The Bedford Historic District Commission reported on Jan. 7 that the town secured two Certified Local Government (CLG) grants: one to fund a full-day training event for up to 30 attendees and one to prepare formal design guidelines for the historic district.

Planning staff said the training will be delivered by experts from the National Historic Preservation Alliance (or similar resources identified by the state), can be tailored to local needs and may include virtual options. The design-guidelines grant will fund consultant work and public outreach; staff will issue an RFP and expects to begin consultant selection once the state issues the notice to proceed, likely in March or April, subject to executive-council approvals.

Commissioners discussed using Old Home Day and other local events for outreach and suggested a simple, low-cost educational table or quiz to introduce residents to design guidelines and to solicit input. The commission agreed to await notice to proceed before finalizing a mailer or larger outreach campaign.

In administrative approvals and updates, planning staff said an administrative approval was issued for work at 33 Meeting House Road to remove overgrown shrubs and to allow demolition of a rear pool house with the understanding the replacement footprint and heights would be submitted for the file. Staff asked applicants to provide existing footprint, eave and peak heights for record-keeping and to show proposed rebuilding dimensions when available. Other minor tree-clearing activities and site maintenance were noted as within allowable parameters; staff said they would notify the commission if larger tree removals or other actions requiring HDC review are proposed.

The commission also previewed an upcoming March presentation by state Division of Historical Resources staff on New Hampshire architecture and noted the town council's upcoming budget and deliberative-session schedule as items of interest to commissioners and residents.