Bakersfield Proposed Municipal
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TOWN OF BAKERSFIELD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING August 3, 2015 7:00 PM BAKERSFIELD TOWN HALL Notice is hereby given to the residents of the municipality of Bakersfield, Vermont that the Bakersfield Planning Commission will hold a hearing on August 3, 2015 at 7:00 PM at Bakersfield Town Hall to consider adoption of the Bakersfield Municipal Plan pursuant to Chapter 117 of Title 24, Section 4387 and 4384,Vermont Statutes Annotated. This Plan adoption takes into consideration the following changes to the Town Plan: an update of basic demographic information, documentation of important changes in Bakersfield such as the inclusion in the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Affairs village designation program, changes to two land use districts: (the low density residential district was eliminated and the watershed district was consolidated), and the addition of an All Hazard Resiliency and Economic Development chapters. The purpose of the hearing is to receive public comments on the adoption of the updated plan and to discuss any comments provided by the public. The Bakersfield Municipal Plan includes 14 chapters: Chapter 1. Introduction, Chapter 2. Community Profile, Chapter 3. Historic and Archaeological Resources. Chapter 4. Utilities, Facilities, and Services. Chapter 5. Transportation, Chapter 6. Energy, Chapter 7. Education and Childcare, Chapter 8. Natural Resources, Chapter 9. Housing, Chapter 10. Land Use, Chapter 11. Economic Development, Chapter 12. All Hazards Resiliency, Chapter 13. Implementation Plan, and Chapter 14. Compatibility with Surrounding Towns. A full text of the plan is on file in the Bakersfield Town Clerk’s Office. This plan is intended to be consistent with the goals established in Title 24, Section 4302 and 4382. Bakersfield Town Plan 2015 Adopted by the Bakersfield Select Board September XX, 2015 Bakersfield Select Board Lance Lawyer Brian Westcom David Ovitt Bakersfield Planning Commission Patricia Lintereur, Chair Ken Carter Patricia Curtis William Irwin We wish to thank Taylor Newton of the Northwest Regional Planning Commission for assistance with data tables, and content to meet new planning requirements for economic development and hazard resiliency. Special thanks also to Nancy Hunt for her work on the Historic and Archaeological Resource Chapter This plan was prepared with assistance from The Northwest Regional Planning Commission Funding was provided by the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Affairs' Municipal Planning Grant Program ___________________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents Vision Statement ............................................................................................................................. 3 Chapter 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 4 Chapter 2. Community Profile ........................................................................................................ 7 Chapter 3. Historic and Archaeological Resources ....................................................................... 13 Chapter 4. Utilities, Facilities and Services ................................................................................... 25 Chapter 5. Transportation ............................................................................................................ 33 Chapter 6. Energy .......................................................................................................................... 40 Chapter 7. Education and Childcare ............................................................................................. 48 Chapter 8. Natural Resources ....................................................................................................... 52 Chapter 9. Housing........................................................................................................................ 64 Chapter 10. Land Use .................................................................................................................... 69 Chapter 11. Economic Development ............................................................................................ 74 Chapter 12. All Hazards Resiliency ................................................................................................ 79 Chapter 13. Implementation Plan ................................................................................................. 87 Chapter 14. Compatibility with Surrounding Towns .................................................................... 88 References .................................................................................................................................... 92 Appendix I. Summary of Goals and Policies .................................................................................. 94 Appendix II. Municipal Roles and Responsibilities ..................................................................... 103 List of Tables Table 2.1 Population Trends for Bakersfield and its Surrounding Areas…………………………………..…8 Table 2.2 Percent Change in Population for Bakersfield and its Surrounding Areas………………..…8 Table 2.3 Increase in Households, and Housing Units 1980-2000…………………………………....………..9 Table 2.4 Age Structure Comparison in Bakersfield and its Surrounding Areas………………….……..9 Table 2.5 Percentage of Non-Institutionalized, Civilian Population with Disability Status……....10 Table 2.6 Median Household Income and Percent Change & Percent of Families Below Poverty Level……………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………….…..12 Table 5.1 Commuting Time to Work (1990 – 2000)……………….………………………….……………….…….33 Table 5.2 Work Destinations……………………………………...……………………………………………….……….....34 Table 5.3 Transportation Type Used in Commuting to Work……………………………….……..……………35 Table 5.4 Road Mileage in Bakersfield……………………..…………………………………………….…….………….35 Table 6.1 Housing Units by Heat Source, 2000………………………………..……….……………………….……..41 Table 7.1 Number of Children in Bakersfield under the age of 12……………………………………..….…49 Table 7.2 Enrollment at the Bakersfield Elementary School……………..……………………………….…….49 Table 7.3 Enrollment in area High Schools……………..…………………………………………………………..…..50 Table 7.4 Attendance by High School with Tuition Rates…………………………………….…..……..……..51 Table 8.1 Slope Classifications…………..……………………………………………………………..…………….…..….53 Table 9.1 Bakersfield Affordability Gap for Home Ownership………………………………..……….………67 Table 11.1 Industry of Bakersfield Residents, 2007-2011………………………………….……………74 ___________________________________________________________________________ 1 Bakersfield Town Plan 2015 Table 11.2 Unemployment Rates form 2009-2012………………………………………………….……..75 List of Figures Figure 2.1 Town of Bakersfield Population Trends, 1800-2000……………………………………...7 Figure 2.2 Bakersfield Population Increase by Net Migration and Natural Increase ......11 Figure 3.1 Bakersfield, 1871 Beers Map………………………………………………….......................14 Figure 3.2 Archaeological and Historic Sites in the King’s Hill area……………...……...........23 Figure 4.1 Municipal Facilities and Utilities……………………………………………...………………….28 Figure 5.1 Bakersfield Transportation System …..……………………………………...................…37 Figure 6.1 Energy Sources of Utilities Serving Bakersfield, 2006…………………...….............40 Figure 6.2 Average Electrical Rates in Vermont vs. New England, 2000-2007…….........…41 Figure 6.3 Average Cost for Heating Fuel in Vermont, 2000-2007…………………………………42 Figure 8.1 Elevation Map of Bakersfield…………………………………….…………………………………52 Figure 8.2. Bakersfield Soil Septic Suitability …….…………………….…………………………………..54 Figure 8.3 Agricultural and Forestry Soils in Bakersfield……….………………………………………55 Figure 8.4 Bakersfield’s Water Resources………………………………………………..…………..………57 Figure 8.5 Subwatersheds in Bakersfield……………………………………………..………………………58 Figure 8.6 Critical Habitat Areas……………...…………………………………….…….……………………..61 Figure 9.1 Comparison of Housing Units to Population, 1940-2000………………………….…64 Figure 9.2 Number of Building Permits Issued per Year in Bakersfield, VT…….………….…65 Figure 9.3 Median Sale Price of Primary Residence……………………………………………….……66 Figure 10.1 Current and Future Land Use Map…………...……………………………………………….71 Figure 11.1 Village Designated Area…………………………………………………………………………….76 Figure 12.1 Depiction of the Special Flood Hazard Area, etc………………………………………..80 Figure 12.2 Hazard Mitigation Map………………....………………………………………………………….83 Figure 14.1 Bakersfield Location Map………………………………………………………………………....90 Bakersfield is rich in historic resources, including this remarkably intact and preserved historic farmstead on the Fletcher line. It includes a farmhouse built circa 1800 with three mid 19th century barns and ice house that form a protected barnyard. Credit: Bakersfield Historical ___________________________________________________________________________Society. 2 Bakersfield Town Plan 2015 Vision Statement The purpose of this Town Plan is to ensure that future growth in Bakersfield be at a pace the town can assimilate, that the unique and essential character of Bakersfield remains intact, and that our valuable natural resources, such as wildlife, forests, wetlands and agricultural lands will be protected and preserved. Bakersfield has experienced significant residential growth in the past twenty years while the commercial and economic sector has declined. This Town Plan is intended as a guide for reasonable and effective policies, procedures, and bylaws designed to guarantee that the rate