Charrette Communities
Applications for 2012 now being solicited.
Plan NH asks, “When you look at your community, what do you see?”
Then ask yourself, “What would you like to see?”
Is there an area in your town where you see great potential but don’t know where to begin? Is there a parcel of land that you look at and think, “Our community would really benefit if we could do something there.“? Or, is there a need in your town for a new plan to make it the place where people would love to live, work and/or play?
Plan NH is here with an opportunity for your community to get the assistance it needs.
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
Plan NH is currently seeking applications from New Hampshire communities for our Community Charrette Program.
Towns or groups completing and submitting the application by Friday, March 16, 2012 will be considered for an intensive, two-day brainstorming session, focusing on the issue or need of your choosing.
If your community is selected, a team of Plan NH planning professionals will work in collaboration with your leaders and residents to develop recommendations to help move your town’s vision forward.
WHAT IS A “CHARRETTE”?
“Charrette”, a French word, describes a brief, concentrated time of work. We use this word because it best describes what Plan NH volunteers do over the two days with the communities in which we work.
A Community Charrette is an event designed for the purpose of discovery. It brings together a team of professional volunteers and community residents and leaders and provides a setting where, together, we explore needs and issues pertaining to the quality, condition, characteristics and use of the built environment in that town or village.
The intended outcome of each charrette has five points:
- To initiate open discussion and consideration of the town and its needs
- To inform residents and leaders about what is happening in their community and to have a better understanding of the forces that affect its quality of life
- To use what is learned about the community, in conjunction with the expertise and experience of the Plan NH volunteers, to innovate a new vision of the community’s resources and opportunities.
- To develop a plan inspired by the new vision and composed of specific team recommendations
- To identify specific actions needed for the implementation of the plan.
Plan NH believes that the quality of life for NH residents is represented by the strength and vitality of a triple bottom line: Economic, Social and Environmental well being. We are champions of Smart Growth in New Hampshire. And as such, our membership and volunteers represent professionals from across the state are dedicated to preserving the uniqueness of our State and its communities. The diversity of our membership brings meaningful expertise and innovative perspectives to issues that address NH’s built environment.
Plan NH wants to know, “What is your community’s vision?”
REVIEW CRITERIA
Review of applications for the Community Charrette Program will consider the described projects and be evaluated on the basis of the following key criteria:
- Is the project important to the community as a whole?
- Is the scale of the project appropriate to the two-day time format of the Community Charrette?
- Does the project present unique or interesting planning needs or issues that may benefit from the application of Smart Growth principles or sustainable planning approaches?
- Does the applicant town or group have other means of obtaining the services provided by Plan NH’s Community Charrette Program?
COSTS
The application process is free. Communities endorsed by Plan NH for a two-day Community Charrette will be asked to provide $5000.00 in contribution to Plan NH. This contribution is used to offset out-of-pocket expenses associated with the charrette and the publication of a final report prepared for each charrette.
Larger or more complex projects may warrant alternative charrette approaches. Plan NH welcomes the opportunity to discuss such needs or possibilities with community representatives. In either instance, Plan NH recommends that private sponsors be found to underwrite the contribution for the Community Charrette so that the money does not need to all be drawn from general municipal funds
APPLICATION SCHEDULE
The following are the key dates for Community Charrette Program applications:
- Call for Applications Announced: January 25, 2012
- Deadline for the Submittal of Applications: March 16, 2012
- Review of Applications: March 30, 2012
- Applicants Notified: April 2, 2012
- Charrette Dates: Between May 15 – September 30, 2012
Plan NH wants to work with your community.
Please contact us with any questions about your project ideas. 603-452-PLAN (452-7526) OR info@plannh.org.