Planning Board

ADMINISTRATIVE PLANNING REVIEW APPLICATION: 

Administrative Planning Review Application

SITE PLAN APPLICATION:

Major / Minor Site Plan Application

SUBDIVISION APPLICATIONS: 

Subdivision Application

Boundary Line Adjustment Application

Voluntary Merger Application

Conservation Residential Development (CRD) Application

CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT (CUP) APPLICATIONS: 

Cottage Court CUP Application

Congregate Living & Social Service CUP Application

Hillside Protection CUP Application

Solar Energy System CUP Application

Surface Water Protection CUP Application

Telecommunications CUP Application

EARTH EXCAVATION PERMIT APPLICATION:

Earth Excavation Permit Application

The Planning Board's Pre-submission Meeting is generally scheduled to take place on the 1st Thursday of each month in the Conference Room on the 2nd Floor of Keene City Hall, unless otherwise noted on the City calendar. Please contact City staff in the Community Development Department to schedule time on the Pre-submission Meeting Agenda. Walk-ins are accepted. 

The pre-submission meeting is an opportunity for potential applicants to discuss questions and review draft plans with City staff in the Community Development, Public Works, Fire, and Police Departments prior to submitting a formal application to the City for development review. This meeting is advisory only. 

Please note:  Applicants for a Major Site Plan or Subdivision Application must attend some form of a pre-submission meeting with City staff in advance of application submission. 

The current master plan for the City of Keene was adopted by the Planning Board on Monday, September 13, 2010.

View the 2010 Comprehensive Master Plan.

In December 2023, the Planning Board established a Steering Committee to help guide an update to the Master Plan over the next 12-18 months. More information about this committee can be found on the Master Plan Steering Committee webpage. The project website is www.KeeneMasterPlan.com. 

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.

Why is the Master Plan Important?

While the Master Plan is not a legal document, it does provide the legal 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.