NEWS, UPDATES, & NOTICES

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THE TREE AGENT, LLC SUBDIVISION: Update

At its July 15, 2026 meeting, the Surry Planning Board voted to deny the 11-lot subdivision application submitted by Tree Agents, LLC for property located on Joslin Road.

Since accepting the application on May 20, 2026, the Planning Board conducted a public hearing, received testimony from the applicant, Town boards, and members of the public, and completed a site walk with the Conservation Commission. After considerable deliberation and review of technical information related to the proposal, the Board determined that the application failed to meet all the requirements of the Surry Subdivision Regulations.

The applicant has the right to appeal this decision to the New Hampshire Superior Court in accordance with RSA 677:15.

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PLANNING BOARD: Zoning Ordinance Review Workshop

The Surry Planning Board will hold a special workshop on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Surry Town Hall to continue its review and potential updating of Surry’s Zoning Ordinance. No other Planning Board business will be conducted during this meeting.

Building on the work completed during the 2025 Master Plan process — including public meetings, workshops, and the town-wide survey — the Board’s review is intended to ensure the ordinance reflects community input, aligns with the Master Plan, and uses clear, modern, and enforceable language that complies with New Hampshire law.  Any proposed changes to ordinances will be presented at a public hearing and voted on at Town Meeting.

Future workshops on this topic will be scheduled monthly. Dates and times will be posted on the Town website and at the Town Hall as they are determined by the Board. 

The public is encouraged to attend and observe. Minutes of the workshop will be posted on the Town website following their approval. 

Questions or comments are welcome at planningboard@surry.nh.gov.

All meetings are open to the public and subject to the provisions of NH RSA 91-A:2

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SURRY’S HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE: Community Input Needed

The Town of Surry is in the process of updating its Hazard Mitigation Plan, a vital tool used to identify local risks—such as flooding, severe storms, and winter weather—and to outline strategies that reduce their impact on our community. As part of this effort, we are seeking input from residents, business owners, and other stakeholders through a brief Hazard Mitigation Survey.

Your feedback will help the town better understand which hazards concern you most and what steps you believe should be taken to improve community resilience. Whether you’ve lived here your whole life, just moved to town, come to Surry for work, or stay for part of the year, your perspective is valuable. The survey will be open until August 31st.

The Board of Selectmen will discuss this topic as part of their meeting on August 10th at 7:30 pm.

You can take it online by scanning the QR code below, going to https://forms.office.com/r/iegDjBPCvH, or filling out a hard copy at the Town Hall  or Library.

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for helping us plan for a safer future!

The Town has support for this project from NH Homeland Security and Emergency Management and Southwest Region Planning Commission. Questions? Please contact Henry Underwood, Senior Planner at SWRPC at hunderwood@swrpc.org or 603-357-0557 x 18.

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SURRY BUDGET COMMITTEE: Mid-Year Operating Budget Review

The Surry Budget Committee will meet with the Select Board at the Town Hall on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at 7 pm for a mid-year review of the 2026 Town operating budget, and to review the material supporting the adopted 2026-27 Surry School District budget and discuss its expected tax implications. The meeting is open to the public, and 0people are encouraged to attend.

All meetings are open to the public and subject to the provisions of NH RSA 91-A:2

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SELECT BOARD: Mid-Year Operating Budget Review

The Select Board will meet with the Surry Budget Committee at the Town Hall on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at 7 pm for a mid-year review of the 2026 Town operating budget, and to review the material supporting the adopted 2026-27 Surry School District budget and discuss its expected tax implications. The meeting is open to the public, and 0people are encouraged to attend.

All meetings are open to the public and subject to the provisions of NH RSA 91-A:2

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2026 TAX MAPS: NOW AVAILABLE

The Town of Surry’s 2026 Tax Maps are now available on the town website. Residents can view and download the maps at Tax Maps and Info – Town of Surry.

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RADAR SPEED SIGN: Data Update

Since installing the radar speed sign on the unpaved portion of Joslin Road, data collected shows that:

• The daily number of cars traveling from the paved portion of Joslin Road over to the unpaved portion of the road and then proceeding towards Old Walpole averages twelve (12) cars per day. 
• Eighty-five percent (85%) of vehicles did not exceed 21 mph (the minimum speed considered was 9 mph). This indicates that the posted speed limit of 25 mph is set correctly in accordance with NH DOT recommendations. 
• The maximum inbound speed was 33 mph on Friday, July 17, at 1:00 p.m. 

The next location for the radar speed sign will be on the lower portion of Old Walpole heading towards Keene.

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PAVING PROJECTS: Town Hall and Lower Pond Road — Complete!

Paving work at the Town Hall parking lot and the Lower Pond Road apron at Route 12A has been completed. Both locations are open and accessible, and the results are well worth the investment — residents will notice a significant improvement in both safety and appearance.

Thank you to the crew at Gemini Paving for their work, and to residents for your patience during the project.

The Supervisors of the Checklist will hold a session on Saturday, August 29, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Surry Town Hall for correction of the checklist, including new voter registrations. Bring a photo ID, proof of citizenship (birth certificate, passport, naturalization papers) and proof of residency.

If you have questions, please contact a member of the Supervisors of the Checklist or the Town Clerk at  Townclerk@surry.nh.gov.

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SURRY NATURAL RESOURCES INVENTORY NOW AVAILABLE: Conservation Commission

The Surry Conservation Commission has completed a Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) for the Town of Surry — a comprehensive planning document that maps and describes the town’s natural environment to support informed land use decisions.

Prepared by Moosewood Ecological LLC of Chesterfield, NH and financed through the Surry Conservation Fund, the project included authorized field visits to ten Surry properties along with extensive use of state and national databases. The findings reflect the extraordinary richness of Surry’s forests, wetlands, streams, and farmlands — over 1,400 individual species were identified within town boundaries.

The NRI is a planning tool that shows what we have, what is special, and what deserves protection as the town navigates decisions about housing, development, and preserving Surry’s rural character. It can be used by the Select Board, Planning Board, Conservation Commission, and individual landowners alike.

The full report is available here: Surry NRI Final Report Moosewood Ecological 5-2-2026

A public meeting will be held in September for residents to learn more about the findings. The Conservation Commission welcomes questions and comments at conservation@surry.nh.gov.

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BUILDING PERMITS & CODES: Why do They Matter?

Building permits ensure construction in Surry is safe, legal, and protective of property values.

When you apply for a permit, your project is reviewed under the New Hampshire State Building Codes, along with any locally adopted building codes and zoning ordinances, to confirm that it:

• Meets local zoning and setback requirements.
• Complies with current safety and health standards.
• Preserves structural integrity and energy efficiency.
• Protects your investment and your neighbors’ property.

Obtaining a permit is a required and essential step in helping ensure your project meets state and local standards before work begins. Working without a permit can lead to fines, stop-work orders, removal of unapproved work, or problems when selling your home.

A new page has been added to the Town’s website answering questions such as:

• When is a Permit Required?
• What is the State Building Code?
• How does Surry’s Zoning Ordinance Come into Play?
• How to Apply for a Building Permit?
• What does the Construction Phase Look Like?

Here is the link to the new page: Building Permits – Information & FAQs

All meetings are open to the public and subject to the provisions of NH RSA 91-A:2 

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NH Alerts is the State of New Hampshire’s official emergency and public notification system. This multi-channel platform enables public safety officials to quickly share critical information with the public using phone calls, text messages, emails, and app-based notifications. Whether it’s an emergency that requires immediate action or a community update, NH Alerts helps ensure that residents and visitors are informed and prepared.  To learn more about the program, you can click on the following link NH ALERTS.

Create an account and register for NH Alerts athttps://stateofnewhampshire.genasys.com/portal.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the Division of Emergency Services and Communications’ Database Unit at desc.database@desc.nh.gov.

An additional resource to be aware of is the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency).  The FEMA Mobile phone app allows you to receive real-time weather alterts, locate emergency shelters in your area, prepare for common hazards, and more.  The following link will direct you to the FEMA page, where you can find more information and download the application.  FEMA Mobile Products | FEMA.gov

To stay informed about important updates and events impacting the community, you will want to register for the Surry Newsletter.   Your phone number is optional but helpful.

After signing up, you’ll receive town updates only when needed — usually once or twice a month.

Registration Form

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