Housing and Neighborhoods

Strategic Theme

This theme focuses on improving the quality of housing and neighborhoods in our community.

6
Total
Objectives
23
Total
Action Items
4
Completed
Action Items
32
Total
KPIs
8
Completed
KPIs

Vision Statement

The City of Lebanon shall actively foster a diverse range of housing opportunities and choices for current and prospective residents, and will strive to promote the development of diverse, sustainable neighborhoods that reflect Lebanon’s “small-town” character and distinctiveness.

The City of Lebanon shall encourage a range of housing options for all segments of the population. New housing development should contribute positively to existing neighborhoods and create safe and desirable new neighborhoods consistent with the other planning goals of the City as expressed in this Master Plan.

An inclusive community has a range of housing types to meet the needs of a diverse population. Those housing types include:

  • Single Family
  • Multi-Family (spanning duplexes to large apartment buildings)
  • Elderly Housing
  • Accessory Dwelling Units
  • Manufactured Housing
  • Temporary Housing - Homeless Shelters and Transitional Housing Units

The housing inventory of the City must include a mix to meet the affordability needs of its residents such that no more than 30% of combined household income is committed to housing. That mix of housing affordability includes:

  • Market Rate Housing
  • Workforce Housing
  • Low Income Housing

Chapter 7 of the City’s Master Plan is incorporated into this Strategic Plan.

Access to safe shelter is a basic necessity for all people, the absence of which can result in severe health, social, and economic harms to both individuals and communities. The City of Lebanon shall seek to support its residents who have been afflicted by homelessness by establishing and facilitating the means by which the people of the City can prevent or overcome homelessness. The goal of the City is to ensure all residents have access to permanent, secure housing, and temporary housing is for many people a necessary step towards permanent housing and therefore a component of this goal.

Responsible Groups

City Departments

City Manager Human Services Library Planning and Development Public Works

Boards and Committees

Housing Task Force Lebanon Energy Advisory Committee Planning Board

Community Partners

Housing Authority Housing First Upper Valley LISTEN TLC Recovery Programs The Haven Twin Pines Housing Upper Valley Public Health Network

Strategic Objectives

Primary objectives under this strategic theme

2.1 Facilitate the healthy continuum of Development/Redevelopment of Housing.
2.1.1 Update the Housing chapter of the Master Plan.
Establish the Lebanon Housing Task Force
2.1.2 Review City-owned parcels for potential disposition and redevelopment.
Make recommendations for possible development of open lots in addition to possible zoning changes to encourage further infill development by July 2024.
Identify parcels to recommend for development to City Council.
2.1.3 Complete pattern zoning study.
Complete study by September 2024.
2.1.4 Expand the City’s Community Revitalization Tax Relief Incentive
Create a Residential Property Revitalization Zone per RSA 79-E:4-b and a Housing Opportunity Zone per RSA 79-E:4-c by December 2024.
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2.2 Work cooperatively with City boards and committees, as well as external partners, to address homelessness.
2.2.1 Partner with community members to improve local data collection for unhoused individuals and families.
Increase in number of local service providers who enter data into Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
Increase in number of volunteers and breadth of outreach locations for annual Point-in-Time counts.
2.2.2 Use the Housing First group to analyze local data and determine housing options to meet the needs of the unhoused.
Assessment of Recovery Housing in the Upper Valley was completed August 2024.
Assessment of need for additional housing for specific populations (e.g. those experiencing mental health challenges).
2.2.3 Partner with community providers to provide low-barrier shelter options.
Increase in number of shelter beds.
Reduction in unsheltered population.
2.2.4 Partner with a local property management company to lease city-owned property for transitional housing.
Increase in number of short-term housing units receiving supportive services.
Decrease in length of stay at shelter.
2.2.5 Partner with a local service provider to provide supportive services to individuals and families living in city-owned transitional housing.
Increase in number of short-term housing units receiving supportive services.
Increase in number of households who move from interim housing to permanent housing.
2.2.6 Include addressing Homelessness as a pillar of the Housing Chapter Master Plan.
Housing Chapter Master Plan update beginning in late summer and fall 2024 and any required zoning changes to facilitate development of homeless shelters and services
2.2.7 Collaborate with outside organizations and city departments to provide social work at the library.
Number of hours of availability of social workers.
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2.3 Revise Land Use Regulations to limit barriers to development/redevelopment while nurturing neighborhood character.
2.3.1 Pattern Zoning Infill Study
Passage of Zoning Changes from the Pattern Zoning study. Council changes considered upon submission. and Referendum changes in the 2025 Cycle.
2.3.2 Inclusionary Zoning Study
Identify funding for preparation of study. $25,000 est.
2.3.3 Update Housing Chapter of the Master Plan
Identify working group and consultant in preparation of massive overhaul of this chapter
2.3.4 Develop and Adopt Minimum Housing Standards
2.3.4 - City Council adoption of new policy
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2.4 Develop a comprehensive Citywide housing strategy.
2.4.1 Master Plan Housing Chapter Update.
Establish committee and timeline to provide deliverable. Develop a KPI for the Housing Measurement extracted from software.
2.4.2 Develop tools/metrics to measure housing market (new units, ADUs, redevelopment, number of permits, etc) and communicate via website
Software development and make available; clearly communicate metrics, Build tracking into OpenGov Permit Software Metrics.
Maintain and improve NHBEA Housing Champion Designation score to adopt new measures and be eligible for grant funding. Renewal due Dec. 2027.
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2.5 Development of policies and a plan to move new residential construction toward being zero carbon ready

Development of policies and a plan to move new residential construction toward being zero carbon ready, being mindful of how collaboration with other stakeholders, planning regulations, zoning, and building codes might best support and encourage sustainable and affordable development such as through creative infill and construction. High-performance energy efficient buildings that can run on renewable or zero-carbon energy.

2.5.1 Define, scope, and implement creative infill techniques and high performing standards within the Pattern Zones study
KPI 2.5.1 Energy Code updates require substantial study to demonstrate that new requirements exceed State standards. Identify study funding amounts and potential sources.
2.5.2 Conduct a study to meet State regulatory requirements to adopt Energy Code updates.
KPI 2.5.2 Demonstrate early implementation of Energy Code and high-performance building standards with City projects, such as Central Fire Station, Cottage Cluster Housing, and Childcare Center
2.5.3 Review City Planning, Zoning, and Procurement policies and review model policies for reform opportunities that identify and implement energy efficiency, decarbonization, and renewable energy resource adoption best practices.
KPI 2.5.3 Develop a tool that measures citywide carbon use, energy consumption, and renewables to quantify the impact of reduction measures and actions.
2.5.4 Engage with stakeholders to explore and understand the current state of NH Building Code updates and harmonize the adoption horizon for individual municipal building code and energy efficiency updates.
KPI 2.5.5 Develop a hierarchy of priorities for high performance buildings to maximize affordability and inherent energy efficiency
KPI 2.5.4 Procurement policies include opportunities that identify and implement energy efficiency, decarbonization and renewable energy resource adoption.
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2.6 City-led development of new, for sale housing on City-owned parcels

City-led development of new, for sale housing on City-owned parcels.

2.6.1 Evaluate City-owned parcels with redevelopment potential per City Council policy CC-102, Real Property Transaction Policy
Identify one or more City-owned parcels with redevelopment potential
2.6.2 Utilize InvestNH grant funds, innovative zoning provisions, and Pattern Zoning study results to design and develop infill housing projects on City-owned properties.
Planning and Design for infill development at other City-owned properties
Planning, Design, and Permitting completed for infill development at Barrows Street by Q1 of 2025
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