CITY OF CONCORD, NH Updating City of Concord's Master Plan CLF Ventures is assisting the City of Concord in updating its Master Plan by designing, coordinating and facilitating a community input process that will ensure community participation through a meaningful public engagement process. New Hampshire law requires that each city and town in New Hampshire develop a master plan. The goal of the plan is straightforward: to help preserve and enhance the unique quality of life and culture of New Hampshire, and to achieve "the principles of smart growth, sound planning, and wise resource protection." A municipal master plan should be brought up to date every five to ten years; in fact, state law withholds certain local powers unless this is done. A decade has passed since the last master plan was created for Concord. As a result, the update process started two years ago when hundreds of citizens took part in the Concord Vision 20/20 process, a nationally recognized planning effort that outlined a vision for the future. Five "Vision Principles" emerged from the process, including: A vibrant, livable downtown Neighborhoods served by walkable villages Preservation of and access to the natural environment Economic vitality Transportation that serves the community MasterPlan Concord's goal is to put that vision to work through a highly collaborative process. The goals and principles of this visioning process, in addition to new census data and a revamped state law governing the master-planning process, are the guiding forces for the MasterPlan update. Over the next year, a series of Community Forums will provide opportunities for full public participation in the development of the plan. Additional opportunities for input and comment are provided through the series of Committee Meetings also open to the public. This project represents a unique opportunity to take community planning to its next evolutionary step. The approach designed by CLF Ventures will yield a Master Plan based on broad public input that will limit the number of conflicts that the Planning Board will need to resolve upon implementation. For more information, visit the Master Plan website: http://www.concordmasterplan.org/.