Ensuring that those who want to stay here, or come here, have safe and affordable places to live is key to the long-term sustainability and success of our region.  Therefore, the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission, Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission and Mount Ascutney Regional Commission joined together to help address this critical issue.

First, we sought to understand the situation by developing a data-driven regional housing study, which quantified where our residents live and work, how long their commutes are, the value of their homes, and other essential data points critical to grasping the scope of the problem.  This information became the foundation from which we engaged our communities about the issues that impact housing and possible solutions, such as – development costs, environmental impacts, health indicators, location, regulations, infrastructure, financing, and transportation.

Addressing housing in the greater Upper Valley region is a complex issue with few easy answers. The challenges in Hanover and Lebanon are different those in Claremont and Springfield. We understand that there is no single solution to the housing issues facing our communities, but finding solutions is equally important to all of them.  We know full well that the three commissions do not have all the answers and so we gathered experts in a variety of fields, alongside conversations with our communities, for substantive input.

The Keys to the Valley Initiative was a study, but remains an initiative. Some of our implementable strategies have already led to action, such as zoning revisions, for creating homes that are needed by our community members.  To do that, we have researched different housing models that are suitable for the region. The commissions continue to support our communities and work to further the homes our regions’ need.

For more information on the tenets and principles that acted, and continue to act as project guides, please view our Tenets and Principles page.

For more information about the three commissions, please view our Who We Are page.

For more information about the advisory committees who helped to guide this initiative in the beginning, please view our Advisory Committees page.

For more information about our partners and funders who made this initiative possible, please view our Partners and Funders page.