Town of Penobscot Maine Comprehensive Plan Penobscot Comprehensive Planning Committee
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The University of Maine DigitalCommons@UMaine Maine Town Documents Maine Government Documents 1997 Town of Penobscot Maine Comprehensive Plan Penobscot Comprehensive Planning Committee Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/towndocs Repository Citation Penobscot Comprehensive Planning Committee, "Town of Penobscot Maine Comprehensive Plan" (1997). Maine Town Documents. 8348. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/towndocs/8348 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]. PENOBSCOT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, 1997 Prepared by the Penobscot Comprehensive Planning Committee: Richard Washburn, Chair James Climo Jane Crossen Christine Gelinas David Gelinas Tad Goodale Gloria Siegel Leo Siegel Virginia Tetzel John Tetzel The committee acknowledges the invaluable assistance of Sherman H. Perkins and dedicates this plan to his memory. With technical assistance from the Hancock County Planning Commission. Introduction A comprehensive plan is an advisory document, which reflects a town's desired future. It consists of an inventory and analysis of current conditions; goals, objectives and policies; and implementation measures. Overall, it identifies current problems and opportunities that the town faces and discusses what is expected to happen in Penobscot over the next five to ten years. While the policies are intended to set a direction for Penobscot, they are meant as general guidelines and must be reviewed regularly to see if any modifications are needed to address unanticipated changes. The plan can be used by the selectmen, planning board, and other town groups to guide their decisions and provide continuity in town policy. It can also be used to help Penobscot seek funding from various state and federal grant programs. While the plan is the legal basis of any changes to zoning and other land use ordinances, all such changes must be voted upon at a town meeting and require separate public hearings before any vote. Residents are reminded that planning is an on-going process. This plan should be reviewed annually to see if its assumptions are still valid. A more thorough review may be needed in five y e a r s . NOTE: This plan is in draft form until adopted at town meeting. TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTIONS PAGE Introduction ...... ........................................ i SECTION I: INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS A. Population A.l Purpose ................................................. 1 A.2 Key Findings and Issues ................................. i A. 3 Public Opinion Survey Results ........................... 1 A.4 Historical Trends ....................................... 1 A. 5 Current Conditions ....................................... 4 A .6 Seasonal Population ................................... 7 A. 7 Institutional Population ................................. 7 A. 8 Projected Population ................................... 7 B . Economy B. 1 Purpose ................................................. 1 B.2 Key Findings and Issues ................................. 1 B.3 Community Survey Results ............................... 1 B * 4 Recent Employment T r e n d s .......................... • * 1 B.5 Projected Future Employment and Regional Issues .... 7 C. Housing C.l Purpose ...................... ...... .......... 1 C.2 Findings and Key Issues . ................ 1 C.3 Public Opinion Survey Results ..... ............... 1 C.4 Recent Housing Trends ................................. 1 C.5 Affordable Housing ..................................... 8 C.6 Dwelling Unit Projections ........................... 11 C.7 Regional Housing Issues . ........................... 12 D. Transportation and Roads D.l Introduction . .................................... D.2 Key Findings and Issues .............................. D.3 Community Survey Results .............................. D.4 Administrative Classification of Roads ................ D.5 Functional Classification of Roads .................... D.6 Road Conditions ...................................... D . 7 Usage and Capacity of Roads ......................... D.8 Parking .............................................. D.9 Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities .................... D.10 Public Transportation Facilities and Services ........ D.ll Airports .............................................. D.12 Rail Service .......................................... D.13 Local Transportation Issues .......................... D.14 Regional Transportation Issues ........................ \0«000000(»'J^*iWHHHH E. Public Facilities E . 1 Purpose ................................................. 1 E.2 Key Findings and Issues ............................... 1 E.3 Public Opinion Survey Results ......................... 1 E.4 Town Government ......................................... 1 E.5 Solid Waste Disposal ................................... 2 E.6 Fire Protection ......................................... 3 E.7 Police Protection ................................. 6 E .8 Ambulance ............................................... 7 E.9 Libraries and Cultural Facilities .'..................... 7 SECTIONS PAGE E . 10 Education .................. 8 E.ll Town Buildings....................................... 10 E.12 Public W o r k s ......................................... 10 E. 13 Health Care .................. 11 F. Recreation F. l Introduction ........................................... 1 F. 2 Key Findings and Issues ............................. 1 F.3 Public Opinion Survey Results ........................ 1 F.4 Current Recreational Resources ......................... 1 F.5 Current and Future Adequacy of Penobscot's Recreational Resources ............................................ 3 F. 6 Open Space ............................................... 6 G. Marine Resources G. 1 Introduction............................................. 1 G.2 . Key Findings and Issues .............................. 1 G.3 Community Survey Results ............................... 1 G.4 Marine Resource Areas . .......................... 1 G.5 Public Access to the S h o r e ............................... 4 G.6 Water-Dependent U s e s ..................................... 5 G.7 Harbors & Marinas ....................................... 6 G .8 Effectiveness of Existing Measures to Protect and Preserve Marine Resources ............................ 7 G. 9 Regional Marine Resource Issues ....................... 7 H. Water Resources H . 1 Purpose ................................................. 1 H.2 Key Findings and Issues ................................. 1 H.3 Public Opinion Survey Results ......................... 1 H .4 Surface Water Resources ............................... 1 H.5 Ground Water Resources ................................. 4 H. 6 Future Adequacy of Penobscot's Water Resources ........... 6 H. 7 Adequacy of Existing Measures to Protect and Preserve Significant Water Resources .......................... 6 H. 8 Regional Issues .................... 6 I. Natural Resources I. 1 Introduction............................................. 1 1.2 Key Findings and Issues .................. ...... 1 1.3 Public Opinion Survey Results ........................ 1 1.4 A Summary of Critical Natural Resources .............. 2 1.5 Scenic Resources ...................................... 5 1.6 Assessment of Threats to Penobscot's Natural and Scenic Resources .................. 6 1.7 Assessment of Existing Efforts to Protect and Preserve Penobscot's Natural and Scenic Resources . 7 1.8 Regional Issues ...................................... 7 J. Agriculture and Forest Resources J . 1 Purpose ................................................. 1 J.2 Key Findings and Issues ................................. 1 J.3 Public Opinion Survey Results ......................... 1 J.4 Agricultural Resources ................................. 1 J.5 Forest Resources ....................................... 3 J.6 An Analysis of Threats to Forest Land from Projected Development .......................................... 5 J.7 Adequacy of Existing Measures to Protect Forest Land . 5 SECTIONS PAGE K. Historic and Archaeological Resources K.l Purpose ........................ .......... 1 K.2 Key Findings and Issues .................. 1 K.3 Public Opinion Survey Results ............ 1 K.4 Historical Background .................... 1 K.5 Archaeological and Historical Resources . - 5 K.6 Threats to Penobscot's Historical Resources 6 K . 7 Assessment of Current Protection Measures 6 L. Land Use L. l Purpose ............................... • 1 L.2 Key Findings and Issues .................. 1 L.3 Public Opinion Survey Results ............ 1 L.4 Major Categories of Land Use .............. 1 L.5 Land Use Patterns ........................ 3 L .6 Recent Land Use Changes .................. 5 L.7 Areas Suitable for Growth ................ 6 L. 8 . Projected Land Acreage Needed for Development 7 M. Fiscal Capacity M . 1 Purpose .................................. 1 M . 2 Key Findings and Issues .......... .. 1 M.3 Public Opinion Survey Results ............ 1 M. 4 Valuation and Tax Assessment ............. 1 M . 5 Current and Future Revenue T r e n d s ....... 6 M . 6 Current and Future Expenditure Trends . 9 M. 7 Municipal Debt and Capital Financing .... 10 N. Summary N.l Key Issues and Concerns .................. 1 N.2 Population .................