Hampton Beach Area Master Plan, 2001

Prepared for:
The Town of Hampton, New Hampshire, NH Department of Resources and Economic Development – Division of Parks and Recreation

Prepared by:
The Cecil Group, Inc. with
Rizzo Associates, Inc.
Appledore Engineering, Inc.
Economic Research Associates, Inc.
Dr. Laurence Goss
This report was funded in part by a grant from the New Hampshire Coastal Program pursuant to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award # NA07OZ0123, and by the NH Department of Resources and Economic Development (DRED).

November 7, 2001

Table of Contents

I. Plan Summary

A. A Plan for the Future of Hampton Beach --

B. The Planning Context

C. Overall Vision

D. Key Recommendations and Improvements

E. Hampton Beach Over the Next 50 Years

F. Planning Issues and Process

G. Requirements for Achieving the Vision

H. Plan Organization

II. Introduction

A. Overview

B. Project Study Area

C. Planning Process

III. Existing Conditions

A. History of Hampton Beach

B. Land Use Assessment

C. Historic and Cultural Assets

D. Environment and Open Space

E. Hampton Harbor and the Waterfront

F. State Park System

G. Transportation

H. Economic Conditions

I. Infrastructure and Public Services

J. Hampton Beach Flooding and Storm Damage

IV. Recommendations

A. Recommendations for Revitalization and Improvement

B. Land Use

C. Economic and Tourism Recommendations

D. Transportation Recommendations

E. Environmental Recommendations

F. Infrastructure and Public Facilities Recommendations

V. Implementation

A. Implementation Strategies

B. Summary of Recommendations

C. Estimates of Proposed Costs

D. Summary of Resources

VI. Planning Participation

A. Overview of the Community Involvement Effort

B. Public Outreach

C. Public Input

Bibliography

Appendices

I. Natural Heritage Inventory
II. Consolidated Budget for Hampton Beach
III. Fiscal Impact Analysis
IV. Proposed Cost Estimates for Major Hampton Beach Projects

List of Figures

Figure 0. Planning Area Map
Figure 1. Major Improvement Areas along Hampton Beach
Figure 2. Major Improvement Areas along North Beach.

Figure 3. Project Area for the Hampton Beach Area Master Plan.

Figure 4. Population Trend for the Town of Hampton, 1940 – 2020..

Figure 5. Designated Conservation Areas in the Hampton Beach Project Area.

Figure 6. Zoning in the Hampton Beach Area.

Figure 7. Variance History for the Hampton Beach Area by Variance Decision, 1966 -2000.

Figure 8. Number of Structures Built in the Hampton Beach Project Area by Year.

Figure 9. Map of Stormwater Discharge Points.

Figure 10. Hampton Harbor Area Condtions.

Figure 11. Properties in the Hampton Harbor Area.

Figure 12. State and Town Facilities in the Hampton Beach Area.

Figure 13. Summer Day Use Attendance at Hampton Beach State Park and Hampton Harbor State Marina, 1998 and 1999..

Figure 14. Locations of Major Intersections Addressed in this Report..

Figure 15. Intersection at Ocean Boulevard and Winnacunnet Road.

Figure 16. Average Daily Traffic Volumes at Major Intersections Along Ocean Boulevard.

Figure 17. Existing AM and PM Peak Hour Traffic Volumes.

Figure 18. Speed Statistics Along Ocean Boulevard in Hampton

Figure 19. Parking Lots Locations in the Hampton Beach Area.

Figure 20. Average Home Sale Price by Quarter.

Figure 21. Total Employment by Month in Tourism Industries.

Figure 22. Average Wages by Quarter in Tourism Industries.

Figure 23. Block Groups used in the Hampton Beach Project Area.

Figure 24. Property Values by Type in the Town of Hampton, 1999.

Figure 25. Location of Outfall Pipe at Tide Mill Creek.

Figure 26. Floodplain Zones in the Hampton Beach Project Area.

Figure 27. Neighborhood Sub-areas of Hampton Beach.

Figure 28. Gateway and State Park Design.

Figure 29. New Pavilion and Pedestrian Areaa along Ocean Boulevard.

Figure 30. Transportation Improvements Over the Next 50 Years.

Figure 31. Proposed Cross-sections of Ocean Boulevard and Ashworth Avenue..

Figure 32. Proposed Cross-sections of Ocean Boulevard and Ashworth Avenue..

Figure 33. Reconstruction of the Highland Avenue/Ocean Avenue Gateway.

Figure 34. Phased Improvements along Route 1A and the Boulevard.

List of Tables

Table 1. Members of the Hampton Beach Master Plan Advisory Committee.
Table 2. Land Uses in the Hampton Beach Project Area.

Table 3. Designated Conservation Parcels in the Hampton Beach Project Area.

Table 4. Cultural and Historic Assets in the Hampton Beach Area.

Table 5. Land Uses and Values Along the Hampton Harbor Waterfront.

Table 6. Summary of State Facilites and Uses.

Table 7. ATR Counts.

Table 8. Parking Lots in the Hampton Beach Project Area.

Table 9. Parking Lot Availability.

Table 10. Intersection Level of Service Criteria.

Table 11. Existing Conditions Intersection Analysis Results.

Table 12. Characteristics of Seacoast Towns.

Table 13. Profile of Comparable Upscale and Downscale Beach Communitiess¹.

Table 14 Town of Hampton Population Summary 1970 – 2000¹.

Table 15. HWWC Water System Demand.

Table 16. HWWC Well Summary Million Gallons a Day (MGD) (1).

Table 17. HWWC Storage Tank Summary.

Table 18. Recent Significant Flooding Events in the Hampton Area Since 1968.

Table 19. Chronology - Flood Mitigation Projects.

Table 20. Flood Zone Descriptions.

Table 21. Hampton Lots and Buildings in Flood Zones.

Table 22. Very High and High Priority Proposed Flood Mitigation Projects.

Table 23. Matrix of Proposed Economic Strategies.

Table 24. Summary of 50-Year Transportation Improvements.

Table 25. Summary of Recommendations.

Table 26. Proposed Cost Estimates for Major Improvement Projects at Hampton Beach.

Table 27. Sources of local, regional, state, and federal funds and assistance..

Table A1. New Hampshire Natural Heritage Inventory.

Table A2. State Park Budget for Hampton Beach.

Table A3. Net Fiscal Impact by Housing Type.

Table A4. Town of Hampton Annual Budget and Revenues and Expenditures Per Resident Equivalent - Fiscal Year 2000.

Table A5. Calculation of Resident Equivalents.

Table A6. Inputs for Net Fiscal Impact by Housing Type.

Table A7. Detailed Cost Estimates for Major Project in Hampton Beach