What is the Barrington Town Center? (1/5/2023)

The Town Center is a Zoning District around Route 9/125 which is designed to promote quaint mixed-use development with generous civic use and open space.  It is Barrington's 'downtown' but designed to preserve Barrington's rural character while establishing an economic center.  It is one of Barrington's six Zoning Districts which each establish separate land use requirements/limitations for different geographic areas of Barrington.  The Town Center Zoning District encompasses the intersection of Routes 9 and 125 (Calef Highway and Franklin Pierce Highway) extending in all directions but more north and south (Zoning Map).

The Town Center Zoning District was established in 2008.  This was the direct result of a comprehensive visioning process (2007 Town Center Plan).  That 2007 visioning process occurred (in large part) due to the feedback and planning from the 2003 Master Plan update.  Each of these processes centered around listening sessions and resident feedback.

While there has been some limited commercial/development activity in the zone, many recognize that realizing the Town Center vision will require municipal investment.  In March of 2023, voters will be asked to establish a Tax Increment Financing District (TIF) which encompasses the Town Center.  This initiative will allow the Town to reinvest new tax dollars into the Town Center to catalyze the type of economic development envisioned for the Town Center.  Information about the Town Center TIF District can be found at www.barrington.nh.gov/tif.