Events/Programs

Upcoming Event: The Nickels & Dimes of Housing Development

Register at www.tinyurl.com/earlybirdnhpa.

Past Event: Places For Everyone -NHPA 2022 Spring Conference on 6/15

NHPA held its first in-person spring conference since 2019 on June 15 at the Holiday Inn Downtown Concord. Session topics included a law update, affordable housing, placemaking, and outdoor dining and accessibility.

Agenda: View the conference program.

Presentations: 

“The Role of Trust, Relationships & Vulnerability in Building Places for Everyone” (Anthony S. Poore, Keynote Speaker)

"Ending Zonings Racist Legacy" (Jennifer Raitt)

"2022 Land Use Law Update" (Natch Greyes)

"Navigating Outdoor Opportunities in Downtown"(Beverly Mesa-Zendt and Anne Weidman)

“Planning, Implementing, and Surviving a Successful Downtown Renovation: The Story of Concord’s Main Street Project” (Carlos Baia)

Award Winners: 

City of Manchester for its Master Plan (Plan of the Year)

Strafford Regional Planning Commission for its Promoting Outdoor Play! project (Project of the Year)

Charlie King from Farmington (Citizen Planner of the Year)

Diane Hardy, AICP and Ross A. Moldoff, AICP (Jeffery H. Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award)

Past Event: NHPA Field Trip to Franklin, NH on 6/2

Thanks to everyone that joined NH Planners Association for a Field Trip to Franklin, NH on June 2. 

On Thursday, Jun. 2 NHPA hosted a Field Trip to Franklin, a professional development workshop highlighting several revitalization efforts in the Three Rivers City

Over 35 people attended this insightful walking tour led by Steve Whitman of Resilience Planning & Design LLC; Seth Creighton, AICP, planning and zoning director for the City of Franklin; and Marty Parichand of Outdoor New England (ONE). 

Attendees learned about the role public-private partnerships have played in the downtown's ongoing revitalization, in addition to the significance of the new whitewater rafting feature built into the Winnipesaukee River. This is the first phase in building out a whitewater rafting park at Mill City Park. When completed, this recreation resource is projected to be a huge economic driver for this former mill town and has even been a factor in procuring developers to build out new housing in the City. 

The speakers, including Marty Parichand, also talked about the importance of creating community buy-in and how important it is for citizens to advocate for their city and get involved in making a difference. In addition to owning the community's outdoor outfitter, Marty is also involved with the non-profit Mill City Park at Franklin Falls, whose mission is to, "Let the Winnipesaukee River repower our community." Steve Whitman is also active with this non-profit. 

Program: NHPA AICP Scholarship

Starting in 2021, the NH Planners Association started its scholarship program which can be used towards AICP certification for first time exam candidates, those in the AICP Candidate Pilot Program, and those who are repeating the test. 

The scholarship program will be provided on a rolling basis, with up to three (3) scholarships available for the May and November examination windows, each, with a maximum of four (4) available per calendar year. 

A candidate cannot receive the scholarship twice in the same 365 days. Scholarship recipients will be reimbursed up to the maximum of $220 which may be used for the Planning Experience Essay Fee or AICP Exam Registration Fee. The scholarship will be in the form of a reimbursement.

Download the complete details. 

Past Event: NHPA's 2021 Annual Meeting

NHPA held its annual meeting at Fratellos Italian Grill on Dec. 3! Members were asked to vote for Executive Committee members and by law changes! See the voting form that was used.

NHPA 2021 Annual Meeting Agenda

Past Event: UNH Student Presentations

In August 2021, UNH students shared the results of their research regarding the effects of the COVID pandemic on UNH facility utilization and community outreach strategies. View the UNH student presentations. 

NHPA's 2021 Spring Conference Summary

The 2021 NHPA Spring Conference was held as a three part webinar series.  The sessions were recorded and can be accessed through the links below. The sessions were recently approved for AICP CM credits. 

Collaborative Economic Development and COVID-19 

The Seacoast Economic Development Stakeholder are a group of economic development directors, chamber of commerce executives, and other public and private economic development stakeholders in the greater seacoast region that have held weekly teleconferences since March 2020 to discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on our economy and businesses. The session demonstrates how peer learning and collective action have helped communities in the seacoast to respond to the pandemic and why these efforts are likely here to stay.

Speakers: Natalie Moles, Economic Recovery Coordinator, SRPC; Mark Laliberte, Business Resource Specialist, NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs; Robin Comstock, Economic Development Manager, City of Somersworth

Moderator: James Burdin, Senior Regional Planner, SRPC

Engagement in a Virtual World - Pros and Cons

Lisa Wise is an engagement specialist who will share her experience working on several municipal engagement campaigns during the recent pandemic. Chris Parker and Jen Czysz then discuss the pros and cos of in-person versus virtual planning board meetings. 

Speakers: Lisa Wise, Climate Adaptation Program Manager; Jen Czysz, AICP, Executive Director, SRPC; Christopher G. Parker, AICP, Assistant City Manager, City of Dover 

Moderator: Cordell Johnston, Government Affairs Counsel, NHMA 

Broadband Planning Panel - Access to a Growing Digital World

This session highlights the importance of broadband considering the lessons of COVID-19. As appointments, classes, jobs, and access to basic needs have migrated online, the need for broadband connection has expanded and become central to conversations around equity and recovery. 

Speakers: Carol Miller, Director of Broadband Initiatives, National Collaboration for Digital Equity; Dr. Robert McGlauphlin, Executive Director, National Collaboration for Digital Equity; Michelle Moren-Grey, Coos COunty Broadband Group; Glenn Coppelman, Carroll County Broadband Group

Moderator: Kaela Tavares, Community and Economic Development Planner

NHPA puts on multiple events each year from our annual spring conference and fall annual meeting to brown bags, webinars, and even planner therapy cocktail hours. We hope you join us at our future events and offer you the opportunity to look through our archives below for information on previous events. 

We were happy to host this year's NNECAPA conference at the Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire on November 13-15.

Check out the program (print friendly version available)

NHPA Brownbag Series: Municipal Regulations for Tiny Homes

Thank you for attending the Municipal Regulations for Tiny Homes session on Friday May 10th.

Speakers included:

Ben Frost, Esq. AICP--Director, Legal & Public Affairs, NH Housing

Steve Paquin, NH Building Officials Association

Robert Tardif, NHDES Administrator, Subsurface System Bureau