What is a Master Plan?

What is a Master Plan?  “A master plan is planning document that serves to guide the overall character, physical form, growth, and development of a community… Properly done, a master plan should describe where, how, and at what pace a community desires to develop physically, economically, and socially. In short a master plan functions much like a road map or a blue print; it is a guide to the future.†– Southern NH Regional Planning Commission.  One of the ground rules in preparing or amending a Master Plan is to solicit public input from a wide range of citizens and stakeholders.  The first step in the development of new Master Plans, or the updating of existing Master Plans, is to invite the residents of the community to “Visioning Sessions†to share, develop, and discuss ideas, goals, and visions for the future; this has not been the case in this new update effort in the Town of Rye.

The Long Range Planning Committee (a subcommittee of the Planning Board) with the assistance of the Zoning and Planning Board Administrator, Kim Reed, began updating the 2006-2009 Master Plan in May 2011 (according to the minutes).  To date the public has not been invited to participate in this update.  Now is your chance.  On Wednesday, August 14^th, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., in the Rye Town Hall, the Planning Board will be having a “Work Session†on the Master Plan, to review the draft which has been prepared by the Planning Board members on the subcommittee.  We encourage you to attend the work session and participate in the process by submitting comments in writing prior to the meeting.

To date, the Planning Department has chosen, only recently, to provide only paper copies of the Draft Master Plan.  The RCL has obtained this Draft and is providing a summary of what is new and what changes have been made since the 2006-2009 Master Plan.