Concord Invites Public To Master Plan Open House, Advisory Panel Application Process

CONCORD, NH — The city is moving ahead with its Concord 2050 Master Plan update, with a citywide public event scheduled for Sept. 19 and an application process now open for residents interested in serving on an advisory subcommittee.

The Concord 2050 Master Plan is the city's long-range policy framework for guiding future growth, development, conservation, and public investment. The city and the Planning Board are inviting community members to attend the Master Plan Citywide Visioning Open House at 9 a.m. on Sept. 19, at the Capitol Center for the Arts.

The two-hour event will be conducted with support from NH Listens and will use an open house and science fair format.

It will include a brief presentation by city staff and the consultant team with an overview of the Master Plan, important data points, and highlights and accomplishments in various topical areas. After that, attendees will circulate among topic engagement stations.

Light refreshments will be provided, and free parking will be available in the city's parking garages on Saturdays. Attendees will be required to follow the Capitol Center for the Arts' bag policy.

The open house is the first component of the public engagement strategy for the Master Plan update. Future opportunities for interactivity include a community survey, six neighborhood forums, and focus groups on housing, economic development, and New Americans.

The Planning Board is also accepting letters of interest from Concord residents to fill three positions on its Master Plan Advisory Subcommittee. The board welcomes applications from all residents but said it is especially interested in hearing from people with expertise in housing or those who could represent seniors and young people in the community.

The subcommittee is described as a 15-person group that includes representatives from the Planning Board and several city committees and commissions. It will meet four times during the planning process. Members are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Planning Board, and the overall Master Plan process is scheduled to be completed in spring 2028.

Residents interested in serving can submit a letter of interest by Oct. 14 to communitydevelopment@concordnh.gov.

The Planning Board plans to make appointments to the Advisory Subcommittee on or about Oct. 21.

More information about the application process and the Master Plan update is available at concordnh.gov/masterplanupdate.