Public Workshop

The City has just begun the Marlboro Street & Southeast Keene Neighborhoods’ Zoning Initiative which will explore innovative approaches to encourage redevelopment and enhancements in the area. The initiative will focus on Marlboro Street and the area south of Water Street and east of Main Street. The final result will be proposed zoning and regulations changes that will promote reuse and redevelopment of underutilized properties, improve stormwater management practices, preserve residential neighborhoods, and strengthen the area as a vibrant, walkable, mixed-use district.

To begin, the community is invited to a public workshop on Tuesday, March 26 to provide input. Hosted by the City of Keene, the workshop will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Wheelock School and will feature hands-on exercises that aim to identify the area’s strengths and weaknesses as well as to determine the community’s goals and objectives for Marlboro Street and southeast Keene. Other opportunities for input and participation will follow throughout the spring.

First Workshop Details 

Date:  Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Time:  6 - 8 p.m.

Place:  Wheelock School, 24 Adams Street, Keene

Background Information

The goal of this initiative is to develop zoning and regulatory amendments for consideration by the Keene City Council and the Keene Planning Board to achieve the following objectives:

1.      Pursue the goals of the 2010 Comprehensive Master Plan

2.      Encourage development and redevelopment including small scale business uses that are compatible with other uses and neighborhoods

3.      Preserve intact residential neighborhoods in and near the study area

4.      Allow reuse of former commercial and industrial buildings

5.      Encourage a pedestrian-oriented gateway streetscape including sidewalks, lighting, on-street parking, and other amenities including parks and bicycle access

6.      Recommend soil-appropriate, Low Impact Development (LID), best management practices and possible flood storage options to combine with greenway amenities along Beaver Brook

7.      Preserve the traffic capacity of Marlboro Street

The project’s Steering Committee and the City of Keene Planning Department are guiding this initiative, which is being funded by a New Hampshire Community Planning Grant and City Capital Improvement Program funds. The City hired a professional consultant team, led by the planning and urban design firm The Cecil Group, to help carry out the project.

This consultant team will seek significant and varied input from the community throughout the

Spring of 2013 to better understand the issues and opportunities in the area.  They will reach out to a broad range of stakeholders, including area businesses and property owners, residents, and students of Keene State College, which is located next to the Marlboro Street area. There will be four public workshops, a neighborhood tour, and a visual preference survey as well as interviews and regular Steering Committee meetings. This information will help shape the recommended zoning and regulatory changes that will be implemented by the City of Keene over time. The initiative is expected to be complete by early 2014, with the following schedule:

• Winter to early Spring 2013: Existing Conditions
• Spring 2013: Three Development Scenarios
• Summer 2013: Draft Report and Regulations
• Fall 2013 to Winter 2014: Final Report and Regulations

Additional Information

Contact: City of Keene Planner Michele Chalice at (603) 352-5474.