Master Plan | Barrington NH

What is the Master Plan?

A Master Plan is a planning document that serves to guide the overall character, physical form and development of a community (RSA 674:2). It describes how, why, where, and when to build or rebuild a city or town. It provides guidance to local officials making decisions on budgets, ordinances, capital improvements, zoning and subdivision matters, and other development related issues.

While the Master Plan is not a legal document, it does provide the legal basis for zoning and other land use regulations. Specifically, in order to adopt a zoning ordinance (RSA 674:18), the Planning Board must have adopted a master plan with, a minimum, vision, and land use sections (RSA 674:2). In addition, certain there are certain types of ordinances that cannot be legally adopted, or certain grants may not be feasible unless an up-to-date master plan is place.

The Master Plan helps to shape the community and plan for future development while recognizing the need to protect the Towns most valuable resources. The Master Plan document is one cohesive document of all the combined chapters.One of the Land Use Department annual goal is to update/new chapter of the Town of Barrington Master Plan every year. Therefore, the Master Plan PDF will be updated once adopted and certified on an annual basis, and the new chapter will be incorporated into the existing Master Plan and updated on the website.

The recent update is June 20, 2023 and can be found here: www.barrington.nh.gov/2023MasterPlan

Who is Responsible for the Master Plan?

The Planning Board is responsible for preparing, amending, and adopting the Town’s Master Plan RSA 674:3) The Town of Barrington utilizes committees that include volunteers along with organizations such as Strafford Regional Planning during the update process. The Planning Board established a process of updating the Master Plan one section/chapter at a time in 2016.

What is the Planning Board currently working on?

The Town of Barrington was awarded a grant agreement between the Town and the New Hampshire Housing Financing Authority on January 25, 2023, for Needs Analysis & Planning, for updating the Master Plan for Housing. The Strafford Regional Planning Council (SRPC) is working with a steering committee of Town staff and volunteers for this update. During this endeavor, SRPC has been working with the steering committee and with the community to provide direct input into Barrington's housing needs, challenges, preferences, and opportunities.

Currently, SRPC is analyzing the data and working with the housing subcommittee for the Housing Master Plan Chapter Rough Draft and incorporating housing goals from the community survey.