Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission REGIONAL
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Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission REGIONAL PLAN Volume 1 Adopted – November 18, 2014 Effective – December 23, 2014 Amended – June 25, 2018 Effective – July 30, 2018 View from Studio ©Gary Milek Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission P.O. Box 320 Ascutney Professional Building Ascutney, VT 05030 802/674-9201, fax: 802/674-5711 www.swcrpc.org Acknowledgements The Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission wishes to thank all of the individuals who contributed their time and expertise to the revision of the 2014 Regional Plan. We would like to especially thank local artist, Gary Milek, for once again donating the use of his art for this publication. Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission Commissioners Peter Daniels, Chairman, Weathersfield Thomas Bock, Vice Chairman, Chester Carol Lighthall, Secretary/Treasurer, Baltimore Joseph Fromberger, Andover Etienne Ting, Cavendish Norman Vanasse, Ludlow Joseph Wilson, Springfield Hal Pyke, West Windsor Clayton Paronto, Windsor At-large Commissioners Bob Flint, Springfield Regional Development Center (SRDC) Staff Tom Kennedy, AICP – Executive Director Jason Rasmussen, AICP – Senior Planner John Broker-Campbell, CFM – Planner Dan Potter – Planner Katharine Otto, AICP – Planner Cynthia Porter – Financial Administrator Christina Titus – Administrative Assistant ©Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission, 2014 P.O. Box 320, Ascutney Professional Building, Ascutney, VT 05030 Phone: (802)674-9201, Fax: (802)674-5711, www.swcrpc.org 2014 Southern Windsor County Regional Plan (Volume 1 of 2) Table of Contents I. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 1 A. Background of the Commission .......................................................................................... 1 B. Statutory Authority ................................................................................................................. 1 C. The Regional Plan .................................................................................................................. 1 D. Use of the Plan in Regulatory Proceedings ........................................................................ 2 1. Act 250 ................................................................................................................................ 3 2. Section 248 .......................................................................................................................... 5 3. Solid Waste Facility Certification ..................................................................................... 6 E. Goals, Policies, and Recommendations Defined ............................................................... 6 Regional Goals ............................................................................................................................ 6 Regional Policies ......................................................................................................................... 7 II. REGIONAL PROFILE ............................................................................................................ 9 A. Background of the Region .................................................................................................... 9 B. Physiographic Characteristics ............................................................................................... 9 C. Population ............................................................................................................................. 10 1. Population Growth .......................................................................................................... 10 2. Age Characteristics .......................................................................................................... 11 3. Population Distribution .................................................................................................. 11 4. Seasonal/Second Home Population ............................................................................. 12 D. Economy ................................................................................................................................ 12 1. Economic Trends ............................................................................................................ 12 2. Poverty and Wages .......................................................................................................... 13 E. Housing .................................................................................................................................. 14 1. Housing Unit Growth ..................................................................................................... 14 2. Vacation and Second Home Development ................................................................. 15 F. Energy .................................................................................................................................... 15 G. Transportation ...................................................................................................................... 16 1. Transportation Trends .................................................................................................... 16 2. Regional Commuting Patterns ....................................................................................... 17 III. LAND USE ........................................................................................................................... 18 A. Land Use Trends .................................................................................................................. 18 1. Historic Settlement Patterns ........................................................................................... 18 2. Current Land Use/Land Cover ..................................................................................... 19 3. Growth Management Act ............................................................................................... 20 B. Future Land Use ................................................................................................................... 22 1. Future Land Use Map ..................................................................................................... 22 C. Special Considerations in All Land Use Categories ......................................................... 27 1. Supporting Traditional Land Use Patterns .................................................................. 27 2. Resource Protections and Working Landscape ........................................................... 27 3. Interstate Interchanges and Major Highway Corridors .............................................. 27 4. Energy Conservation ....................................................................................................... 28 Land Use Goals ............................................................................................................................. 28 Land Use Policies .......................................................................................................................... 28 Land Use Recommendations ....................................................................................................... 30 IV. COMMUNITY UTILITIES AND FACILITIES .......................................................... 31 i 2014 Southern Windsor County Regional Plan (Volume 1 of 2) A. Water, Sewer, and Electricity .............................................................................................. 31 1. Electrical Transmission Lines ........................................................................................ 31 2. Community Water and Sewer Service ........................................................................... 32 3. Private Water and Sewer Systems .................................................................................. 34 B. Solid Waste Facilities ............................................................................................................ 35 1. Household Hazardous Waste Collections .................................................................... 37 C. Community Health and Safety Resources ........................................................................ 37 1. Hospitals ............................................................................................................................ 37 2. Nursing Homes and Assisted Living ............................................................................ 37 3. Correctional Facilities ...................................................................................................... 38 D. Communications Facilities .................................................................................................. 39 1. Telecommunications ....................................................................................................... 39 2. Interoperable Communications for Emergency Services .......................................... 40 3. Television, Videoconferencing and Other Media ....................................................... 41 4. Internet Services ............................................................................................................... 41 E. Educational Resources ......................................................................................................... 42 F. Child Care .............................................................................................................................