2025 Comprehensive Master Plan
What is a Master Plan?
A Master Plan is a long-range plan for a community that provides guidance for city-wide growth and development patterns, investments, and initiatives. It provides the foundation for determining effective public policy, master planning, and land use decisions for the future. In addition, it serves as the guiding policy document for many of the City’s most critical decisions, such as redevelopment decisions, zoning changes, and capital investments. A Master Plan should reflect the needs, values, and priorities of the community while safeguarding the City’s sense of place, history, and natural resources.
View the Adopted 2025 Comprehensive Master Plan (PDF)
Why is the Master Plan Important?
While the Master Plan is not a legal document, it does provide the basis for zoning and other land use regulations. In New Hampshire, a Master Plan with a Vision Section and a Future Land Use Section is required in order for a local community to enact zoning, establish a capital improvement program, or adopt a historic district. The Master Plan also establishes the legal standing for implementation of ordinances and other planning board regulations. State statute recommends that communities update their master plans every 5-10 years.
Learn more about the creation of the 2025 Master Plan – Visit the Vision Keene 20-Forward Portal
Previous Master Plan
On Monday, September 13, 2010, the Keene Planning Board voted unanimously to adopt the Keene Comprehensive Master Plan 2010. The City Council Planning, Licenses and Development Committee voted to recommend full Council endorsement via Resolution 2010-32.
Download the 2010 Comprehensive Master Plan.