Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Planning Department topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning department hires project manager, launches master-plan public forums and starts metrics work linking development to city services
Summary
Staff reported hiring an administrative assistant and a project manager, launched a community power program, and scheduled master-plan public forums. The new project manager will compile staffing and services metrics to help the city evaluate the impact of ongoing and large proposed developments on municipal services and budgets.
At its April 7 meeting the Laconia Planning Department reported several administrative and program updates: the hiring of administrative assistant Carrie Devos, the appointment of a project manager (Wes Anderson) to oversee active development sites and erosion-control compliance, and the launch of a community power (community choice aggregation) program on April 1.
Staff announced a series of master-plan public forums to gather community input: April 28 at the downtown public library, May 7 at the Weirs Beach Community Center, and May 14 at the Leavitt Park House in Lakeport, all scheduled 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., with an online input option and QR-code links. Staff described the forum format (welcome station, existing-conditions station, topic stations such as housing and transportation, and mapping/vision boards) and said the contractor will compile all comments for incorporation into the draft master plan.
Planning staff also described a new metrics effort that the project manager will develop: a matrix tying types and scales of development to staffing, equipment and service needs across departments (police, fire, DPW, water, IT and others). The goal is to provide city council with data-driven estimates of service and budget impacts from development proposals, including large projects such as a potential state-school redevelopment. Staff suggested a draft will go to the city manager later in the year for council consideration.
Board members praised the new centralized oversight and asked for periodic briefings from the project manager on stormwater, site inspections and interdepartmental coordination; staff agreed to schedule future updates.
