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Planning board authorizes charette application to Plan New Hampshire focused on Route 125 and housing
Summary
Brentwood Planning Board authorized members to prepare and submit an application to Plan New Hampshire for a waived charette (normally $6,500) to help the town develop site‑plan guidance and housing ideas focused on Route 125, with Glenn and Steph asked to draft the narrative and staff to pursue funding waivers for incidental costs.
The Brentwood Planning Board voted to authorize members to prepare a Plan New Hampshire charette application focused on site‑plan regulations and housing on Route 125.
Speaker 10 described the charette program: a volunteer team of 10–15 planning and design professionals who provide a weekend workshop and follow‑up report. Speaker 10 said communities that received HOP grants can be eligible for a full waiver of the $6,500 program fee; additional incidental costs for meals and lodging (he estimated $2,000–$3,000) may also be eligible for waiver. He said three scholarship slots remain for the coming year and earlier workshops are competitive.
Members discussed scope and timing: some urged a focused, practical scope (town center/Route 125, ADUs, and site‑plan guidance including landscaping and lighting) to ensure community buy‑in and avoid the perception from a prior charette that recommendations were “outsider‑driven.” Others said the town should prepare a tight application narrative to improve competitiveness and that staff should pursue waivers for incidental costs or identify local funding. Several members recommended using the charette to create detailed guidance developers can follow.
Speaker 3 moved to authorize Glenn and Steph to draft the application and to proceed with submission after internal review; Speaker 7 and other members agreed that the draft should be circulated to the full board for comment prior to final submission. Speaker 4 read a motion that specified a charette focused on Route 125 site‑plan regulations; the board voted in favor. Members asked staff to check grant budgets and potential funding sources and noted the application’s schedule is competitive (application period reportedly open through February). The board discussed holding the workshop in spring (May) if possible or in fall 2026 depending on timing and community readiness.
Board members emphasized outreach and education linked to the charette: they agreed to prepare outreach materials, consider pairing board members to lead local conversations, and coordinate with the town administrator to identify funds for incidental costs if waivers are not granted. The board also signaled it will use the charette products to inform forthcoming public hearings on zoning changes.
