At the most recent Town Council meeting, members of the Planning Board and the Master Plan Steering Committee gave an update, and explained why they went with the process.
It was explained by Planning Board Chair, Jake Butler, that during an August meeting, they were asked to explain why they aren’t prioritizing updating ordinances first instead of the master plan.
Butler explained when he was first elected as Planning Board Chair, he said he made a commitment that they would do a comprehensive review of the rules and procedures for the Board, and update the Town’s master plan from 2013.
He also explained during the meeting, that according to the RSA, one of the duties of the Planning Board is to amend the master plan from time to time.
“Until this year, no action had been taken to fulfill the wishes of our voting public who have allocated funds for this very goal,” Butler said.
As part of the RSA, it states that the “purpose of the master plan is to set down as clearly and practically as possible the best and most appropriate future development of the area under the jurisdiction of the planning board, to aid the board in designing ordinances that result in preserving and enhancing the unique quality of life and culture of NH, and to guide the board in the performance of its other duties in a manner that achieves the principles of smart growth, sound planning, and wise resource protection.”
“The master plan shall be a set of statements and land use and development principles for the municipality with such accompanying maps, diagrams, charts and descriptions as to give legal standing to the implementation ordinances and other measures of the planning board. Each section of the master plan shall be consistent with the others in its implementation of the vision section,” the RSA reads.
Butler said, they needed to have an updated Master Plan in order to be able to update many of its ordinances.
Town Councilor, John Farrell, asked what kind of master plan they are doing, and also argued that if they don’t update ordinances and site plan regulations, people are going to continue to go to the ZBA for many things. As an example, he said accessory dwelling units currently go in front of the ZBA, but he said they should have a proper ordinance instead for it.
Butler explained they are going with a streamlined approach to the master plan update, but 3 – 5 months may not be long enough, but it could be done in six to nine months instead.
It was also explained by Butler that they will identify items, and begin amending things as they work on the master plan.
In terms of participants for their survey so far, which will help the committee get feedback, Committee Chair, Jeff Penta, said the majority of the survey takers have been full-time residents of Londonderry, and most own their own home.