Planning for Success
Master Plan, Land Use, and Zoning
Utilize the Master Plan, Land Use Policy, and Zoning to
Address Housing Choice, Affordability, and Location
Issues/Opportunities Addressed: C)
Timeframe for Action: Short Term
In 2020, the City of Nashua will embark on an update of the
2000 Master Plan which is a comprehensive long-term plan
for the City addressing a multitude of planning and
community development topics. One of the key elements of a
Master Plan is an updated look at land use policy and zoning
regulations and how those important components can be
used to guide future development across the City. The
Master Plan should be the guiding document that sets the
long-term vision and goals and describes the role each
element of the Plan plays in bringing the City closer to the
vision for the future.
During the Master Planning process there are also
opportunities to engage the public in discussions around the
future of the City and how it should be preserved or changed
over time. The timing of the Master Plan presents an
excellent chance to bring up the topic of housing and discuss
where new housing should be built, the types of housing
appropriate in different parts of the City, and how best to
align housing development with other amenities or needs
residents have. This might include transportation, parks and
open space, access to jobs, childcare services, educational
facilities, and shopping and dining.
Nashua Housing Study - 58
Conversations with residents and other members of the
public will help inform how ideas get translated to policy and
regulation. Most Master Plans include an illustration of
desired future land uses and how those are dispersed across
the City. This then guides the discussions around zoning
regulations and how to change them or strengthen them to
achieve desired outcomes.
Topics for the Master Plan related to housing might include:
¢ Housing in the Downtown and South Main Street
¢ Housing along major commercial corridors
¢ Integrating “missing middle” housing options into the
existing city fabric
¢ Distribution of affordable housing options across other
parts of the City
¢ Adding or changing housing programs or funding over
time
RKG
