Comprehensive Plan

Manchester, New Hampshire

Plan Manchester is a Master Plan update project for the City of Manchester, New Hampshire. The consultant team, led by TPUDC, facilitated a multi-faceted process to engage the community in an open dialogue about the future of this city. Through a Visioning Session followed by an eight-day design charrette called “Planapaolooza”, the team brought together many groups and individuals representing various interests. The informal gatherings and open-studio format encouraged people to share opinions and insights. The input gathered helped shape ideas about attracting employment to build on the emerging brand of innovation; connecting the city physically, economically, and socially; making improvements to enhance the city with quality development and art; leveraging assets, such as the river, to make the city more livable; increasing density to maximize the use of real estate while expanding the range of housing options; and better utilizing available resources to promote the changes the community desires.  The resulting plan will outline opportunities to direct growth to key areas and conserve the features the community values. The Future Growth & Conservation Map reinforced by proposed land use policies, reflects that balance, delineating areas to strengthen, transform, enhance, or preserve. Important outcomes of the planning process include ideas for making the Merrimack River corridor the focal point of activity in the city, mechanisms for accommodating future transit service in the center of the city supported by a more diverse range of uses, and clear direction on the future use of some city-controlled properties for the benefit of the greater Manchester community.

Size: Entire-City

Type: Comprehensive Plan