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Planning board recommends zoning updates to align with state law and outlines master plan timeline
Summary
Concord’s planning board recommended two zoning ordinance amendments to city council—to align the floor-area-ratio definition with Senate Bill 283 and to update daycare definitions consistent with 2024 state laws—and staff outlined a master plan RFP timeline and public-engagement approach.
At its Sept. 17 meeting the Concord City Planning Board voted to recommend that City Council move forward on two ordinance amendments: (1) amending the zoning ordinance’s definition of floor-area ratio to align with Senate Bill 283 (2025 session), and (2) updating definitions and allowable uses for family daycare facilities so the city code matches state law enacted in 2024 (cited in the staff discussion as RSA 670:2-1 and RSA 670:4-16). The board recommended forwarding both amendments to the council for its consideration.
Planning staff also provided an update on the citywide master plan process. Staff said two draft request-for-proposal documents have been prepared and are being refined; the goal is to issue an RFP within about 60 days and begin consultant work shortly after the holidays. Staff noted portions of the master-plan scope—such as transportation analysis—may be handled by the city’s on-call engineering roster rather than the prime consultant. The master-plan effort will incorporate a public-engagement component that dovetails with a mayor-led outreach proposal currently slated for a council public hearing in October.
Staff described plans to involve other advisory boards and commissions in chapter-specific work: for example, the Conservation Commission on open space and the Heritage Commission on historic resources. Staff said a zoning amendment related to parking standards is expected to come before the planning board at the October meeting.
Board members voiced support for moving the ordinance updates forward, expressed interest in robust public participation in the master-plan process, and thanked outgoing staff member Anne Marie for her service.
