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Spotlight on Keene, NH – Project Update!

Posted on by alisa@barrettplanningllc.com

The City of Keene, New Hampshire, has engaged Barrett Planning Group to develop new ways to use property tax incentives to encourage housing growth. Having used New Hampshire’s 79-E Community Revitalization Tax Relief Incentive Program to spur investment in Downtown Keene, the City wants to put two new 79-E housing incentives to work to develop more housing in and around the downtown area. This forward-thinking effort aims to support Keene’s community and economic development goals and help implement the City’s comprehensive plan. This project is a natural fit for Barrett Planning Group because we wrote the RSA 79-E Guidebook for New Hampshire Housing in 2024.

With an InvestNH Housing Opportunity Program (HOP) grant from the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs, Keene wants to use the new features of RSA 79E to attract investment and unlock new development opportunities. Our work began in June 2025 and will formally kick off with a public workshop for the City Council in September. The workshop will cover both short-term and long-term tax implications, review current district boundaries, and explore how establishing a Housing Opportunity Zone or Residential Property Revitalization Zone could support more housing development in the community.

Additionally, we will meet with developers and investors to understand their goals and assess how the 79-E Program could align with and support their projects. Building on research we conducted for New Hampshire Housing in 2023, we will also look at what other communities, 79-E communities, are doing, compile effective practices, and develop recommendations tailored for Keene. Based on our findings, we will draft an initial resolution outlining the new program framework. The draft will incorporate feedback from City staff and include details such as project eligibility criteria, the duration of tax assessment relief, and a proposed district boundary map.

We will also host a public meeting to gather feedback from elected officials, developers, and other community stakeholders on the draft regulations and boundaries. We will finalize the resolution and present it to the City Council Committee using this input. In addition, to support successful implementation, we will develop an application form and user-friendly guidance materials to help City staff promote the program and assist both applicants and administrative staff through the process. Working on this initiative will be a memorable highlight for the Barrett team in 2025! We are excited to help Keene drive its revitalization efforts and provide for new housing.

Project Update January 2026:

Based on work throughout this project, the City of Keene is moving forward with a new Residential Property Revitalization Zone program – one of the first of its kind in New Hampshire. With input from City Council, focus groups, and interviews, the project team drafted a resolution to expand the boundaries of Keene’s existing RSA 79-E downtown revitalization zone and establish a Residential Property Revitalization Zone (RPRZ).

Under the RPRZ, property owners with qualifying structures can apply for temporary tax relief to significantly improve their homes. Keene has established specific public benefit requirements for this program, including the creation or preservation of housing units (especially creation of accessory dwelling units), promoting owner-occupancy, net-zero energy, climate resilience, and remediation. The goal of the RPRZ program is to revitalize existing housing stock by providing temporary tax relief for renovation projects that significantly improve qualifying residential structures.

The resolution was unanimously adopted by the City Council on December 18, 2025.

If our experience with planning and incentives for housing development could benefit your community, we would love to connect! Contact us at: bpg@barrettplanningllc.com

Groton Master Plan

Posted on by alisa@barrettplanningllc.com

The Town of Groton, known for its rich agricultural history, scenic landscapes, and vibrant open spaces, has taken a major step forward in shaping its future. In partnership with Barrett Planning Group, Nitsch Engineering, and FXM Associates, Groton has updated its townwide Master Plan—a blueprint designed to preserve the town’s identity while providing for thoughtful growth and sustainability. This updated Master Plan dives deep into key areas crucial to Groton’s future, including:

✅ Land Use
✅ Natural & Cultural Resources
✅ Open Space & Recreation
✅ Transportation
✅ Housing & Residential Development
✅ Economic Development
✅ Community Facilities & Services
✅ Sustainability & Resilience

What sets this plan apart is its strong community involvement. Over the past year and a half, the town and consulting team worked hand-in-hand with residents, ensuring their voices were heard and their vision was reflected. The Planning Board played a vital role, going above and beyond to make sure the Plan was inclusive, actionable, and forward-thinking. They emphasized that this should be a living document—not just a plan on paper, but a guide that town leaders will regularly review and refine to keep Groton thriving.

Thanks to this collaborative effort, Groton now has a dynamic roadmap for the future. And in a resounding vote of confidence, the Town’s Planning Board unanimously approved the Plan—setting the stage for a bright and sustainable future!

Chelsea, MA

Posted on by djensen

We work with clients to gain a deep understanding of their challenges, needs, and opportunities and help them be strong, just, and sustainable communities. When a client engages us for additional projects, it signifies a successful partnership and indicates mutual respect. We are proud of our work with the City of Chelsea on three recent projects, all of which exemplify our commitment to them and our ability to deliver tailored solutions.

MBTA Community Zoning
Chelsea is one of 177 communities that must comply with the MBTA Communities Law, which was enacted in 2021 and implemented gradually under guidelines issued by a state agency. The law requires these communities to adopt permissive zoning for multi-family housing near train stations, city centers, or other appropriate locations. The point is to create more housing close to public transit and in walkable neighborhoods.

Working with Chelsea city staff, our team wrote the zoning ordinance to comply with MBTA Communities guidelines. We used Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping work and parcel-by-parcel analysis to ensure the new zoning would meet density and feasibility requirements. Chelsea’s city council adopted the zoning in December 2023, thereby meeting the deadline for “rapid transit” communities. The state has approved the zoning and determined that Chelsea complies with the new law. 

Urban Renewal Plan

Working under an agreement with the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP)’s Complete Neighborhoods Program, our firm is working with Chelsea to amend its decades-old Urban Renewal Plan (URP) for West Chelsea. The original plan, written in 1998, no longer reflects the City’s needs, particularly since the arrival of transit service from the Silver and Commuter Lines. We have worked closely with City leaders to craft an amended URP to support residential and mixed-use revitalization near transit while also aligning with the MBTA Communities Law. 

Strategic Housing Plan

Located just across the Mystic River from Boston, Chelsea is easily accessible to Boston. It became even more accessible once Silver Line and Commuter Rail service opened in West Chelsea in the past few years. That accessibility has catapulted Chelsea’s appeal and opened the City to new market-rate housing development. Recognizing the risk of economic displacement for Chelsea’s low-income residents, City leaders asked us to update their strategic housing plan (which Judi Barrett led in 2016-2017 while employed at another firm). Among other priorities, the Housing & Community Development Department hopes to focus on ways to preserve “naturally occurring affordable housing” (NOAH) and opportunities to create new affordable housing as well.

We are proud of our ongoing partnership with the City of Chelsea to address their community planning needs and create a more resilient housing strategy for future decades.