Candia Master Plan Volume I of II Prepared by The Candia Master Plan Committee With Assistance from Burnt Rock, Inc. Associates in Community Planning Waitsfield, Vermont and Hanover, New Hampshire Adopted by the Candia Planning Board 11/17/04 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Candia Master Plan Committee gratefully acknowledges the assistance and support of the following individuals, boards, and organizations for their dedication in developing the Candia Master Plan. The assistance included participation in numerous meetings and public forums, revision of countless drafts, production and mapping help, as well as many other important components of the master planning process. Board of Selectmen: Conservation Commission: Envision Candia Steering Envisioning Candia Center (Plan NH): Clark Thyng (Chair) Edward Fowler (Chair) Committee: Donna DelRosso Neil Sieminski* Peter Bond Claudia Boozer-Blasco Fred Kelley* Gary York* Betsy Kruse* Laura Briggs Linda Kelley Paul Lamie Kim Byrd* Ron Thomas* Planning Board: Dennis Lewis Christopher Closs* Gary York* Mary Girard (Chair) Judi Lindsey* Al Couch* Michele York* Kim Byrd* Richard Weeks Kathy Dupuis Fred Kelley* Richard Snow (Alt.) Edward Fowler Master Plan Contributors: Judi Lindsey* Rita Goekjian Audubon Society of New Hampshire Richard Mitchell Heritage Commission: Dave Kelso Bear-Paw Regional Greenways Arthur Sanborn Jon Godfrey (Chair) Betsy Kruse* Livable, Walkable Communities Neil Sieminski* Kim Byrd* Pat Larkin New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Robert Bruce (Alt.) Edward Fowler Judi Lindsey* Natural Resources Outreach Coalition Barry Margolin (Alt.) Kenneth Madden Ruth Lund Plan New Hampshire Mark Young (Alt.) Howard Swain Joyce Palmer Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission Ron Thomas* Judith Szot The Jordan Institute Clark Thyng Ron Thomas* University of New Hampshire Sarah Giles (Alt.) Clark Thyng Malcolm Higgins (Alt.) Rick Zang *Master Plan Committee We also thank Candia residents for participating in the master planning process and caring about the future of our town and thank Judi Lindsey for providing the outstanding photographs of Candia. Candia Master Plan Committee Members and Volunteers: Ron Thomas (Chair) Al Couch Judi Lindsey Ricia Velasco Peter Bond Mary Girard Neil Sieminski Joanna Whitcomb Ingrid Byrd Kate Hartnett Karen Smith Gary York Kim Byrd Fred Kelley Racheal Stuart Michele York Christopher Closs Betsy Kruse Scott Tierno Page i Table of Contents Volume I – Policy Document Volume II – Infrastructure Inventories (Data Book) (Copies of Volume II are on file at the Town Offices & Smyth Library.) Acknowledgements.......................................................................i Chapter 1 Introduction.............................................................. 1 Chapter 1 Natural Infrastructure ...............................................3 Purpose Vision Chapter 2 Built Infrastructure .................................................18 Process Cultural Resources Housing Chapter 2 Summary of Infrastructure Inventories .................... 6 Community Facilities and Services Natural Infrastructure Utilities, Energy and Communication Built Infrastructure Transportation Cultural Resources Housing Chapter 3 Social Infrastructure ...............................................67 Community Facilities and Services Community Profile Utilities, Energy and Communication Education Transportation Economic Profile Social Infrastructure Social Capital Assessment Demographics Education Appendix A Economics November 2003 Public Forum Summary...............98 Social Capital Chapter 3 Land Use ................................................................ 13 Historic Development Recent Trends Existing Land Use and Cover Current Land Use Regulations Future Land Use Plan Chapter 4 Implementation Plan .............................................. 25 Natural Infrastructure Built Infrastructure Social Infrastructure Land Use Candia Master Plan Volume I, Chapter 1 - Introduction April 9, 2004 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The Candia Master Plan is a collection of data, ideas and Purpose of the Candia Master Plan recommendations about how to make decisions about future growth and Whether preparing for retirement, developing new business strategies, or development in Candia. The Plan tells a story of Candia’s past and buying seeds for the summer garden, planning is an essential part of our present day experiences by describing the economic, demographic and lives. Though not always a conscious act, the practice of looking ahead, social trends that continue to influence Candia today. It is a document identifying needs, setting goals, budgeting time resources and attempting that looks to the future by proposing policies that guide town actions. to achieve desired outcomes, are key elements of a planning process. Why should communities plan for their future? For the same reason that individuals, families, small businesses and large corporations do – looking ahead and anticipating change makes sense. Communities have found that, through planning, they can better protect community interests, better manage public investment and the allocation of scarce tax dollars, protect important natural and cultural resources, promote development in appropriate locations, and nurture the local institutions that define community life. Through the preparation of a new town master plan, Candia residents are acting to define a long term vision for the town and a means of achieving that vision. The plan is designed to serve as the primary reference when making community decisions and provide guidance to local officials when setting public policy. In addition, the plan is intended to serve the The Candia Master Plan is a two-volume set that meets town policy needs following purposes. as well as state planning requirements. Volume I is the policy document that provides the vision, a summary of the natural, built and social • Community Assessment: To respond thoughtfully to new and quickly infrastructure inventories, the existing and future land use plan, and the changing conditions, Candia residents and officials should be aware implementation plan. Volume II is the data book which includes three of the community’s strengths and weaknesses and anticipate the chapters: the natural, built and social infrastructure inventories. Within factors that will influence future conditions. The process of preparing each infrastructure chapter, specific areas of interest are inventoried and a plan provides a structured process for taking stock of current analyzed, from natural resources to housing and jobs, to building conditions, and predicting future trends and influences. This process community connections, among other issues. of community assessment and debate regarding the town’s future can be as important as the plan itself. This chapter articulates the purpose of Candia’s master plan, Candia’s vision for the future and the process used in developing this plan. Page 1 Candia Master Plan Volume I, Chapter 1 - Introduction April 9, 2004 • Land Use Planning and Development Regulation: Candia first • Articulate a Community Vision: Candia residents represent a adopted zoning regulations in 1958 and subdivision regulations in diversity of opinions and attitudes. The plan is an effective vehicle 1987. Both documents have been revised over the years to guide for forging consensus, identifying issues in which consensus is development in a manner that protects the best interests of the town. difficult, and setting forth a process for resolving future conflict. A There is local concern, however, that the current regulations may not significant amount of public input has been incorporated into this plan adequately maintain the town’s rural character in coming years. A through a variety of forums. Hopefully, the end result will be a future primary purpose of this plan is to articulate clear future land use goals vision that reflects, to the extent possible, the hopes and aspirations of and policies, thereby serving as a blueprint for anticipated changes to the community. the town’s land use and development regulations. • Measure Success: Defining a vision for the future is easy compared • Public Facilities and Services: The town plan is an important tool to the challenge of achieving that vision. To measure success over for identifying the desired levels of service for community facilities time, the plan sets out a variety of indicators which can be used to plot and services, projecting future demand for those facilities and progress over time. services, and setting priorities for meeting those demands in a cost effective manner. In many respects, this is among the most important A Vision for Candia’s Future functions of a town plan. Candia’s vision statement is an integral part of its planning efforts. Through the support of local residents and an active planning program, • Open Space and Natural Resource Protection: Candia residents the following characteristics define Candia for the future: have demonstrated their support for land conservation and have allocated funds for that purpose on more than one occasion. With an A strong sense of place, defined by: active conservation commission, Bear-Paw Regional Greenways, and • traditional settlement patterns, including compact, walkable likely continued public support for protecting open space, additional villages surrounded by rural countryside; conservation projects should be anticipated. The town plan can help • a landscape of forests, natural areas and open fields; establish