Planning Links

This page contains links to web sites of interest to planners in New Hampshire grouped as follows:

• State and Federal
• Regional, State and National Planning Organizations
• Municipal Associations, NPO’s, and other resources

State and Federal

• NH State Government
  The official web site for the State of New Hampshire. Contains a comprehensive listing of state agencies and detailed information for all New Hampshire cities and towns.
• NH GRANIT
  The New Hampshire Geographically Referenced Analysis and Information Transfer System (NH GRANIT) is a cooperative project to create, maintain, and make available a statewide geographic data base serving the information needs of State, regional and local government decision-makers.
• Department of Environmental Services - Drinking Water Source Protection Program
  The Drinking Water Source Protection Program uses regulatory and non-regulatory approaches to protect--and to encourage and assist water suppliers, municipalities, and the public to protect--groundwater and public water supply sources.
• Bicycle/Pedestrian Information Center
  This web site is devoted to New Hampshire’s cyclists and pedestrians! Visit for bike/ped news and info, maps, tours and links to other popular bicycle and pedestrian Internet web sites.
• US Census Bureau
  Visit here to find all types of Census data including the 2000 Census of Population & Housing, County Business Patterns, Economic Census and Current Population Survey(CPS) information.
• USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service in New Hampshire (NRCS)
  The soil map is a crucial component of a town master plan. Meet the federal agency which provides information on soils in New Hampshire.
• The UNH Technology Transfer Center (T2 Center)
  Their mission: To foster safe, efficient, environmentally sound local roads in New Hampshire by improving road managers’ and crews' knowledge of technology and management through education and training, a quarterly newsletter, technical assistance, and other means of technology transfer.

Regional, State and National Planning Organizations

• New Hampshire Association of Regional Planning Commissions>
  This web site makes available data, maps, and reports developed by New Hampshire’s nine Regional Planning Commissions through an ongoing New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) Seed Equity for Economic Development (SEED) capacity grant program.
• Northern New England Chapter of the American Planning Association (NNECAPA)
  This chapter of APA, representing Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, provides a forum for citizens and professional planners to exchange ideas, discuss pressing issues and participate in professional development activities.
• New Hampshire Planners Association (NHPA)
  The New Hampshire Planners Association promotes, assists, and supports the professional planner in the goal of achieving planning excellence to improve the quality of life today and tomorrow in New Hampshire’s communities.
• Maine Association of Planners (MAP)
  The Maine Association of Planners is a professional organization dedicated to enhancing the professional practice of planning in Maine. Their homepage is intended to enhance one’s membership in the organization by providing information for planners and friends of planning. Professionals in planning related fields, such as Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Engineering, Public Administration and Law are encouraged to join. Membership also offers the ability to network through our on-line membership list.
• Vermont Planners Association (VPA)
  The Vermont Planners Association is an organization made up of public and private sector planners, zoning administrators, landscape architects, community development officials, engineering consultants, developers, and others from across the Green Mountain State. The organization is dedicated to advancing the art and science of land use planning in the state of Vermont and beyond.
• The American Planning Association (APA) and the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP)
  In these pages, you will find a clearinghouse of information on programs, services, and publications offered by the APA and AICP.
• Cyburbia.org
  Cyburbia, the Internet’s oldest portal site for urban planners and others interested in cities and the built environment, contains a selective directory of Internet resources relevant to planning and urbanism. Cyburbia also includes information about mailing lists and newsgroups, and it hosts a very active bulletin board and image hosting gallery.
• Planning Commissioners Journal
  Now in its 13th year, the Planning Commssioners Journal is the nation’s principal publication designed for citizen planners, including (but certainly not limited to) members of local planning commissions and zoning boards. Over 7,500 citizen planners in all 50 states receive the PCJ.
• PLANetizen
  PLANetizen is a public-interest information exchange provided by Urban Insight for the urban planning, design and development community. We provide a daily, one-stop source for urban planning news, job opportunities, commentary and events.

Municipal Associations, NPO’s, and other resources

• Local Government Center
  This non-profit association provides a host of services to communities including, legal, legislative, communications, finance, personnel, low-cost insurances, training and more.
• The New Hampshire Local Government Information Network (NHLoGIN)
  NHLoGIN is an organization promoting discussion and information sharing for and between New Hampshire government officials.
• NH Association of Conservation Commissions (NHACC)
  Go to the Green Links page for links directly to many conservation commission web sites around the state.
• Center for Land Conservation Assistance
  The Center for Land Conservation Assistance (CLCA) provides support for groups and individuals seeking to conserve land in New Hampshire. CLCA provides direct assistance, referrals, education, information about funding and training opportunities and networking. CLCA provides support to and facilitates cooperation between the many land trusts in New Hampshire, as well as to conservation commissions and others.
• Consevation Law Foundation - Transportation for Livable Communities
  TLC is a resource for people working to create more livable communities by improving transportation. Transportation affects not just how we get places, but what those places are like.
• EcoIQ Land Planning & Conservation
  The EcoIQ.com Land Use web site is for everyone interested in making smart choices about land use in our communities – choices that are both economically and ecologically intelligent. EcoIQ.com incorporates other topic-focused sites covering the most important subjects in understanding and managing the coming transition to sustainability. It is also the hub of the Eco Family of web sites.
• NH Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP)
  The intent of the program is to conserve and preserve this state’s most important natural, cultural, and historical resources through the acquisition of lands, and cultural and historical resources, or interests therein, of local, regional, and statewide significance, in partnership with the state’s municipalities and the private sector, for the primary purposes of protecting and ensuring the perpetual contribution of these resources to the state’s economy, environment, and overall quality of life.
• New Hampshire Minimum Impact Development Partnership
  Welcome to the NH Minimum Impact Development site: a collection of practical information for professionals and citizens to serve as a guide for creating attractive, healthy, and cost effective building and land development.
• Plan NH
  A forum to improve the New Hampshire community through excellence in planning, design, and development.
• The Downtown Resource Center
  The Downtown Resource Center (formerly the NH Main Street Center) is dedicated specifically to maintaining, strengthening and revitalizing the physical, economic and cultural characteristics of the state's traditional and historic downtown urban and village centers by supporting and working with community Main Street Programs.
• Society of Soil Scientists of Northern New England (SSSNNE)
  The Society of Soil Scientists of Northern New England is a nonprofit, professional organization of soil scientists, dedicated to the advancement of soil science. The Society seeks to educate itself and the public in the wise use of soil resources and natural resource information, thus contributing to the general human welfare and quality of life.
• Resource Clearinghouse for Rapidly Growing Communities
  The Resource Clearinghouse for Rapidly Growing Communities was created for growing communities in New England needing a fast and simple way to access assistance, resources, and knowledge in order to preserve New England community character, conserve open space and natural resources, and to protect the environment and human health.
• The Active Living Network
  Active living is a way of life that integrates physical activity into daily routines. The Active Living Network promotes activity-friendly community design, which creates safe and convenient opportunities for people to walk or bike between destinations.
• New England Futures
  New England Futures is a marketplace of ideas for the future of New England engaging an open and growing collaboration of citizens, businesses, academia, government, media, foundations and non profits. The goal is to ensure that the region is thriving in the 21st century. Harnessing their entrepreneurial spirit and ingenuity, New Englanders together will shape an ambitious agenda for action and take the steps necessary for achieving that agenda.
• Northeast Resource Recovery Association
  In 1981, four New Hampshire municipalities founded the Northeast Resource Recovery Association (Co-op), then called the New Hampshire Resource Recovery Association, to provide a clearinghouse for current, up to date information and a source of technical and marketing assistance in the general areas of waste reduction and recycling.