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Adoption of the Manchester Land Use Code

Welcome to the official page for the drafting of the Manchester Land Use Code. 

In August of 2021, the Manchester Planning Board adopted the 2021 Manchester Master Plan, which lays out the City's goals for future development.  To make those goals a reality, one of the Master Plan's main recommendations was to update the Manchester Zoning Ordinance and other regulations that deal with land use and devleopment.  The City is following that recommendation by creating a land use code.  The code will assemble in one document as many local laws concerning land use as possible.  An important part of drafting the code will be a year-long process of amending the Manchester Zoning Ordinance to bring it more in line with what today's residents and businesses want for the Queen City. 

Although the Master Plan incorporates the results of a robust campaign of public engagement, the City will be soliciting further comments from the public, as well as elected and appointed officials, to inform the drafting of the code.  To comment on what you think should be in the new Manchester Land Use Code, please send an e-mail to LUC@manchesternh.gov.  

Picture indicating large milestones that have been completed in the timeline for the creation of a new Land Use Code. Remaining milestones include embarking on a public review and comment period, as well as drafting a final code that can be presented for adoption by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. Please see below for a more detailed list of completed milestones.

Completed Milestones

Master Plan Started - April 25, 2019
Plan-A-Palooza - September 12-17, 2019 at the DoubleTree Hotel
Public Draft of Master Plan Released - November 2, 2020
Land Use Code Contract with Consultant Signed - June 23, 2021
Master Plan Adopted by Planning Board - August 5, 2021
Project Initiation Meeting for Land Use Code - October 6, 2021
Interdepartmental Meeting with DPW, Fire, and Water Works - December 2, 2021
Website Went Live - December 10, 2021
Land Use Code Kickoff Meeting for the Public - December 15, 2021
Meeting with Zoning Board of Adjustment - January 5, 2022
Policymaker Interviews with Planning Board and Board of Mayor and Aldermen - January 6, 7, and 11, 2022
  • TPUDC held interviews of up to 30 minutes with all members of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and Planning Board who wanted to share their ideas for what should be included in the land use code. 
Code-A-Palooza - March 7 & 8, 2022 in the Spotlight Room of the Palace Theater
  • Two full days and evenings of presentations and workshops about zoning in Manchester.  The workshops were about topics like Streets & Connectivity, Sustainability, and Character & Housing.
Stakeholder Interviews - May 24, 2022; June 2 & 3, 2022
  • In addition to other public outreach, we held group discussions with people whose professional or volunteer work involves Manchester’s built or natural environment, including developers, designers, housing advocates, transportation advocates, business leaders, and interested citizens.
Receipt of Ordinance and Zoning Map First Drafts - September 7, 2022
First Round of Staff Comments and Edits Sent to Consultant - December 30, 2022

Land Use Code Announcements