Next week, in the first of a two-part workshop, residents of Jaffrey can weigh in on ideas for downtown revitalization and how they would like their town center to look after a major road project planned by the state.
Jaffrey has partnered with Carsey School of Public Policy/NH Listens to facilitate two community workshops with the town’s Downtown Revitalization Committee, to continue an ongoing process of determining what residents want for their downtown.
Jaffrey Director of Planning & Economic Development Jo Anne Carr said this conversation is not new, and the upcoming workshops will be building off previous workshops centered around the same conversation. But she said it’s a conversation that is more relevant now than ever, as the town approaches a major roadway project in the downtown.
The project includes the construction of two new roundabouts, one at the intersection of Main Street, Route 202, Blake Street, Stratton Road and Route 124, and the other on River Street. A newly constructed bridge will connect the two roundabouts and create a downtown bypass for Route 202.
The construction is expected to begin in 2024.
“The traffic project has been an initiative of the town and Select Board for more than 20 years,” Carr said. “Trying to keep enthusiasm for this conversation going to 20 years isn’t easy. We have had community meetings, a charrette and downtown dialogues. But now, we know what that road reconfiguration is going to look like, and we need to make decisions about what we want to change downtown – or not change downtown, as the case may be.”
The community conversations will cover topics such as if the town should have – and where to place – features such as pocket parks, welcome centers or information kiosks, as well as aesthetic features for items such as sidewalks, lighting and landscaping, as well as how to make the downtown more walkable and connected to existing draws such as the Monadnock Rail Trail.
“I recognize people have felt a little stuck because this project has been so long to bring forward, and it’s hard for residents and business owners to reinvest in their property if they don’t know what the area is going to look like,” Carr said. “But now we have a handle on what it’s going to be.”
The first workshop is scheduled for Oct. 25, and will focus on information-sharing and discussion. During the session, residents interested in participating will share ideas using discussion in small groups, facilitated by committee members.
In the interim between the first workshop and the second, residents who are participating in the process are encouraged to walk the downtown and take video or photographs of parts of the downtown that are important to them, or of downtown areas from other towns with features they’d like incorporated into Jaffrey.
The second workshop is scheduled for Nov. 10. The workshop will include a summary of findings from the first gathering and the photos, videos or stories of downtown.
Carr said residents have the option to sign up for either session, or both, but said the process is most productive when residents are able to commit to both sessions.
The first workshop session is scheduled for Oct. 25 from 5 to 7:30 p.m., at the Jaffrey Fire Station, located at 138 Turnpike Road in Jaffrey. There will be a meet-and-greet from 5 to 5:30 p.m., with the workshop starting at 5:30 p.m. A light supper will be provided. The second workshop will be at the same time and location, on Nov. 10. Interested residents can register for the workshop at townofjaffrey.com/planning-economic-development/events/31406, or by contacting Carr at the Jaffrey town offices.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.