Planning board pushes master-plan implementation, seeks CIP coordination with school district and other boards

Planning staff and board members opened an extended discussion about implementing the town's master plan, assigning tasks to boards and commissions, and coordinating capital-improvement planning (CIP) with the school district.

Board members proposed splitting the master-plan implementation matrix into manageable work groups and drafting template letters to the chairs of the school board, Heritage Commission, Conservation Commission and other bodies asking each group to review the goals assigned to them and provide updates. Several members urged a formal request to the school board and superintendent that the CIP committee compile a list of planned repairs and capital items with estimated costs over a five- to ten-year horizon so the Planning Board and CIP can consider impact-fee eligibility.

The board discussed workflow and accountability: suggestions included forming subcommittees or small teams of two-to-three members, using simple task-management tools (Asana, Office 365 project apps or similar) to track assignments, and enabling shared access to the implementation matrix so members can filter and update priorities. Staff said the CIP process typically convenes in the fall and recommended giving boards spring/summer lead time.

Heritage Commission outreach surfaced in the discussion: a Heritage Commission member, Tony Lacasse, told planners he had provided feedback late in the drafting process and felt his group's recommendations were not incorporated because of timing and staff turnover. Board members said the master plan is amendable and encouraged cross-board communication so missed comments can be considered in updates.

Water-supply planning and blight/property-revitalization tools also drew attention. Planning staff reported research indicating an entity called Silver City has claimed water rights of about 400,000 gallons per day in underlying aquifer court documents; staff said Central Hooksett Water’s average daily output is approximately 386,000 gallons per day. The planner said those water-rights records and Hooksett Water's system data are items to follow up with Hooksett Water (Village Water Precinct) and the Conservation Commission.

Board members discussed potential incentives for redeveloping blighted or underused commercial properties (for example, property-revitalization tax incentives or targeted mapping for office-conversion programs under state statutes). Staff noted New Hampshire statutes give municipalities options for tax-exemption or revitalization zone programs and that the town could map small areas or individual parcels for incentives.

Ending: The Planning Board asked staff to prepare template letters to boards and commissions, to enable shared editing of the master-plan implementation spreadsheet, and to coordinate a follow-up request to the school board and superintendent in advance of the CIP cycle. Members volunteered to work in small groups on short-term tasks and to reconvene with progress reports.