Biking and Parking and Renting, Oh My!

People are passionate about where they live. Whether it’s a favorite eatery, new building, youth play space, or hiking trail, an appreciation for land and its use are reflected in someone’s utterance of the word “home.”

It’s why Planning and Zoning Boards serve such a vital role in New Hampshire communities. Establishing and enforcing guidelines around land development is business that feels personal.

Molly Lunn Owen, Executive Director of 603 Forward and The Forward Foundation, understands that balance. As the youngest board member, only renter, and a working mom, Molly represents a range of community interests.

Pedestrian Access is Paramount
With roughly 115,700 people in Manchester, it’s the largest city in the Granite State. Between foot and bike traffic, the pedestrian population is very active.

Pedestrian and bike access are things Molly is especially vocal about and they’ve recently received increased attention from fellow board members, too. For example, when Molly returned to meetings following maternity leave, she realized bike racks had been on the agenda during her absence. As she’s typically the loudest advocate for them, Molly thought it was “so cool” to hear someone else making bike racks a priority when she wasn’t there.

Curbing the Call for More Parking
Aligning with Molly’s commitment to pedestrian rights is her effort to preserve space and be mindful of parking lot requests. She believes it’s a big part of the transportation and accessibility conversation for Manchester residents.

Molly is proud to speak up for evolving community demographics and trends to ensure they’re considered in every facet of land use and development.

Area Renters Keep Pace with Homeowners
According to 2021 data, almost 50 percent of people either rent homes or live in apartments. Molly is one of them and she believes it provides the NowWhatNH Land Use Board with a unique perspective, given her fellow members are homeowners. Making sure rent rates are appropriate for what’s being developed is a major element of housing development approvals and affects many aspects of living in Manchester, even for those who aren’t tenants.

Preserving Manchester is important to Molly, whether she’s lobbying for a tree planting, supporting a new business, or protecting open space. She encourages everyone in the community to increase their involvement and share ideas.