Future Land Use Chapter Durham Master Plan Strafford Regional Planning Commission November 8, 2017 Planning Board Meeting

What is a Future Land Use chapter? Should “translate the [master plan’s] vision statement into physical terms” (RSA 674:2) One of two required master plan chapters Pulls together information from 10 existing chapters Planning for these chapters began in 2010 Chapters adopted in 2015 Future Land Use Committee formed in November 2016

Special Thanks Land Use Committee: Bob Brown, Molly Donovan, Paul Rasmussen, Barbara Dill, Andrew Corrow, Joe Moore, Peter Wolfe, Doug Bencks Michael Behrendt, Todd Selig, Town Staff Peggy Kieschnick, Forum Facilitators Mark McPeak, Rachel Gasowski, Katie McManes Businesses, churches, and community organizations The people of Durham!

Public Participation Let’s Talk Future Land Use Forum: 103 attendees Interviews with seniors: 21 participants Interactive posters: 133 individual comments Posters at Town Hall, Durham Public Library, Young’s Restaurant, St. Thomas More, St. George’s Preserve/change/advice cards: 54 cards Music on Main, Durham Family Camp Out Business focus group: 7 participants Comments from Durham boards and commissions Many more comments via email

Sources Public input 2015 master plan chapters GIS Mapping Vision Statement Land Use Recommendations table 2011 Master Plan Survey GIS Mapping Additional Research

Master Plan Vision In 2025 and beyond, Durham is a balanced community that has successfully maintained traditional neighborhoods, natural resources, rural character, and time-honored heritage, while fostering a vibrant downtown, achieving energy sustainability, and managing necessary change. Durham has effectively balanced economic growth, which has been essential in supporting our schools, resources, and town services, and stabilized property taxes. Durham has encouraged mixed residential and commercial development in and near the downtown including retail establishments, offices, services, eateries, and other businesses that serve local needs and interests while attracting visitors from neighboring vicinities. In designated areas beyond downtown, balanced development was accomplished by prudently integrating our community’s range of values. Through forward-thinking engagement on the part of our citizens and town government, in tandem with continued pursuit of a productive partnership with UNH, our vision for Durham was realized.

Future Land Use Themes

Community Building Blocks: Diversity and affordability University partnership Life-cycle housing

Balance Building Blocks: Leverage the commercial core New commercial opportunity areas Life-cycle housing Alternative & renewable energy sources Natural resilience and environmental protection Agricultural past & present Historic preservation Land conservation

Connectivity Building Blocks: University Partnership Recreation connectivity Parking & traffic Access to local food Agricultural past & present Historic preservation Land conservation

Quality of Place Urban Building Blocks: Leverage the commercial core New commercial opportunity areas Recreation facilities Market for downtown businesses Rural Building Blocks: Natural resilience and environmental protection Agricultural past & present Historic preservation Land conservation Combined Building Blocks: Density & redevelopment Aesthetics & design Smart growth & housing Efficient design & land use

Urban Transect Based on the idea that context determines appropriate development Areas will look and feel different based on historical development patterns, key industries, natural resources, geography, etc. Used to identify areas with distinct development/activity patterns when considering how neighborhoods or special districts will interact in the future

Building Footprints

Building Density

Forum Feedback – Commercial Development

Forum Feedback – New Businesses

Existing Land Use Buildout

Existing Land Use Buildout

Existing Land Use Buildout

Durham Community Transect

Recommendations and Concepts Not replacing Land Use Recommendations table Not duplicating chapter recommendations Find opportunities to fill in gaps or integrate multiple topics

Recommendations and Concepts Community Residential zoning audit Floor area ratio Balance Gateway design overlay district Targeted commercial development Environmental stewardship and resiliency

Recommendations and Concepts Connectivity Bicycle and pedestrian improvements Woonerf Structured parking Agricultural zoning audit Partner with UNH Quality of Place The university town of the future Historic preservation framework Main Street West area planning