Just a reminder that the Penacook Winter Farmers Market is still open Wednesdays from 3 - 6 pm at Riverhill Grange, 32 Horse Hill Road at Elm St. Always a great selection and you provide support to our local farmers.
Penacook High School 1993 reunion parade
Thanks to the ongoing archive project by our good friends at ConcordTV, we can watch this classic video taken of the 1993 Penacook High School Reunion Parade. Enjoy!
Redevelopment of 212 Fisherville Rd. property
Coming before the Planning Board on Wednesday, March 20, is the development of a drive-up pizza restaurant and a coffee kiosk at 212 Fisherville Road. The Zoning Board in February decided not to grant a variance to regulations that would have allowed a 24 foot wide driveway for two-way traffic to cut through the buffer zone where a 15 foot vegetative buffer is required. The developer is now applying for a Conditional Use Permit for the construction of a driveway within 200 feet of an adjacent driveway. Materials can be found here: Fisherville Rd – Planning Bd. You can send in your written opinions to Heather Shank at any time, but public testimony will not be at the March 20th meeting. This meeting will only take up the Planning Board's determination of the completeness of the application, not to approve or deny it. The public hearing on this will occur at the April 17 Planning Board meeting if the application is voted complete on Wednesday.
Former Rivco property
I just toured the Newspapers of New England (NNE) printing operations at the former RIVCO site. They will shortly be printing the Concord Monitor there, and are already printing other papers. This is going to be a tremendous, regional operation supplying printed materials to New Hampshire and bordering states, employing 50-80 people in two shifts, and they're currently hiring. I foresee a lot of positive benefits for Penacook.
Brent Todd
Concord Energy and Environment Committee
Please mark your calendars for Concord's Energy and Environment Committee April 27 community input meeting from 2 to 4 pm at the Penacook Community Center gymnasium on Community Drive. Join members of the Committee for a community discussion of Concord's 100% Renewable Energy Strategic Plan. The session will feature a brief presentation of the plan followed by input from the public. The current draft of the plan will be available soon on the City's website.
Concord Monitor
Some of you may have heard that the Concord Monitor building has been listed for sale. I toured the building with Mayor Bouley and Councilor Byron Champlin and discussed options for redevelopment. I'll keep you informed about the potential for reuse, and for development of adjoining property they own.
Brent Todd
Concord FY20 Budget
Shortly, the City Council will be starting meeting sessions for the FY 2020 City budget. The City's proposed draft budget is expected mid-May. I'll be sending you dates for opportunities to appear at the public meetings to provide your input, and as always you can send me your thoughts.
Former Beede Electric property
The Concord Monitor contacted Councilman Brent Todd regarding the status of the former Beede Electric property. His understanding is the person with a controlling interest in the property is trying to lease it out. There are questions about long-term viability due to some condition issues of the building and mitigation of environmental hazards. Stay tuned for more and perhaps a story in the Monitor.
PVA Public Meetings
The Penacook Village Association will be planning a schedule of upcoming public meetings along the lines of the last few on the Rivco property, and Merrimack Valley School District traffic issues. Upcoming topics may include Affordable Housing, and TIF districts. Send me your ideas on topics of interest and I'll pass them on to the PVA.