Amherst Receives Community Planning Grant

Sarah Marchant, Community Development Director:

In March, 2013, the Town of Amherst and the Planning Board were awarded a grant of $29,300 to combine and update the water resource ordinances with current Best Management Practices for the Watershed Conservation, Wetlands Protection and Aquifer Conservation Districts in order to protect the high quality drinking water and watershed of the Town of Amherst and the Region. The revision to these ordinances will be an important contribution to protecting the Town’s and Region’s natural resources, while providing clear guidance for land use management and future development of the community.

This exciting project will begin with a kick-off meeting on June 19th at 7:00 pm in Room 202, the Information Center at Souhegan High School. The purpose of the kick-off meeting is to hear from you - the residents and businesses of Amherst - your ideas and concerns as related to water resources and the associated ordinances.

The Amherst Conservation Commission (ACC) has been an advocate of this project since participating in the Master Plan process, “The ACC supports this grant project and is looking forward to participating in the development and simplification of the ordinances” states John Harvey, long-time Chair of the Commission.

In addition to crucial public input and assistance, the Planning Board is working with consultants and an Advisory Team including the ACC, Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce, Pennichuck Waterworks, and the Towns of Merrimack and Milford, along with many other stakeholder groups to help ensure the revisions will work with the breadth of the community’s needs. May Balsama, Executive Director of the Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce supports this needed project, “The Board and leadership of the Chamber recognizes the importance of funding this work in order to plan for future expansion of the businesses in the southern part of Amherst in further developing its economic base.”

The goal of this project will be to prepare revised ordinances that reflect the goals of the Master Plan and the interests of the community for the voters to approve on the 2014 Town Ballot.

There will be additional meetings as revisions with your feedback on the ordinances get underway over the summer and fall to be ready for public hearings in December. Keep your eyes out for information on this project. If you already know you would like to become more involved please contact Sarah Marchant, Community Development Director, at smarchant@amherstnh.gov or 673-6041 to see how you can help.