The University of DigitalCommons@UMaine

Maine Town Documents Maine Government Documents

2006 Phippsburg Comprehensive Plan Phippsburg (Me.)

Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/towndocs

Repository Citation Phippsburg (Me.), "Phippsburg Comprehensive Plan" (2006). Maine Town Documents. 693. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/towndocs/693

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]. Phippsburg Comprehensive Plan Final – May 2006

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ...... 1 Our 5 Key Goals for this Plan...... 1 Process-public involvement in developing the plan...... 2 The Survey ...... 3 Meetings of the Whole Committee and Sub Committees...... 3 The Content of This Plan ...... 6

RURAL CHARACTER...... 7

HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY ...... 9 Prehistoric and Historic Archaeology...... 9 List of Historic and Archaeological Sites ...... 9 Extant (Visible) Historic Resources...... 11 Village by Village Descriptions...... 12 Cemeteries...... 13 Listed on the National Register of Historic Places ...... 14 Existing Preservation Measures...... 14 Public Opinion Survey Results ...... 16 Analysis...... 17 Summary Findings...... 19 Goals and Steps to Achieve Them...... 20

POPULATION ...... 21 Trends ...... 22 Births Deaths and In-Migration ...... 22 Age Distribution...... 23 Density ...... 24 Educational Attainment ...... 26 Income and Poverty ...... 26 Population Projection and Forecasts...... 28 The Planning Implication...... 29 Recommendation ...... 30

THE ECONOMY...... 31 Historical and Regional Context...... 31 The Labor Force...... 31 Local Economy...... 35 Planning Issues...... 37 Goals and Steps to Achieve Them...... 40

PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES ...... 42 Capital Assets...... 42 Town Administration...... 43

Phippsburg Comprehensive Plan Table of Contents i Phippsburg Comprehensive Plan Final – May 2006

Waste Management...... 44 Libraries ...... 45 Police...... 46 Enhanced Emergency 911...... 46 Fire and Rescue...... 46 Municipal Line Departments ...... 47 Public Opinion...... 48 Summary Findings...... 48 Goals and Steps to Achieve Them ...... 49

RECREATION AND ACCESS ...... 50 Inventory of Physical Assets...... 50 Public Organized Sport Facilities ...... 53 Private Recreational Facilities ...... 54 Regional Recreational Facilities ...... 54 Planning Issues...... 55 Goals and Steps to Achieve Them...... 57

SCHOOLS/EDUCATION...... 59 Elementary School...... 60 High School...... 61 Planning Issues...... 61 Public Opinion...... 63 Summary of Findings...... 64 Goals and Steps to Achieve Them...... 64

ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION...... 65 Today’s Road System ...... 65 Accident Reports...... 67 Road Condition and Maintenance Plan...... 69 Parking Facilities...... 69 Bridges ...... 70 Public Transportation...... 70 Bike Paths...... 70 Public Opinion...... 71 Summary Findings...... 72 Goals and Steps to Achieve Them...... 73

FISCAL CAPACITY...... 76 Valuation and Taxes...... 76 Tax Exempt Properties...... 80 Revenue and Expenditures...... 83 Analysis...... 85 Surplus ...... 85 Summary Findings...... 86 Goals and Steps to Achieve Them...... 87

Phippsburg Comprehensive Plan Table of Contents ii Phippsburg Comprehensive Plan Final – May 2006

CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN...... 88 Current Capital Investment Needs...... 89 Capital Reserve Accounts...... 89 Road Capital Maintenance Plan...... 90 Capital Improvement Plan...... 90

MARINE RESOURCES...... 94 Fishing Resources...... 94 Harbor and Marine Facilities ...... 97 Shore Access...... 97 Existing Laws and Programs ...... 99 Opinion Surveys...... 101 Planning Issues...... 103 Goals and Steps to Achieve Them...... 105

NATURAL RESOURCES ...... 108 Inventory...... 108 Threats and Planning Issues...... 118 Existing Laws...... 120 Public Opinion...... 122 Goals and Steps to Achieve Them ...... 123

GROUNDWATER ...... 125 Source of Water Supply...... 125 Amount of Water Available...... 126 “Low Volume Watershed” Areas of Concern ...... 128 Potential Threats to Groundwater Quality ...... 129 Existing Laws Related to Ground Water Protection...... 130 Public Opinion...... 131 Planning Issues...... 131 Summary Findings...... 133 Goals and Steps to Achieve Them...... 133

FORESTRY, AGRICULTURE AND OPEN SPACE ...... 135 The Woods and Fields ...... 135 Existing Programs and Laws ...... 135 Public Opinion...... 137 Analysis...... 137 Threats and Planning Issues...... 138 Goals and Steps to Achieve Them...... 138

AFFORDABLE HOUSING ...... 140 Housing Stock...... 140 Housing Affordability...... 148 Public Opinion...... 152 Planning Issues...... 152

Phippsburg Comprehensive Plan Table of Contents iii Phippsburg Comprehensive Plan Final – May 2006

Goals and Steps to Achieve Them...... 153

EXISTING LAND USE ...... 154 Geographic Neighborhoods...... 154 Ownership...... 160 Commercial Land Use ...... 161

TOWARD A FUTURE LAND USE PLAN ...... 162 Growth Rates and Projections...... 162 Existing Laws...... 164 Public Opinion...... 167

FUTURE LAND USE PLAN PART I - GROWTH MANAGEMENT...... 170 Issues Discussed...... 170 Summary Findings...... 171 Policies Regarding Growth Areas...... 172 Policies Regarding Rural Protection Areas...... 173 Growth Management by Village Area...... 175

FUTURE LAND USE PLAN TO REACH OUR 5 KEY GOALS...... 179 Open Space and Rural Character ...... 179 Access for Commercial Fishermen...... 181 Ground Water and Drinking Water...... 182 Affordable Housing...... 183

REGIONAL ISSUES...... 185 Economy Issues ...... 185 Water and Marine Resources...... 186 Transportation...... 188 Education ...... 189

MAPS (All maps can be found attached in the pocket)

Map Name Referred to in Chapter

Historical Features ...... HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY Marine Resources...... MARINE RESOURCES Wildlife Habitat ...... NATURAL RESOURCES Ground Water Usage...... GROUNDWATER Land Use ...... EXISTING LAND USE Future Land Use...... FUTURE LAND USE Composite Constraints...... FUTURE LAND USE PLAN PART II

Phippsburg Comprehensive Plan Table of Contents iv Phippsburg Comprehensive Plan Final – May 2006

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Thanks to the tireless commitment of a great many volunteers, this plan truly reflects the community of Phippsburg. Thanks go to the members of the Main Committee who guided this process from its beginning: three Selectmen: Tom Totman at the beginning (later replaced by Alan Douglass), Proctor Wells (who was later replaced by Everett Perkins) and Michael Rice, Marie Varian, Chairman of the Planning Board, David Thombs, Chairman of the Board of Appeals (who later resigned), Lee Rainey, Code Enforcement Officer and Richard ‘Nick’ Nichols, Coordinator (until 11/19/03). Singled out for an extra dose of gratitude is Mike Rice, who facilitated the meetings when the Committee made the tough decisions regarding Land Use and Growth Management. Thanks to the following devoted members of the sub-committees and other participants who worked so hard gathering information and reviewing/writing numerous drafts of the chapters. Agriculture Economy & Services Marine Resources History & Rural Mark Hawkes, Chair Ken McPherson, Chair Russ Smith, Chair Character (resigned 10/26/04) Jean Flink Frank Freer Merry Chapin, Chair Kai Jacob Clifford Newell Clifford Goudey John Bradford Sue Verrier David Power Muriel Hendrix Richard Kelly Randy Harrington Proctor Wells Jane Stevens Chilloa Young Jack Thompson Charlotte Moore Land Use Natural Areas & Wildlife Recreation Peter MacMurray Les Smith, Chair Bill Emerson, Chair Ron Flink, Chair Helen Webb Jim Little Joan Detel Nick Sewall Orman Hines Martha Streeter Sharon LaFond Angie Zimmerman Carol Brown Steve Thayer Marcia Makris Cece Coates Ma