Current Projects

There are a few new projects underway in town. Three new housing lots have been developed at the intersection of Oxbow and Middle Oxbow Roads. These houses have gone up quickly and the town is already welcoming several new residents. For more information on available residential and / or commercial building lots please contact the community development office or visit the Hinsdale Economic Development Corporation website at www.hinsdaleadvantage.com. You can reach the community development office at 603-336-5727, ext. 17. You can reach HEDC at 603-499-5726.

The lot currently being developed on Brattleboro Road will be the future home of Riverside Food, Brews and Wine. Riverside will be moving from its George's Field location into a new 7200 sq ft facility. The store will occupy 4800 square feet and offer the 2400 square feet for lease.

The McGoldrick property on Canal Street is slated for demolition this summer. After the building has been removed the town will be applying for a grant to cap the site, making it ready for redevelopment. This project has been a work in progress for many years. Through the efforts of many people, the site has undergone extensive environmental assessments and remediation. The work has been accomplished through state and federal programs. The demolition and capping are being paid for through grants. There has been no cost to the taxpayers. Once redeveloped, the property can be put back on the tax rolls and contribute to our tax base.

Master Plan Updates

What Is A Master Plan?

The master plan acts as a guide for the future.
It identifies the most appropriate future development of the community and aids the Planning Board in designing ordinances that achieve the Master Plan’s vision and result in smart growth, sound planning and wise resource protection.

It is the duty of every Planning Board in New Hampshire, as established by RSA 673:1, to prepare and amend a master plan to guide the growth and development of the municipality.

On April 18, 2023 a public hearing was held to adopt the revisions to Chapter 4 of the master plan, which addresses economic development.
The update includes goals and identifies timeframes, action items, partners (who will perform the actions), potential funding sources, and outputs (what will come from the action items).

STATUS OF ACTION ITEMS

Assess extent and condition of the existing public water and sewer systems. (A.1-A.3)

Hinsdale’s water Superintendent was able to secure a grant to help assess the town’s water distribution system. A similar grant is being looked at for the wastewater system.

Exploring feasibility of rehabilitating abandoned RR bridge for bike/ped use. (A.4)

Our town administrator is pursuing leads on grant funding for this project.

Coordinate with NHDOT and other partners regarding rehabilitation of existing Hinsdale-Brattleboro Bridges on NH 119. (A.5)

In progress.

Assess local broadband connectivity and access. (A.6)

In progress.

Clarify and formalize the process for capital improvements program (CIP) development. (B-1)

The town administrator is working department heads on a CIP.

Meet annually with the school board to exchange information about anticipated capital expenditures. (B.2)

Meeting date TBD

Recruit new volunteers to serve on municipal committees. (B.3)

No progress to report

Hold at least one business networking event per year. (C.1 -C.2)

Chief Rataj & Sarah Hudon held an event with local business owners to gauge interest in starting a Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce.

Recruit an intern and/or real estate professional to conduct outreach re: development opportunities along NH 119. (D.1)

Currently being addressed by volunteers of the Hinsdale Economic Development Corporation (HEDC)

Raise the profile of properties eligible for development by connecting owners with prospective buyers and tenants, as well as other resources. (D.2)

Currently being addressed by volunteers of the Hinsdale Economic Development Corporation (HEDC)

Inventory tax-deeded and publicly owned parcels and evaluate economic development potential. (E.1)

Ongoing between the tax collector and board of selectmen

Conduct follow-up environmental assessment work at the McGoldrick Property. (E.2)

The town administrator is working closely with Southwest Regional Planning Commission on this item. Phase 1 and Phase 2 assessments have been completed. Contaminants stored inside the building have been removed as part of an EPA training exercise (at no cot to the town). The town is currently waiting on approval of a demolition grant to remove the structures on the property. Once the buildings are gone, the town will apply for a separate grant to cap the site.

Resolve outstanding water bill for the McGoldrick Property. (E.3)

No Update

Reform/reconvene TIF advisory board to assess whether the Town’s TIF district should be modified or dissolved. (F.1)

In progress. Inquiries of past members have been made.

Consider adopting the Community Revitalization Tax Relief Incentive to encourage infill development and improvements in downtown Hinsdale. (F.2)

Not yet addressed.

Conduct a thorough review of residential land use regulations to remove barriers to right-sized housing development. (G.1)

The Planning Board has identified two potential barriers and will be bringing froward to two warrant articles to adjust the zoning regulations in the Commercial Industrial and Rural Agricultural Districts in March 2024.

Develop and promote video series highlighting Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs) in Hinsdale. (H.1)

No progress to report

Support the ELO program by offering ELOs within municipal departments. (H.2)

Happening on a limited basis.

Click here to review Chapter 4 of the Master Plan (Economic Development)

Click here to review the entire Master Plan

Depot Street Bridge

The Depot Street Bridge needs major repairs. The estimated cost of repair is $426,068.00. There will be a need for a bond for this proposed warrant article. The warrant article will be written for a 15-year bond. The Town is able to reduce the need in the amount of $125,000.00 with funds saved in the roads and bridges concentration account. The amount of the bond will be $301.068.00. If the bond is approved at Town Meeting in March, the first payment would be $7851.58 due 2-15-2025. The fifteen annual payments would begin 2-15-2026 in the amount of $39,167.58 and reduce annually to $20,500.00, with the final payment due 2-15-2039.

The bridges expansion joints that serves the uphill (South) end of the bridge, has become non-functional, and in need of replacement. The failure of this joint has resulted in water mitigation to the below-deck limits of the structure, and is causing significant deterioration in the concrete, as well as substantial corrosion in the structural steel beams and bearing assemblies.

The North end expansion joint was found to be full of road debris. The pavement on both sides of the top surface is de-laminating, and the rubber bladder that directs the water has pulled from its’ retainer and has failed in the center of the bridge. The failure of this joint has resulted in water migration to the below-deck limits of the structure, and is causing significant deterioration in the concrete, as well as substantial corrosion in the structural steel beams and bearing assemblies.

The interior girders the north abutment have significant section loss. These girders have substantial amounts of pack rust, and one of the girders has fully corroded the bearing location. Further removal of the pack rust will determine the full extent of the deterioration. The abutment seat on the north abutment has some significant cracks in the front face. The depths of these cracks are unknown, and further investigation is needed.

The top wearing surface of the structure is exhibiting signs of de-lamination. The drain at the south end, has broken castings, possibly causing a tire/biking hazard. Overall, the condition of this structure is found to be in good condition. The deficiencies found, and items recommended for repair, will help to substantially prolong the life of the structure. If these issues are not addressed, these concerns can be expected to exponentially worsen in a short period of time. Any question pertaining to this proposed warrant article please contact Kathryn Lynch at 603-336-5710, ext. 11.

Housing

While there are many factors that influence workforce recruitment and retention, a sufficient and diversified supply of housing is a central concern. In addition to its connections with workforce, housing development is an important economic driver in its own right. Although the common perception is that residential development creates a net loss from a municipal revenue standpoint, the opposite is often true, depending on the location and type of housing in question.

Hinsdale saw a boom in residential development in the 1970s and 1980s, a trend that halted by the 1990s. Growth also slowed across the region at the state, but to a lesser degree. Over the last decade, Hinsdale saw a net decrease in the number of residential units, with the overall supply shrinking from 1,827 units in 2010 to 1,814 units in 2020.

Diversity in local housing stock can be important for workforce recruitment and retention. The lack of growth in Hinsdale’s multi-unit housing supply may make it difficult for local employers, especially those seeking to fill low or middle-wage positions, to attract workers. Multifamily housing often serves as a critical sources of workforce housing, including for many essential workers like nurses, teachers, childcare professionals, tradespeople, and others.

Housing Needs Survey

As part of a $100 million InvestNH initiative, the Town of Hinsdale is participating in the Community Housing Navigator program. This program is intended to help New Hampshire communities understand and address their housing needs at a time when the state is experiencing record low-vacancy rates and an acute shortage of available and affordable housing. This is a community-driven process that starts with communication. Please take a moment to complete this Housing Needs Survey. The quality of this effort is largely determined by the level of participation from the community. Thank you for your time and interest!

If you have any questions or additional comments, please reach out to Josh Green, Community Development Department, at propertyrecords@hinsdalenh.org.

Click this link to access the survey. Thank you! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L2Q9RNH

Town Hall Forum - Housing Session

On Thursday, October 5^th, Hinsdale residents gathered at Town Hall for an evening of information and discussion about three related topics: Town infrastructure, economic development, and housing. After opening remarks by Town Community Development Coordinator, Josh Green, participants were invited to join a breakout discussion at one of three tables arranged at opposite corners of the Town Hall Assembly Hall. Participants were welcome to join more than one breakout session if interested. Between 30 and 40 people participated in the Town Hall. Rik Ekstrom, the Southwest Region Planning Commission’s Community Housing Navigator facilitated the discussions at the Housing Table. The following is an overview of the discussions held by participants in the Housing breakout session.

The Housing table attracted between seven and eight people. The discussion began with an almost unanimous declaration that Hinsdale needs more senior housing and assisted living facilities at affordable prices. A number of elderly property owners, one couple reported, are facing liens for unpaid back property taxes. Costs are too high, taxes are too high, they said. This led to a discussion about the relationship between the school district population and property taxes. The Hinsdale School District contributes to the highest proportion of resident’s tax bill.

We discussed the frequent misperception that attracting more families with children to Hinsdale will result in higher property taxes because of increased school enrollment. A schoolteacher in the group noted that Hinsdale added 23 new students last year but is still well below capacity. We discussed the regional deficit in student enrollment and the impact on cost/student ratios. Hinsdale is the only fully integrated (K-12) district in the county, other than Keene. The school system also attracts new residents, remarked one attendee who speaks regularly with a local real estate agent.

We discussed the general impact of an aging population in Hinsdale and the region, and the related implications for economic development, the schools, and the diversity of the population.

Hinsdale also has a number of infrastructural maintenance and capacity issues that contribute to the tax structure. The group talked about grant and incentive programs that the Town is currently pursuing in order to stay in front of many of these issues. People felt that the completion of the new bridge between Hinsdale and Brattleboro will increase economic activity in Hinsdale. All agreed that extending water and sewer north along Rt. 119 would be a good idea, but there were concerns about how to pay for it. The former McGoldrick industrial property was referenced as a potential mixed-use development opportunity, but concerns were raised about monitoring the toxicity of this Brownfield site. One participant referenced New York State’s programs for bringing major water / sewer upgrades to rural communities.

The group talked about the comparable needs of older residents and young people, including new families. Both are looking for smaller, attractive, affordable, manageable housing. One gentleman referenced cottage cluster development as an intriguing idea.

One participant noted that there is a significant shortage of rental housing at any price in Hinsdale. The session facilitator had searched for available housing affordable to someone making $25/hr. prior to the meeting and found only one available apartment in Hinsdale that would be within the recommended price range. This was a studio. If a perspective renter were a single parent, this situation would not be ideal.

The facilitator suggested that some of Hinsdale’s residential districts might support more density by creating more Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and duplexes. While everyone seemed to agree that this was a good idea, some were not aware that ADUs were allowable in Hinsdale.

Not one of the participants knew about the Comprehensive Housing Survey that was recently distributed via the mail with the Town newsletter. The survey is also available online through a link on the Town’s website or direct access here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L2Q9RNH

The housing discussion concluded with one of the participants expressing concern about whether there would be some action that resulted from this effort. A lack of follow up, he suggested, might dampen people’s enthusiasm for new ideas. Another participant complained about what he feels is a lack of excitement, energy, and community spirit in recent years in Hinsdale, and he hoped that the discussions at this Town Hall might foster a greater level of participation by the community.

The evening ended with everyone coming back together as a single group where the leaders of each table reported on key take-aways from the breakout sessions. The interdependency of all three topics was clear and participants again asked that there be some follow-up with the community after the event.