Zoning is a regulatory tool that determines allowed land uses for different areas in a community. Zoning can restrict certain types of development and can encourage other kinds of development. Conway’s current zoning does not align with the community’s vision for the future – for example, current zoning for Conway’s villages encourages large, big box style development with large parking areas in locations where it is not desired by residents. Conway’s quaint, walkable villages could not be rebuilt in their current form according to the Town’s zoning rules. Likewise, Conway’s current zoning could provide stronger support for the development of needed housing (including affordable housing) and the preservation of agricultural lands, among other opportunities.

The Town of Conway has partnered with Barrett Planning Group, LLC and SE Group to involve residents, staff, and the Conway Planning Board with a zoning update. The Conway Master Plan, released in 2024, identified updating Conway’s zoning map and land use regulations as one of two major “catalyst projects” to achieve the Master Plan Vision.

The process to update the Zoning Ordinance for the Town of Conway requires extensive and iterative involvement from community members. While data and a variety of government and institutional resources play an important part in a zoning rewrite, community members’ knowledge about the town’s neighborhoods and lived experience play a fundamental role in assessing land use and zoning. The scope of this Engagement Plan includes both Phase I and II of the intended rezoning in the Town’s bylaw.

The future land use map released in the Master Plan will inform the changes made to the Zoning Ordinance to align future visioning and regulatory action. The Master Plan is not a binding, legal document; however, a Master Plan is required for a community to adopt any zoning ordinance, subdivisions, or site plan review regulations in New Hampshire.