Commissioners discuss using county land, pursue planning grants amid housing policy changes

Commissioners spent substantial time Nov. 20 discussing whether to make county-owned land available for affordable or senior housing and how to use planning grants to identify feasible parcels. The discussion followed staff comments that state policy changes and funding priorities have created uncertainty for permanent supportive housing.

Betsy Andrews, joining by Zoom, told the commission that New Hampshire is shifting toward transitional housing models and that the state could lose “over 200 units” of permanent supportive housing, including units in Strafford County. She urged the county to be ready to apply for multiple funding notices and recommended public–private partnerships to strengthen applications.

Chair George Maglaras said the county owns about 300 acres and that commissioners have previously completed wildlife and indigenous-lands reviews on parcels that could be considered for housing. Blair Haney of the Stratford Regional Planning Commission said planning grants exist to support feasibility studies and suggested compiling a pipeline of candidate parcels (for example, a list of 10 parcels for deeper feasibility work) that could later support implementation grants.

Haney said he is finishing another application and asked for draft minutes and any requested materials quickly so he could incorporate the county’s preferences; the commission agreed to make staff available and to meet again as needed. Commissioners flagged land acquisition as a primary obstacle to development and indicated interest in exploring senior housing and workforce housing to support county staff recruitment and retention.

Next steps included Blair Haney preparing a feasibility scope and returning to the commission with a recommended approach and commissioners directing staff to gather draft minutes and parcel information to support potential planning-grant submissions.