Good Day Everyone:

Upon joining the City of Concord in 2007, I was pleased to learn that the Community Development Department had a clearly defined mission statement. It reads as follows:

The mission of the Community Development Department is to establish a customer service oriented development assistance and review process that provides for necessary safety, environmental and community concerns in a well coordinated, timely, predictable and cost efficient and effective manner.

The aforementioned statement is an apt summary of the fundamentals of any community development (CD) department worth its proverbial “salt.” However, I find that it doesn’t quite capture the essence of what the Concord CD department strives for.

Community Development is about the fostering of success stories within our city. Whether they are members of the Engineering, Planning, Code, Business Development or Administration divisions, our CD associates understand that we thrive when the community thrives. By working cooperatively as partners with the private sector—rather than simply regulators—CD ensures that both public and private projects are planned, designed and constructed to quality standards to be enjoyed for generations to come. I sincerely believe that the culmination of this effort helps safeguard Concord’s place as a preeminent location to live, work and raise a family in northern New England.

I urge you to take advantage of the wide variety of services CD offers. Interested in developing a property? Our weekly development review meetings provide an informal, no cost opportunity for anyone with a development idea to receive feedback. Have a concern about traffic in your neighborhood? Our traffic engineer would be happy to discuss possible solutions with you. Want to preserve an open space or historical property? The Planning Division—in coordination with the Heritage and Conservation Commissions—can assist. Looking to relocate or start a business in Concord? We can provide you with a wealth of information. Interested in renovating your home or commercial property? Our Code Administration office can provide you with guidance.

Community Development is here for you. We welcome the opportunity to share in your next success.

Yours truly,

Carlos P. Baía
Deputy City Manager—Development
Email: cbaia@concordnh.gov