Hyde Park, Vermont Municipal Development Plan (2017-2025)
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Hyde Park, Vermont Municipal Development Plan (2017-2025) Prepared by the Hyde Park Town Planning Commission Village of Hyde Park Planning Commission Adopted by Village of Hyde Park Board of Trustees and Hyde Park Selectboard Adopted and Effective Date: December 21, 2017 Hyde Park, Vermont: Municipal Development Plan 2017-2025 Acknowledgements: Hyde Park Town Planning Commission Greg Paus, Chair Vicki Emerson Zacheriah Cota-Weaver Bob Malbon Eric Williams Village of Hyde Park Planning Commission Frederika French, Chair Jack Anderson Charlie Aronovici Tim Yarrow Peter Gallo Kenneth McPherson Dan Young Technical assistance provided by the Lamoille County Planning Commission Graphic: Hyde Park Town Logo (2012) and Village of Hyde Park Logo (2016) With special thanks to Over and Above Aerial Photography (cover photo) Hyde Park welcomes the reproduction of any portions of this publication, provided that credit is given and a copy of the document containing the reproduced material is forwarded to the Municipal Offices (PO Box 98, Hyde Park, VT 05655) Photographs attributed to Steve Munroe, Charlie Aronovici, the Lamoille County Planning Commission, the Village of Hyde Park, except that the Hyde Park Solar, Waterhouse Project photo is compliments of Encore Renewable Energy. Adopted and Effective on December 21, 2017 2 Hyde Park, Vermont: Municipal Development Plan 2017-2025 Table of Contents Introduction: A Vision for Hyde Park ..................................................................................................... 4 Chapter 1: Community Profile ............................................................................................................... 11 Goals, Policies & Recommendations .................................................................................................. 16 Chapter 2: Public Services & Community Facilities .............................................................................. 17 Goals, Policies & Recommendations ................................................................................................. 26 Chapter 3: Education and Child Care ................................................................................................... 28 Goals, Policies & Recommendations .................................................................................................. 31 Chapter 4: Renewable Energy & Utilities ............................................................................................. 32 Goals, Policies & Recommendations ................................................................................................. 47 Chapter 5: Transportation .................................................................................................................... 49 Goals, Policies & Recommendations ................................................................................................. 56 Chapter 6: Housing ................................................................................................................................ 57 Goals, Policies & Recommendations .................................................................................................. 61 Chapter 7: Economic Development ...................................................................................................... 62 Goals, Policies & Recommendations ................................................................................................. 68 Chapter 8: Natural & Productive Resources and Flood Resiliency ...................................................... 69 Goals, Policies & Recommendations .................................................................................................. 77 Chapter 9: Historic & Scenic Resources................................................................................................ 78 Goals, Policies & Recommendations ................................................................................................. 83 Chapter 10: Land Use Plan .................................................................................................................... 84 Compatibility with the Region and Surrounding Communities ....................................................... 89 Goals, Policies & Recommendations ................................................................................................. 90 Chapter 11: Plan Implementation .......................................................................................................... 91 Continuing Planning Process ............................................................................................................ 93 Appendix I: Municipal Survey .............................................................................................................. 94 Appendix II: Implementing “Complete Streets” ................................................................................... 96 Appendix III: Town & Village Maps .................................................................................................... 100 Adopted and Effective on December 21, 2017 3 Hyde Park, Vermont: Municipal Development Plan 2017-2025 Introduction: A Vision for Hyde Park Hyde Park is a family-oriented place, where people feel a strong sense of community and pride in the local history. Residents enjoy the scenic and historic character of Hyde Park’s landscape and seek to preserve these unique attributes for future generations. To do so, it is important to ensure that growth and development occur in a thoughtful manner. Members of the community recognize the need for a balanced and diverse economy, so that Hyde Park may continue to be a desirable and affordable place to live, work, play and raise a family. To achieve this vision, residents wish to plan for orderly and managed growth, to allow Hyde Park to continue to provide essential services, while preserving the community’s natural environment, historic character and working landscape. An Overview of the Municipal Plan This Plan is a thorough, long-range guide for future development within Hyde Park, Vermont. The plan provides a basic framework of goals and policies to guide public and private investments, to assist elected officials and other partner’s so that their decisions are consistent with residents’ vision for the future. The plan will also help preserve the character of the community and provide a degree of certainty and predictability for those who live, work, and visit or invest in Hyde Park. Authority In Vermont, municipalities are authorized to adopt a Municipal Plan under Chapter 117, Title 24 Hyde Park's scenic landscape in spring of state statute (the Vermont Municipal and Regional Planning and Development Act). Per Section 4382 of the Act, municipal plans are expected to address eleven required subject areas and be compatible with Vermont’s Statewide Planning Goals (established under Section 4302). Among others, these goals include: • To plan development so as to maintain the historic settlement pattern of compact villages and urban centers separated by rural countryside; • To encourage the efficient use of energy and the development of renewable energy resources; • To provide for safe, convenient, economic and energy efficient transportation systems that respect the integrity of the natural environment, including public transit options and paths for pedestrians and bicyclers; and, • To maintain and improve the quality of air, water, wildlife and land resources. Adopted and Effective on December 21, 2017 4 Hyde Park, Vermont: Municipal Development Plan 2017-2025 Per Section 4832 of the Act, Municipal Plan must include the following elements (paraphrased): 1) A statement of objectives, policies and programs of the municipality to guide the future growth and development of land, public services and facilities, and to protect the environment; 2) A land use plan; 3) A transportation plan; 4) A utility and facility plan; 5) A statement of policies on the preservation of rare and irreplaceable natural areas, scenic and historic features and resources; 6) An educational facilities plan; 7) A recommended program for the implementation of the objectives of development plan; 8) A statement indicating how the plan relates to development trends and plans for adjacent municipalities, areas and the region; 9) An energy plan; 10) A housing element that shall include a recommended program for addressing low and moderate- income persons’ housing needs; and, 11) An economic development element that describes present economic conditions and the location, type, and scale of desired economic development. 12) A flood resilience plan which may reference an existing local hazard mitigation plan. It is the intent of this plan to address each of the required elements to the extent it is applicable to Hyde Park, while analyzing a range of additional community development related variables. For ease of reference, chapter organizes the plan’s eleven unique subject areas. Jurisdiction A five-member Board of Selectmen governs the Town. A five-member Board of Trustees governs the Village. Each board has the authority to execute administrative, legislative and quasi-judicial functions within its respective municipal boundaries (see Appendix III). While the Town and Village remain separate political entities, they in fact coordinate many public services. The Hyde Park Town Planning Commission and the Village of Hyde Park Planning Commission are appointed bodies with authority to prepare municipal plans and