NEW HAMPSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSIONS
This segment is another in a series highlighting NHARPC’s efforts to provide education on planning-related topics.
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Regional Planning and Coordination are Critical to Addressing New Hampshire’s Housing Crisis By Todd Horner, Planner with the Southwest Region Planning Commission Alex Belensz, Planner with the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee RPC Kaela Tavares, Community & Economic Development Planner with the North Country Council James Vayo, Project Manager, Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission The New Hampshire Association of Regional Planning Commissions (NHARPC) is the affiliation of the nine regional planning commissions (RPCs) in the state of New Hampshire. These RPCs include: Central NH Regional Planning Commission; Lakes Region Planning Commission; Nashua Regional Planning Commission; North Country Council; Rockingham Planning Commission; Southern NH Planning Commission; Southwest Region Planning Commission; Strafford Regional Planning Commission; and Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission.
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he primary role of a Regional Planning Commission (RPC) is to support local municipalities in their planning and community development responsibilities. This is done in a variety of ways such as: • Assisting communities in preparing local planning documents, • Providing technical assistance and general guidance to local land use boards, • Helping to secure funding for transportation and other infrastructure projects, • Working with municipalities to obtain and administer state and federal grant programs, and • Reducing costs to municipalities through regional coordination and intermunicipal cooperation. New Hampshire faces a housing shortage that is affecting urban and rural areas alike. There is growing recognition that a lack of housing options is stifling our economy, harming businesses’ ability to recruit employees, placing financial hardship on many working and middle-class families, and, in some cases, leading to housing insecurity and homelessness. This recognition is backed up by the data. Over the past couple of years, rental vacancies have hovered in the range of 1-2%, well below the 5% that’s recognized as an indicator of a balanced market. About half of all renters are “cost-burdened,” paying more than 30% of their income on housing costs. The inventory of homes for sale continues to fall and sale prices continue to climb, often beyond the means of first-time homebuyers.
NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN AND CITY
It has become abundantly clear that the state’s housing crisis is not going to solve itself. Proactive effort, creativity, and collaboration are required to move the needle on housing. With that in mind, New Hampshire’s regional planning commissions are stepping up to promote dialogue, build relationships, and develop strategies critical for addressing the state’s housing needs. This article provides a few examples of how regional planning commission are contributing across the state.
Manchester Housing Task Force
As the largest city in state, Manchester exemplifies how statewide housing affordability challenges are impacting New Hampshire’s urban areas. In 2019, the greater Manchester region faced rental vacancy rates below 2%, while the state’s unemployment rate rose to 6.5%. The result was a doubling in the number of chronically homeless people within the state. Given the scale of the issue, Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig announced the creation of a housing task force. Mayor Craig’s address stated that “the task force will provide recommendations that respond to both the assumptions and the realities of affordable housing in Manchester.” Composed of real estate professionals, community leaders, developers, community stakeholders, and housing advocates, the Task Force quickly got to work identifying issues affecting housing production and affordability. Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission (SNHPC) Project Manager James Vayo participated on the Task Force and its Zoning,
www.nhmunicipal.org
