Wilton, New Hampshire
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WILTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE MASTER PLAN Effective as of ______, 2021 Prepared by the WILTON PLANNING BOARD With the Assistance of the WILTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE MASTER PLAN Effective as of _________, 2021. Individual chapters adopted Jan 2015, Oct 2015, Nov 2016, Mar 2018, Oct 2018, Dec 2018. Prepared by the WILTON PLANNING BOARD J. Alexander MacMartin, Jr., Chairman Karon S. Walker, Vice-Chair R. Neil Faiman, Jr. W. Bart Hunter Shannen L. Coffey Matthew S. Fish Stephanie M. Kirsch With the Assistance of Michele B. Decoteau, Land Use Administrator and the WILTON MASTER PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS TOWN OF WILTON MASTER PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS – CHAPTER LIST Page COVER PAGE TABLE OF CONTENTS ………………………………………………………………………. i (Effective as of _______, 2021) CHAPTER I: VISION ……………………………………………………………………….. I-1 (Adopted January 21, 2015) CHAPTER II: NATURAL RESOURCES ……………………………………………….. II-1 (Adopted November 2, 2016) CHAPTER III: POPULATION AND HOUSING …………………………………… III-1 (Adopted October 3, 2018) CHAPTER IV: TOWN AND FACILITIES ……………………………………………. IV-1 (Adopted November 2, 2016) CHAPTER V: TRANSPORTATION ….………………………………………………… V-1 (Adopted December 18, 2018) CHAPTER VI: HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES ……………………. VI-1 (Adopted March 21, 2018) CHAPTER VII: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ..…………………………………. VII-1 (Adopted October 21, 2015) CHAPTER VIII: LAND USE ……………………………………………………………. VIII-1 (Adopted January 21, 2015) i Effective as of __________, 2021. WILTON MASTER PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS TOWN OF WILTON MASTER PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS – SUBDIVIED Page CHAPTER I: VISION Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. I-1 What makes Wilton attractive now? ..…………………………………………………………….. I-1 What are areas of concern now and in the future? …………………………………………. I-1 Vision Statements …………………………………………………………………………………………… I-2 How do we get there? …………………………………………………………………………………….. I-2 CHAPTER II: NATURAL RESOURCES Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. II-1 Vision ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… II-1 Natural Resources and the Town of Wilton …………………………………………………….. II-1 Water-Based Resources ………………………………………………………………………………….. II-3 Wetlands ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… II-5 Flood Storage Lands/Floodplains ……………………………………………………………………. II-8 Water Supply Lands ……………………………………………………………………………………….. II-10 Identification of Land-Based Resources and Services …………………………………….. II-14 Agriculture …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. II-16 Wildlife ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. II-19 Visual Resources – Slope and Scenic Vistas ……………………………………………………. II-23 Excavation Materials ……………………………………………………………………………………… II-27 Priorities for Natural Resource Management ………………………………………………… II-29 ii Effective as of __________, 2021. WILTON MASTER PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS TOWN OF WILTON MASTER PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS – SUBDIVIED Page CHAPTER III: POPULATION AND HOUSING Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………………… III-1 Vision …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. III-1 Population ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… III-2 Income …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. III-10 Housing ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… III-13 Population Projections …………………………………………………………………………………. III-22 Alternative Housing Arrangements and Opportunities …………………………………. III-23 Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. III-26 Recommendations ……………………………………………………………………………………….. III-26 CHAPTER IV: TOWN FACILITIES AND SERVICES Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………………… IV-1 Wilton Fire Department …………………………………………………………………………………. IV-1 Wilton Police Department ……………………………………………………………………………… IV-3 Town of Wilton Ambulance ……………………………………………………………………………. IV-4 Town Hall ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. IV-6 Department of Public Works ………………………………………………………………………….. IV-7 Highway ………………………………………………………………………………………………. IV-7 Recycling Center (Solid Waste Disposal) ………………………………………………. IV-7 Cemeteries ………………………………………………………………………………………….. IV-9 iii Effective as of __________, 2021. WILTON MASTER PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS TOWN OF WILTON MASTER PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS – SUBDIVIED Page Parks & Recreation Facilities including Conservation Lands …………………. IV-9 Wilton Water Works ……………………………………………………………………………………. IV-12 Wilton Sewer Department …………………………………………………………………………… IV-13 Public Schools ……………………………………………………………………………………………… IV-15 Florence Rideout Elementary School (FRES) ………………………………………. IV-15 Wilton Lyndeborough Cooperative Middle School-High School (WLC)… IV-16 The Wilton Public and Gregg Free Library ……………………………………………………. IV-17 Table IV-12: Summary of Chapter Recommendations ………………………………….. IV-20 CHAPTER V: TRANSPORTATION Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. V-1 Vision ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… V-1 Transportation and the Town of Wilton ………………………………………………………….. V-1 Existing Transportation Network …………………………………………………………………….. V-3 Regional Transportation Issues …………………………………………………………………….. V-25 Alternate Modes of Transportation ………………………………………………………………. V-29 Other Transportation Issues ………………………………………………………………………….. V-36 Conclusion and Recommendations ……………………………………………………………….. V-38 Transportation Chapter Glossary …………………………………………………………………… V-41 iv Effective as of __________, 2021. WILTON MASTER PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS TOWN OF WILTON MASTER PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS – SUBDIVIED Page CHAPTER VI: HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………………… VI-1 Vision …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. VI-1 The History of Wilton …………………………………………………………………………………….. VI-1 Preservation Action to Date …………………………………………………………………………… VI-2 Tools for the Preservation and Enhancement of Historic Sites and Areas ………. VI-5 Cultural Resources ………………………………………………………………………………………. VI-17 Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………………………………… VI-18 Recommendations ………………………………………………………………………………………. VI-18 CHAPTER VII: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………………. VII-1 Vision …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… VII-1 Key Findings …………………………………………………………………………………………………. VII-2 Population ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. VII-3 Employment / Labor Force …………………………………………………………………………… VII-4 Wages/Income …………………………………………………………………………………………….. VII-7 Education …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. VII-7 Property Taxes …………………………………………………………………………………………….. VII-8 Business Centers ………………………………………………………………………………………… VII-11 Opportunities …………………………………………………………………………………………….. VII-12 Challenges ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. VII-13 v Effective as of __________, 2021. WILTON MASTER PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS TOWN OF WILTON MASTER PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS – SUBDIVIED Page Goals ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. VII-13 Appendix ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. VII-16 CHAPTER VIII: LAND USE Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………………… VIII-1 Section 1: Wilton Today ………………………………………………………………………………. VIII-1 Section 2: Future Land Use ………………………………………………………………………… VIII-10 Section 3: Strategies and Recommendations …………………………………………….. VIII-16 vi Effective as of __________, 2021. WILTON MASTER PLAN CHAPTER I: VISION CHAPTER I: VISION INTRODUCTION Wilton’s current Master Plan was most recently updated in 1999. The Town of Wilton has changed markedly since 1999, as have the regional and national landscapes. In recognition that the Wilton Master Plan should be responsive to current conditions, the Planning Board began the task of updating the Master Plan Vision Chapter in 2012. A Master Plan Vision survey was distributed in the latter part of 2012 to find out why residents moved to and live in Wilton, what makes Wilton attractive now and what would make it better, and what the Community’s overall vision for Wilton is in the next 10 years. The Planning Board also held a Community Vision Workshop in 2013 to understand the trends and forces that are affecting the community, and to understand concerns and recommendations for Wilton’s housing, land use, transportation, community facilities, natural resources and recreation, and cultural and historic resources. WHAT MAKES WILTON ATTRACTIVE NOW? When residents were asked why the live in Wilton, a majority of respondents to the 2012-2013 community outreach stated that they value the small town feel and rural and historic character that Wilton provides while being within a reasonable distance to more populated destinations and services. Other common responses included the art and cultural community, private education, and Wilton’s charming downtown. Additionally, factors that were reported as contributions to Wilton’s quality of life included natural landscapes, safety, and knowing neighbors. A majority of respondents said that they plan to stay in Wilton beyond retirement. WHAT ARE AREAS OF CONCERN NOW AND IN THE FUTURE? In order to present recommendations, it is important to understand the Community’s concerns with respect to Wilton’s past, present, and future. A primary concern that was noted among residents are the high town and school taxes, preserving educational quality and future school facility needs, and the high cost of education. There are also concerns about the lack of commercial development, need for a thriving downtown, and a strong overall business base to support local employment opportunities. Residents expressed that opportunities for young people are minimal, keeping the workforce in Wilton is difficult, and mobility and opportunities for seniors is limited. Wilton residents are also concerned about the loss of rural character,