Town of Hampton Flood Smart Seacoast Project

In 2021, the Town of Hampton received grant funding, from the Piscataqua Region Estuaries partnership (PREP), to review its existing land use regulations with the ultimate goal of drafting amendments for the Planning Board and the Town's voters to consider. The purpose of these proposed changes is to improve Hampton’s coastal resilience and mitigate the negative impacts of sea level rise and climate change on the community.  Hampton worked with a consulting firm, Resilience Planning and Design, to audit the existing land use regulations and present recommendations for integrating New Hampshire’s Coastal Flood Risk Guidance. The project involved a public outreach and education component, including a presentation at the June 9, 2022 SHEA Flood Smart Roundtable event. The PREPA grant project was completed in June of 2022.  Provided is a copy of the report generated for the project.

The important work from the PREPA grant project presently continues under a Flood Smart Seacoast Technical Assistance award, offered through the New Hampshire Flood Smart Seacoast Project of Special Merit and funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office for Coastal Management. The Town is working with the NHDES Coastal Program, the Rockingham Planning Commission, and a local steering committee to: (1) Improve compliance with the New Hampshire State Building Code and (2) Incorporate higher floodplain management standards, including but not limited to new Sea-Level Rise Design Flood Elevation (SLR-DFE).

IMPORTANT BACKGROUND INFORMATION

NH Coastal Flood Risk Summary, Part II Guidance for Using Scientific Projections

Video about the NH Coastal Flood Risk Summary, Part 2: Guidance for Using Scientific Projections

MATERIALS FROM THE SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION

PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION PRESENTATION

PRELIMINARY DRAFT ZONING AMENDMENT

SUPPLEMENTAL DOCUMENT EXPLAINING THE PROPOSED HIGHER STANDARDS

For additional information about the project, please contact the Hampton Planning Office at (603) 929-5913.