The University of Maine DigitalCommons@UMaine Maine Town Documents Maine Government Documents 6-2006 Town of Weston Comprehensive Plan Weston (Me.) Northern Maine Development Commission Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/towndocs Repository Citation Weston (Me.) and Northern Maine Development Commission, "Town of Weston Comprehensive Plan" (2006). Maine Town Documents. 2532. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/towndocs/2532 This Plan is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in Maine Town Documents by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. For more information, please contact [email protected]. TToowwnn ooff WWeessttoonn CCoommpprreehheennssiivvee PPllaann June 2006 Prepared with the Technical Assistance of: Northern Maine Development Commission 11 West Presque Isle Road, Caribou, Maine 04736 (207) 498-8736 (800) 427-8736 1 Table of Contents Part I – Inventory and Analysis Section Page Population Demographics 3 Land Use 9 Transportation 17 Public Facilities and Services 35 Fiscal Capacity 47 Local Economy 55 Housing 67 Natural Resources 75 Historical and Cultural Resources 89 Analysis Summary 101 Part II – Goals, Policies and Strategies Introduction 105 Proposed Land Use Plan 106 State Goals for Growth Management 107 Landowner Rights and Responsibilities 108 Local Economy 109 Housing 110 Public Facilities and Services 111 Recreational Resources 112 Transportation 113 Natural Resources 114 Cultural and Historic Resources 116 Land Use 117 Municipal Finances 119 Capital Investment Plan 120 Regional Coordination Program 121 1 Population Demographics Introduction Demographic analysis and projections are the basic elements of any comprehensive plan; all other components of the plan depend on the current and projected population. The information generated from the demographic projections enhances the capacity of the town to prepare for the impact of future growth on such things as land use, housing demand, public services, and economic development. There is no firm statistical information on the seasonal population in Weston, but there are approximately 195 properties identified as seasonal, primarily comprised of lakeside cottages. Planning committee members stated that the population basically doubles in the summer months, which would take the town from 203 residents to approximately 406 people. The following inventory and analysis therefore deals primarily with 2000 Census figures and available municipal information. Population Comparison, 1980 - 2000 Place 1980 1990 2000 #chg 1990-2000 % chg 1990-2000 Amity 168 186 199 13 7.0% Bancroft 61 66 61 (5) -7.6% Cary Plt. 229 235 217 (18) -7.6% Danforth 826 710 629 (81) -11.4% Haynesville 169 243 122 (121) -49.8% Hodgdon 1084 1257 1240 (17) -1.4% Houlton 6766 6613 6476 (137) -2.1% Orient 97 157 145 (12) -7.6% Weston 155 207 203 (4) -1.9% Aroostook Cty. 91331 86936 73938 (12998) -15.0% Washington Cty. 34963 35308 33941 (1367) -3.9% Maine 1,119,971 1,222,000 1,266,848 44,848 3.7% Weston fared better than many county towns during the same period, as it lost only 4 residents. Amity was the only neighboring community that had a net gain in population, while Hodgdon saw only a slight reduction. Weston followed with a 1.9 percent change between 1990 and 2000. However, the Town saw a 34 percent increase in the prior decade. The State experienced a net gain of 3.7%, but Aroostook County lost 15% from 1990 – 2000, largely due to the closing of Loring Air Force Base. Washington County was included as Weston is in the Calais Labor Market Area and saw a 3.9 percent population reduction between 1990 and 2000, following a 1% increase in the prior decade. The following table clearly depicts the aging population of Weston from 1990 through 2000 and projected to 2015. According to State Planning Office projections, this is a condition that will not impact Weston alone. The entire County and State will experience similar trends in the years to come. The greatest change occurs in the 45 – 64 age group, showing roughly a 10% increase in each decade until the period from 2010 – 2015. Although this age group is considered to be in the prime 3 earning years, they also tend to experience an increase in health care needs. When combined, earning age groups 18 - 64 made up 66% of Weston’s population in 2000 and will grow to 73% by 2010. Weston Population By Age Group 1990 - 2015 Age Group Census 1990 Census 2000 2010 (Forecast) 2015 (Forecast) Number % Tot Number % Tot Number % Tot Number % Tot 0 to 4 16 7.69% 10 4.90% 9 4.31% 9 4.17% 5 to 17 40 19.23% 36 18.14% 29 13.88% 29 13.43% 18 to 29 33 15.87% 15 7.35% 11 5.26% 10 4.63% 30 to 44 42 20.19% 54 26.47% 57 27.27% 61 28.24% 45 to 64 46 22.12% 65 31.86% 84 40.19% 85 39.35% 65 to 79 23 11.06% 20 9.80% 18 8.61% 21 9.72% 80 + 8 3.85% 3 1.47% 1 0.48% 1 0.46% Totals 208 100% 203 100% 209 100% 216 100% At the same time the 5 – 17 age (school age) group has decreased by about 11% since 1990, and will see a 24% decrease by 2010, leveling off through 2015. The retired and elderly age group over 65 is projected to decrease slightly from 2000 to 2010, showing a 63% change from 1990. The population in 1990 was 48.8% male and 51.2% female. Those statistics have reversed in the 2000 Census, with 15 more males than females making the male percentage 53.7% and female percentage 46.3%. 2000 Census Comparison – Town / County / State Age Group Weston Aroostook County Maine Number % total Number % total Number % total Under 5 10 4.9% 3,730 5.0% 70,726 5.5% 5 - 19 39 19.2% 15,005 20.3% 264,759 20.7% 20 - 44 67 33.0% 23,256 31.4% 440,253 34.6% 45 - 64 65 32.1% 19,396 26.2% 315,783 24.8% 65 + 22 10.8% 12,551 17.0% 183,402 14.3% Total 203 100.0% 73,938 100.0% 1,274,923 100.0% Male 109 53.7% 36,095 48.8% 620,309 48.7% Female 94 46.3% 37,843 51.2% 654,614 51.3% Source: 2000 US Census 4 The table above indicates that Weston mirrors the trends seen at both county and state levels. Specifically, the preschool and school age groups make up roughly 20% of the population while the prime earner age groups comprise roughly 60% of the population. Weston is lower on both the elderly and very young end of the spectrum. The median age for Weston is 41.3 years. Births and Deaths Town of Weston Year Births Deaths Natural Increase 1996 3 1 2 1997 3 0 3 1998 0 0 0 1999 3 1 2 2000 1 0 1 2001 1 1 0 Totals 11 3 8 Source: Weston Town Records According to town statistics, Weston experienced a natural net gain of eight residents between 1996 and 2001. However, statistical forecasts indicate that any net gain the Town will see over the next decade will likely be from people relocating to Weston rather than from an increase in the birth rate as the 0 to 4 age group is expected to decrease through year 2015. Several factors can positively affect the birth rate, such as new economic growth and job creation or marketing the rural lifestyle of Weston to people that might be interested in relocating or moving back to the area to raise their families. Educational Attainment Population by Level of Education Education Weston Houlton Aroostook Maine Level Number % total Number % total Number % total Number % total < 9th Grade 14 9.7% 389 10.7% 5,802 11.3% 47,183 5.4% 9 - 12 no diploma 16 11.0% 457 12.6% 6,066 11.8% 80,105 9.2% High School Grad 66 45.5% 1,248 34.5% 19,799 38.5% 314,600 36.2% College, No Deg 29 20.0% 602 16.6% 8,893 17.3% 165,111 19.0% Assoc. Deg. 2 1.4% 239 6.6% 3,345 6.5% 63,934 7.3% Bach. Deg. 13 9.0% 519 14.3% 5,544 10.8% 129,992 14.9% Grad/Prof. Deg. 5 3.4% 165 4.6% 1,990 3.9% 68,968 7.9% Totals 145 100% 3,619 100% 51,439 100% 869,893 100% % HS Grad or Higher 79.3% 76.6% 76.9% 84.5% % BA Deg or Higher 12.4% 18.9% 14.6% 22.9% Source: 2000 US Census 5 Weston compares favorably at both regional and state levels in the number of residents achieving a high school diploma or GED, but lags behind in college degree attainment. Graduate and professional degree attainment is also lower than regional and state figures. Historical Comparison - Level of Education 1990 - 2000 Weston Education 1990 Census 2000 Census Net Increase Level Number % total Number % total Number % change < 9th Grade 4 2.7% 14 9.7% 10 250.0% 9 - 12 no diploma 18 12.0% 16 11.0% -2 -11.1% High School Grad 96 64.0% 66 45.5% -30 -31.3% College, No Deg 15 10.0% 29 20.0% 14 93.3% Assoc. Deg. 6 4.0% 2 1.4% -4 -66.7% Bach. Deg. 9 6.0% 13 9.0% 4 44.4% Grad/Prof. Deg. 2 1.3% 5 3.4% 3 150.0% Totals 150 100.0% 145 100.0% -5 -3.3% % HS Grad or Higher 85.3% 79.3% -6.0% % BA Deg or Higher 7.3% 12.4% 5.1% Source: 1990, 2000 US Census Although the total number educated Weston residents has decreased by 5, significant gains have been made during the last decade in the number of residents over the age of 25 that have attended college and those that attained Bachelor and Graduate Degrees.