Commission schedules Jan. 30 planning workshop; public master-plan meeting planned for April

The commission reviewed logistics and goals for a Jan. 30 planning workshop intended to form 2026 working groups and accelerate master-plan inputs.

The meeting was scheduled for 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Levenson Room at the Portsmouth City Library, and the commission said Lori Waltz, executive director of a regional leadership program, will facilitate the session. The stated objective is to package workshop findings and have a report ready in time for the commission’s Feb. 6 meeting so the group can act quickly.

Commissioners were told the master-plan draft the consultant is preparing is generally aligned with the commission’s earlier input; the planning board will review materials before the commission and a public community meeting is planned for April at the community campus/gym. The chair asked that the commission consider a placeholder on the March agenda in case the planning-board timeline shifts.

Members suggested focus groups and outreach to retail, hospitality, vulnerable populations, arts and culture, and school-age families; commission staff noted third- and fifth-grade student input had already been collected and summarized for review. The commission flagged West End infrastructure (cell coverage) as a neighborhood-specific item that could be included in working-group scoping.

Next steps: workshop on Jan. 30, package findings for Feb. 6 meeting, planning-board review, and a public community meeting in April.