During a walk hosted by the Lebanon Conservation Commission, Barbara Hirai, of West Lebanon, N.H., talks about plants that are native to floodplain forests as well as those that are invasive, like the Japanese knotweed by her feet that overtakes sunny areas like riverbanks, while standing by the confluence of the Mascoma and Connecticut rivers at Two Rivers Conservation Area in West Lebanon, N.H., on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. “We’re hoping to get people interested in this area,” Hirai said of the oft-forgotten natural area tucked behind the Target shopping plaza. (Valley News / Report For America - Alex Driehaus) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.
During a walk hosted by the Lebanon Conservation Commission, Barbara Hirai, of West Lebanon, N.H., talks about plants that are native to floodplain forests as well as those that are invasive, like the Japanese knotweed by her feet that overtakes sunny areas like riverbanks, while standing by the confluence of the Mascoma and Connecticut rivers at Two Rivers Conservation Area in West Lebanon, N.H., on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. “We’re hoping to get people interested in this area,” Hirai said of the oft-forgotten natural area tucked behind the Target shopping plaza. (Valley News / Report For America - Alex Driehaus) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Credit: Valley News / report for america — Alex Driehaus

LEBANON — In response to the community’s housing shortage, the city has scheduled a series of group discussions to inform future housing policy.

The first is set for Thursday, Sept. 11, at 5:30 p.m. and will focus on housing and land conservation, according to a news release from the Lebanon Planning & Development Department.

A wide variety of input is appreciated although people with experience in natural resource and conservation initiatives in Lebanon and its surrounding area are especially encouraged to share their perspectives, the release said. 

Lebanon will use these discussions to inform the city’s new Housing Plan, the release said. The plan is supported by a $100,000 grant from New Hampshire Housing.

The discussion will be moderated by two consultants from Plymouth, N.H.-based Resilience Planning & Design, the release said. The company specializes in community planning, land use analysis, visioning, and equitable outreach and engagement, according to its website.

Those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. Those interested can access the RSVP link on the homepage of Lebanon’s website, lebanonnh.gov, under the heading “Focus Group: Housing and Land Conservation.”

Lukas Dunford is a staff writer at the Valley News. He can be reached at 603-727-3208 and ldunford@vnews.com.