Town of Northfield, NH 2014 Master Plan
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Town of Northfield, NH 2014 Master Plan Cover photo courtesy of Scott Rogers, resident of Northfield, NH Town of Northfield, NH 2003 Master Plan Updated 2014 by 2014 Northfield Planning Board Jason Durgin, Chairman, Wayne Crowley, Glen Brown, Douglas Read, Kim Robichaud and Michael Murphy 2003 Northfield Planning Board Christopher Hunt, Chairman, Francis LaBranche, Glen Brown, Richard Cullen, William Dawson, George Flanders, Douglas Read, Richard Maher, Michelle Bonsteel and Gloria Pickering. Prepared in 2003 withTechnical Assistance from: Lakes Region Planning Commission 103 Main Street, Suite #3 Meredith, NH 03253 603-279-8171 www.lakesrpc.org NORTHFIELD MASTER PLAN – 2003 UPDATED 2014 All updates in each chapter are in red. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER 2. VALUES, VISION, AND PRIORITIES 3 CHAPTER 3. COMMUNITY CHARACTERISTICS 13 CHAPTER 4. TRANSPORTATION 27 CHAPTER 5. COMMUNITY FACILITIES 49 CHAPTER 6. LAND USE 65 APPENDIX 2012 NORTHFIELD MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS B-1 APPENDIX. NORTHFIELD MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY FORUMS AND SURVEY REPORT, DECEMBER 2002 A-1 UPDATED 2014 All updates in each chapter are in red. MAPS NUMBER TITLE PAGE Map 3-2 Population Projections for Northfield, NH and Surrounding Communities, 2005—2025 ......................................................................... 18 Map 4-1 Regional Highway System for Northfield, NH ............................................. 30 Map 4-2 Road Surface Type for Town Maintained Roads in Northfield, NH, 2003 ... 33 Map 4-3 Traffic Counts for Northfield and Surrounding Area, 1997 – 2001 .............. 39 Map 5-1 Off-site Sewer and Water for Northfield, NH, 2001 ..................................... 54 Map 6-1 Existing Land Use Map for Northfield, NH, 2002 ........................................ 68 Map 6-2 Zoning Map for Northfield, NH, 2003 ........................................................... 71 Map 6-3 Future Land Use Plan for Northfield, NH ..................................................... 75 FIGURES NUMBER TITLE PAGE Figure 3-1 Historic (and Projected) Population Trends for Northfield, NH, 1800-2025 ................................................................................................... 14 Figure 3-2 Population Trends by Age Group for Northfield, NH, 1980 – 2000 ............. 20 Figure 3-3 Trends in Number of Housing Units by Type of Unit for Northfield, NH, 1980 – 2000 ................................................................................................. 23 Figure 4-1 Town Highway Expenditures Compared to Amount of State Highway Block Grant Received in Northfield, NH, 1997 – 2001 ................................ 34 Figure 4-2 Typical Pavement Condition Index (PCI) Maintenance and Repair Curve ........................................................................................................... 35 TABLES NUMBER TITLE PAGE Table 3-1 Population Growth for Northfield, NH and Surrounding Communities, 1980 – 2000.......................................................................... 15 Table 3-2 Population Projections for Northfield, NH and Surrounding Communities, 2005 – 2025.......................................................................... 17 Table 3-3 Median Age (Years), 1980 – 2000 .............................................................. 19 Table 3-4 Total and Seasonal Housing Units for Northfield, NH, 1980 – 2000 ........... 21 Table 3-5 Change in Number of Housing Units for Northfield, NH and Surrounding Communities, 1990 – 2000 ..................................................... 22 Table 3-6 Estimated Housing Units for Northfield, NH and Surrounding Communities, 1998 – 2001.......................................................................... 23 Table 3-7 Owner Occupied and Renter Occupied Housing Units for Northfield, NH, 2000 .................................................................................... 24 Table 3-8 Age of Housing Stock in Northfield, NH, 2000 ............................................ 25 Table 3-9 Median Housing Unit Value for Northfield, NH and Surrounding Communities, 1980 – 2000.......................................................................... 26 Table 4-1 State Secondary “Unnumbered” Roads in Northfield, NH, 2003................. 29 Table 4-2 Classification of Roads in Northfield, NH, 2003 .......................................... 31 Table 4-3 Traffic Counts for Northfield and Immediate Area, 1997 – 2001 ................. 37 Table 5-1 Capacity of Winnisquam Regional School District Schools, 2003 .............. 51 Table 5-2 Northfield Police Department, Number of Service Calls and Vehicle Miles Traveled, 1998 - 2002, 1980 – 2000 ..................................... 52 Table 5-3 Tilton-Northfield Fire Department, Emergency Incident Responses, 1993 – 2002 ................................................................................................. 55 Table 5-4 Summary of Community Facilities Capacity for Northfield, NH, 2003 ......... 60 Table 5-5 Northfield Master Plan Survey Responses, 2002 ....................................... 62 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1 INTRODUCTION In 2012, the Planning Board began updating the 2003 Master Plan, beginning with a new survey which was conducted on the Town’s website with 256 respondents. The survey questions were very similar to those in the 2002 survey which allows comparison between the answers 10 years later. The differences in responses were minimal. All charts and graphs that could be updated have been updated by the Planning Board. All changes/additions/comments added in 2013-2014 are in red print. PLAN PURPOSE The purpose of this Master Plan is threefold. First, the Plan serves as the guiding document for future development in Northfield. As such, it establishes the key principles that the town of Northfield holds related to land use change, and articulates them in a clear and practical manner. Second, the Master Plan serves as the guiding document to assist the Planning Board as it updates the Town Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision and Site Plan Review Regulations, and other appropriate ordinances and regulations that fall under its jurisdiction. Finally, the Master Plan serves as the basis for other responsibilities of the Board as it strives to preserve and enhance the quality of life of all residents in Northfield. Ultimately, this plan articulates the values and vision that the people of Northfield hold dear. The Plan identifies many of the key issues facing the community, and the concerns that residents have about the future of the town related to land use change and development. With the values and vision of the community clearly defined, this Plan also establishes priorities for the Planning Board to consider as it continues its work towards the smart management of growth, sound planning, and wise resource conservation. AUTHORITY According to NH RSA 674:1, the Planning Board has the explicit duty to prepare and amend a Master Plan on a regular basis. In Northfield, the Planning Board consists of a seven member board, with three alternate members, as appointed by the Board of Selectmen. The Northfield Planning Board has prepared and adopted this Master Plan in accordance with the content requirements and adoption procedures outlined in NH RSA 674:2-4. PLANNING PROCESS In July 2002 the Northfield Planning Board began the update of the 1991 Master Plan. The town contracted with the Lakes Region Planning Commission for guidance and 2 NORTHFIELD MASTER PLAN technical assistance through the process. It was decided at the outset that the Master Plan would be developed in two separate phases. The contents of this Plan represent Phase 1 of the update and include the following sections: Values, Vision, and Priorities; Community Characteristics; Transportation; Community Services and Facilities; and Land Use. Phase 2 of the Plan, to be developed in the near future, will add additional sections to the Master Plan which may include: Housing; Recreation; Natural Resources; and Construction Materials. The Planning Board decided that in order for the Master Plan to be a success, and truly represent the desires and ambitions of the residents of Northfield, an extensive public involvement process was needed. In September 2002, after months of preparation, the Planning Board hosted two community forums designed to solicit input from the people of Northfield on a range of issues, including transportation, land use, natural resource preservation, community facilities, and historic and cultural preservation. The community forums were well attended and an enormous amount of information was collected. This information not only served as information to help shape the Master Plan, but also identified some key questions that would be asked in the next step of the public involvement process - the Community Survey. In October 2002 the Planning Board distributed a Community Survey to all home owner households, as well as to all households in the larger multi-family rental complexes in Northfield. Of the 1,702 surveys that were distributed, 586 were returned, resulting in a relatively high response rate of 34%. The results of both the Community Forums and the Community Survey are summarized in the appendix. Following the public participation process in the autumn of 2002, the Planning Board began to develop this first phase of the 2003 Northfield Master Plan. From November 2002 through August 2003, the Planning Board, Town Officials, and Department Heads met countless times to review background data