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

2. 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

3. 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!

4. 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

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

6. 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.

7. Future Land Use Themes

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

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Building Footprints

14. Building Density

15. Forum Feedback – Commercial Development

16. Forum Feedback – New Businesses

17. Existing Land Use Buildout

18. Existing Land Use Buildout

19. Existing Land Use Buildout

20. Durham Community Transect

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

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

23. 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