The Nashua Regional Planning Commission conducted an HIA on a new comprehensive cluster residential regulation in the Town of Milford, New Hampshire. The regulation would remove zoning barriers to higher-density housing developments for projects that offer inclusionary and affordable housing; conservation and open space; mobility; and services. The HIA focused on strategies that can be integrated into the ordinance to address health issues related to air quality, increase opportunities for physical activity, and implement housing for all citizens of Milford within the next decade.
The report made recommendations to mitigate the negative health impacts of high-density housing developments, focusing on residents’ exposure to air pollutants; cyclist and pedestrian safety from crime and collisions with vehicles; and maintaining drinking water quality for private well owners. These include adopting regulations for wood stove use in high-density housing developments; prioritizing bicycle lane and sidewalk construction; identifying walkable routes to schools; conducting soil and well water testing on historical apple orchard sites; and requiring private well testing every five years.
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This Health Impact Assessment Report first appeared in The Cross-Sector Toolkit for Health. The Cross-Sector Toolkit for Health was originally developed by the Health Impact Project, formerly a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts. The creation of this resource was supported by a grant from the Health Impact Project. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Pew Charitable Trusts, or the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
