Selectmen Approve Planning Commission Switch

After a summer of review, the town decided on Oct. 22 to start the process of leaving the Rockingham Planning Commission for the Southern N.H. Planning Commission.

Selectman Kathleen DiFruscia thanked the RPC for the work done for the town over the years, adding that it has been a good collaboration.

"I think that things have changed with (Interstate) 93, the demographics have changed and for Windham, I think at this point, going with the Southern N.H. Planning Commission is more in keeping with our town," she said.

The board voted unanimously to begin the process of switching.

Community Development Director Laura Scott said that the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment and Economic Development Committee were part of the recommendation process. 

The SNHPC will show about a $3,000 decrease in dues from $11,000 to $8,000.

There are nine total planning commissions in the state of New Hampshire.

Selectman Phil LoChiatto said that the town has a "much better synergy" with the SNHPC.

Currently, Windham sits on the edge of the RPC, with Salem providing the only connection to the other 26 towns.

The SNHPC, which headquarters in Manchester, would see Windham connected to Londonderry and Derry. The organization features 11 other towns.

Scott said that a letter will be sent to the Rockingham Planning Commission, and then a petition will go to the N.H. Office of Energy and Planning to start the process of changing affiliations.

The town will also have to wrap up any work with the RPC, incuding some town meeting items as well as the village center.

Scott said that she and Town Administrator Dave Sullivan would make sure that records and data get moved from the RPC to the SNHPC.

Windham also looked at the Nashua Regional Planning Commission as an option during the review process.