asked staff to share Barrett Planning Group’s guide to those programs so members could evaluate local adoption and criteria.

Environmental protection and regulation also were raised. Members noted the town’s environmentally sensitive areas (ISE) remain imperfect and that a recently funded Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) being run through the conservation commission and consultant could inform rewrites. Joseph mentioned a new model ordinance some towns are considering to reduce PFAS risks to groundwater and suggested Plymouth could incorporate tailored language if the board wants that protection.

Several members highlighted the town’s relationship with Plymouth State University (PSU). They asked for better, ongoing engagement (annual meetings or similar) because changing university enrollment affects downtown demand for housing, parking and services. Board members recommended scenario planning that models different enrollment trends and their impacts on housing needs and municipal services.

Members asked Barrett Planning Group for a work plan, community engagement schedule and milestones. Joseph said the consultant will return with a proposed timeline and outreach plan for the housing chapter and related downtown materials.

The discussion produced no formal vote; board members agreed the comments should guide the consultant’s work plan and prioritized downtown form, parking rules, trail/connectivity projects, brownfields visioning and outreach to PSU.

The planning board will expect Barrett Planning Group’s work plan and a proposed engagement calendar in coming weeks.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Plymouth Planning Board - 4/3/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Plymouth Planning Board on April 17 reviewed the implementation section of the town’s 2018 master plan and gave early direction to consultant Judy Barrett and Barrett Planning Group as they prepare a funded housing master plan chapter.","taxTitle","Plymouth, Grafton County, New Hampshire","taxId",61623,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6087935,"Resident seeks feedback on conceptual lot split at 8 Reservoir Road; board says concept appears to meet zoning",320,428000,748000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2887339-00cc516c82f237b75197fbde0dcbcc18&start=428&end=748","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2887339-00cc516c82f237b75197fbde0dcbcc18/thumbnail_428000.jpg","/articles/6087935/Plymouth/Grafton-County/New-Hampshire/Resident-seeks-feedback-on-conceptual-lot-split-at-8-Reservoir-Road-board-says-concept-appears-to-meet-zoning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6087935-368351dab93dbfa92718518f0feb4044/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179259&Signature=lnmSfELQYpPmX1mfjheD4MQrX9DPudpqwXdcXI6QeXZxNwIzXgmx5G6YKxMxy~ldpcVErDmGCprEw78TaGg5ZARW4gNEzkWMA2QHKKQnWJxFO5apAYRqmU~PKoE7Yj61YOFDJylwi0LPpesjCcl1UHmRAFZx6XxKr7KE5ce9BpmY0dBKAoppXTVdr8ajx1HJFWa0Tc9QdND1iOMjR5f0l83a8poHFZN7K82Wi2WD77KvcN~ffCqRxDKcFD1CNu1lJDTQ6ZwUxZdCfZYX71yrQkyKkQjHfXkAzbLD-yhNWR~7p139hUCmPj6xcSgL90UD1PgZCQw96Cj6B8qgN5muwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the request of the chair, resident Richard Gowen (presenting) brought a conceptual plan for 8 Reservoir Road, where a mobile home has stood since 1995, seeking the planning board’s view of a possible split to create two lots.

Gowen said his pencil sketch showed roughly two lots “20,000 or a little over” square feet each; he noted the map scale on his package had a minor discrepancy and said he is not yet submitting a formal application. He told the board he intends to rehab and rent the existing mobile home and keep an existing garage.

Board members and staff reviewed basic constraints on the conceptual plan. Joseph confirmed the property is in a single‑family residential district and noted the conceptual information appears to meet frontage and setback requirements: “Assuming those numbers are accurate, it certainly appears to” meet zoning standards. The presenter said there is existing water and sewer service and 75 feet of frontage that should meet the frontage requirement.

The resident identified a creek and wetlands at the rear of the parcel; board members pointed to those features on the map and discussed the culvert depth and wetland extent. Joseph clarified that for standard lot-size calculations Plymouth counts total land area (10,000 sq ft minimum standard lot size in the discussion) and does not subtract non‑buildable areas; only certain cluster subdivision density calculations subtract wetlands.

Board members recommended the presenter consult with the water & sewer department about tapping two services from one connection and with a surveyor to correct old map labels (the base map showed an earlier road name). Joseph said the town will expect formal measurements, wetlands delineation and a survey at the time of an actual application. The resident said he plans to return with formal materials in two to three months.

No formal vote or approval was taken; the board treated the presentation as conceptual feedback.","A property owner presented a conceptual plan to split 8 Reservoir Road into two lots; planning staff and board members said the layout appears to meet single‑family residential zoning and that water and sewer access and frontage seem adequate at this stage.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6087940,"Plymouth seeks Lakes Region Planning Commission spot for North Main Street safety realignment",168,240000,408000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2887339-00cc516c82f237b75197fbde0dcbcc18&start=240&end=408","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2887339-00cc516c82f237b75197fbde0dcbcc18/thumbnail_240000.jpg","/articles/6087940/Plymouth/Grafton-County/New-Hampshire/Plymouth-seeks-Lakes-Region-Planning-Commission-spot-for-North-Main-Street-safety-realignment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6087940-a5ba1a72c7fd7fab2c1968a64dc95feb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179259&Signature=Qka1wtEAMZInltcm1KS6nRA4X~-wQ5neSqjlTW6FuUHIuPFo8SWTPdUG6RwjXaKCrTjGWVPatoak6f7cWWRbF1xSoQe0ZuR-V2vxdLT2qsj93HcV0fOsfA8cbOXlQUWVPqHPlnzwUUD55OX15x0hdAmsQqQsdMvIApowIp3dgwhXg8Y55tYscyUC3E101dyP-RF4lz3w8TNGL2nSNBzRZibs86jmF7DT6Jg4BWQ7pJOAV65Sx4AI0oXl0hW~Q381im6P375srdWec~YOv~u8M4lC6ZGiA73NtxWbriP-2dekm7hDEHYcyotAT5oQHlitl63zqDIrF9WYZuuvWx4s2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Planning staff told the board the town has resumed discussions and resubmitted an application to the Lakes Region Planning Commission’s 10‑year transportation plan for the North Main Street project.

The proposed project would realign a sloping curve north of Toby Road (near Armory Road) to flatten and straighten the roadway, improve sight lines, extend sidewalks (the existing sidewalk currently ends at Toby Road) and correct an intersection with poor visibility. Joseph said the corridor is used for walking and biking — including access to the Common Man Inn and Spa and Langdon Woods Recreation Area — and that the alignment was first recommended in a 1995 town report.

“Here we are, 30 years later, we might have a chance of getting it in the 10‑year plan,” Joseph told the board. Members noted a recent car‑bicycle collision on that stretch and agreed the crash could be added to the application for safety justification.

Board members asked staff to continue to push for the project as a regional priority and to update the application materials as incidents and documentation become available. No vote was required; staff said they will update the board when Lakes Region Planning Commission action is known or if additional supporting material is needed.","Planning board members said the town has reapplied to the Lakes Region Planning Commission 10‑year transportation plan for a project realigning North Main Street (north of Toby Road) to correct steep slope, poor sight lines and missing sidewalks; recent car–bicycle crash was mentioned as additional justification",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6087930,"Planning board names Sue chair of 2025 Capital Improvements Program committee",357,889000,1246000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2887339-00cc516c82f237b75197fbde0dcbcc18&start=889&end=1246","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2887339-00cc516c82f237b75197fbde0dcbcc18/thumbnail_889000.jpg","/articles/6087930/Plymouth/Grafton-County/New-Hampshire/Planning-board-names-Sue-chair-of-2025-Capital-Improvements-Program-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6087930-7cc6afb38b6c378b1fc39052ac5e5d4f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179259&Signature=kdMQ1eJ9regFFJFzUbcx5JLM2bsOn1h6me1Ta3PpPJOyd0N6Os3AUIDQ6vt67nxOnZ23e4nujlKlpDp1C-I1OnPMvWNeW1bfap33a0HY3nXp9n0XV0oc4vRtYVFnzC7Prsj2rQZJk5n55h5RPgEDkVZT2NSiLwPpvGpz8xjvd3Lzue6LouyYkVW4L23bxihznJkZwClJR-Cmz4tGbxZYG26bT6oxTw514liUXRQoHOPupn0gBzyLohLC-NGumBrCKQRut~yDYrpz4jjZxBHb~0b418HPYXiI1ixdC-r8IIjRBT2-QjTE~CB2P2pMI0lGJG7GpVB-NGaAqw2Qxxv6ng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its April 17 meeting the Planning Board nominated Sue to chair the town’s 2025 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) committee and approved the nomination by voice vote.

Joseph, planning department staff, described the CIP committee as a subcommittee of the planning board that compiles a multi‑year (typically six‑year) capital improvements program: “It’s not a budget, it’s a planning document, it’s a guide,” he said, explaining the committee’s role in coordinating department capital needs, projecting replacement schedules and reviewing funding sources such as capital reserves or lease purchases.

Board members nominated Sue for a further one‑year term because of her prior experience chairing the CIP effort. Sue accepted the nomination and told the board she did not mind serving another year and found the work “interesting.” The board approved her appointment by voice vote; no roll‑call tally was recorded in the meeting minutes.

Joseph said the committee typically ramps up work in August and meets intensively for several weeks before producing recommendations. He also said town administration provides substantial support to the committee, and the planning department maintains an Excel framework staff update each year.","The Plymouth Planning Board nominated and approved planning board member Sue to chair the town’s 2025 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) committee; Joseph (planning staff) described the committee’s role as producing a six-year capital planning guide rather than a budget","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Plymouth planning board opens broad review of 2018 master plan as housing chapter work begins

Resident seeks feedback on conceptual lot split at 8 Reservoir Road; board says concept appears to meet zoning

Plymouth seeks Lakes Region Planning Commission spot for North Main Street safety realignment

Planning board names Sue chair of 2025 Capital Improvements Program committee