STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE SITE EVALUATION COMMITTEE Docket No. 2015-06 Joint Application of Northern Pass Transmission, LLC and Public Service Company of New Hampshire d/b/a Eversource Energy for a Certificate of Site and Facility PREFILED DIRECT TESTIMONY OF CASSANDRA LALEME ON BEHALF OF THE BETHLEHEM BOARD OF SELECTMEN November 15, 2016 Prefiled Testimony of Cassandra Laleme Docket 2015-06 November 15, 2016 Page 1 1 Background and Qualifications 2 Q. Please state your name. 3 A. My name is Cassandra Laleme. 4 Q. Please describe your official capacity in the Town of Easton? 5 A. I am a member of the Bethlehem Board of Selectmen, and the Ex-Officio Member 6 of the Bethlehem Planning Board. 7 Purpose of Testimony 8 Q. What is the purpose of this prefiled direct testimony? 9 A. My testimony is being presented on behalf of the Town Bethlehem’s Board of 10 Selectmen. My testimony is for the following purposes: to address Bethlehem’s concerns 11 regarding the inconsistency between our Town’s local land use goals, ordinances and 12 regulations, our concerns that the Project will cause significant damage to our natural resources 13 and our economy, and our conclusion that the Project as proposed would unduly interfere with 14 the orderly development of the region. 15 Q. Would the Northern Pass Project be consistent with Bethlehem’s Master 16 Plan, Zoning Ordinance, or other land use regulations? 17 A. No. Please see my full discussion of this issue in Appendix A to my testimony. 18 The Project as proposed is not consistent with our former Master Plan of 2004, or the new 19 Master Plan that has been under development by the Planning Board for the past year. See 2004 20 Master Plan, Appendix B to my testimony; and 2015 Master Plan Update Survey Results, 21 Appendix C to my testimony. In addition, the Project is in conflict with our Zoning Ordinance Prefiled Testimony of Cassandra Laleme Docket 2015-06 November 15, 2016 Page 2 1 (Appendix D to my testimony) and our Site Plan Review Regulations (Appendix E to my 2 testimony). 3 Q. What concerns does the Board of selectmen have regarding the impact of the 4 Project on Bethlehem’s natural resources? 5 A. As described more in Appendix A to my testimony and in the December 2015 6 “Assessment of transmission Line Proposal on Natural Resources in Bethlehem” (attached as 7 Appendix F to my testimony), the Board is concerned that the Project, as proposed with 8 overhead high voltage transmission lines and very large towers, will impact not only the 9 character of our community, but also the flora and fauna patterns and animal life and trails. 10 Q. Does the Board of Selectmen have concerns about the effect of the Project on 11 tourism and the local economy? 12 A. Yes. As described more fully in Appendix A to my testimony, Bethlehem has 13 experienced significant difficulty attracting and keeping small businesses that complement the 14 Town’s lifestyle and character. One of the proposed towers would be located at the entrance to 15 our Town on Route 302 and will dominate the landscape in a way we are very concerned will 16 adversely affect the perception of our Town. Traffic congestion from the construction phase will 17 force delays and detours which can affect the decision to stop or stay in Bethlehem. The 18 Applicant’s comparison of the effects of this proposed Project on tourism to the effects of the 19 Phase II project in Littleton is flawed because it was a smaller project constructed in a less 20 intrusive manner. Furthermore, the assertion that the Project will create jobs and sustainable 21 income for local people has not been proven. Prefiled Testimony of Cassandra Laleme Docket 2015-06 November 15, 2016 Page 3 1 Q. Has the Town Meeting taken any action regarding this Project? 2 A. Yes. The 2011 Town Meeting passed Warrant Article 24, which is a statement of 3 the Town’s opposition to the Project because it would cause inestimable damage to the orderly 4 development of the Town, its economy, and health and well-being of its residents. See Appendix 5 G to my testimony. 6 Q. Does this end your testimony? 7 A. Yes. Bethlehem Master Plan Bethlehem, New Hampshire 2004 Bethlehem Master Plan Bethlehem, New Hampshire 2004 Prepared by the Citizens of Bethlehem Adopted by the Bethlehem Planning Board __________ Compilation and editing by Cover Photo: Aerial view of Bethlehem town Jeffrey H. Taylor & Associates, Inc. center looking west. Concord, New Hampshire Photo courtesy of photographer Paul Lister, Bethlehem, and pilot Bruce Blaney, Bethlehem, flying an American Champion Super Decathlon 8KCAB owned by Susan Simpson, Franconia. Map creation by Inside Photos: Provided by Tanya Tellman, North Country Council, Inc. Stanley Harrison, and Lon Weston. Bethlehem, New Hampshire ADOPTION OF BETHLEHEM, NEW HAMPSHIRE MASTER PLAN In accordance with New Hampshire RSA 674:4, Master Plan Adoption and Amendment, and New Hampshire RSA 675:6, Method of Adoption, the Bethlehem Planning Board, having held duly authorized public hearings on the Bethlehem Master Plan on June 9, 2004 and June 30, 2004 hereby adopts and certifies the Master Plan dated July 2004. John Seely, Chairman Roland Shick, Vice Chairman Kristen Reinhold, Exofficio Harold Friedman Alecia Loveless David Tellman Erin Woo, Alternate Matthew MacKinnon Tandy Brown, Bethlehem Town Clerk Date of Signature by Planning Board Date Filed: NOTE: The original document with original signatures is on file with the Town Clerk. III TABLE OF CONTENTS ADOPTION STATEMENT III TABLE OF CONTENTS IV INTRODUCTION IX CHAPTER 1 – A VISION FOR BETHLEHEM 1.0 Vision Statement 1-1 1.1 Goals 1-2 1.2 Objectives 1-4 CHAPTER 2 – LAND USE AND COMMUNITY DESIGN 2.0 Introduction 2-1 2.1 Existing Land Use 2-1 2.1.1 Transportation 2-2 2.1.2 Current Use Assessment 2-2 2.1.3 Residential Development 2-3 2.1.4 Village Center 2-5 2.1.5 Commercial Strips 2-6 2.1.6 Commercial/Industrial Development 2-6 2.1.7 Interstate 93 Interchanges 2-7 2.1.8 Recreation 2-8 2.1.9 Town Properties 2-8 2.1.10 Sand and Gravel Excavations 2-9 2.1.11 Commercial Landfill Operations 2-10 2.1.12 Open Space 2-12 2.2 Planning History in Bethlehem 2-13 2.2.1 Land Use Ordinances and Regulations 2-14 2.2.2 Enforcement of Ordinances and Regulations 2-16 2.2.3 Town Planner 2-17 2.3 Future Land Use and Community Design 2-17 2.3.1 Future Land Use Plan 2-18 2.3.2 Community Design 2-18 CHAPTER 3 – TRANSPORTATION 3.0 Introduction 3-1 3.1 Existing Transportation Facilities 3-2 3.1.1 Roadway Classification 3-2 3.1.2 State Highways 3-4 3.1.3 Local Streets and Roads 3-4 IV 3.1.4 Scenic Roads 3-7 3.1.5 Traffic Counts 3-7 3.1.6 Multi-use Trails and Paths 3-9 3.1.7 Problem Areas 3-9 3.2 Public Transportation Facilities 3-10 3.2.1 Railroads 3-10 3.2.2 Air Facilities 3-10 3.2.3 Bus Service 3-10 3.2.4 Park and Ride Lots 3-11 3.3 Special Transportation Issues 3-11 3.3.1 Access Management 3-11 3.3.2 Traffic Calming 3-11 3.3.3 Context Sensitive Solutions 3-12 3.3.4 State Transportation Planning and Legislation 3-12 CHAPTER 4 – COMMUNITY FACILITIES 4.0 Introduction 4-1 4.1 Town Building 4-1 4.2 Library 4-2 4.3 Fire Department 4-3 4.4 Police Department 4-5 4.5 Highway Department 4-6 4.6 Swimming Pool 4-6 4.7 Cemeteries 4-7 4.8 Educational Facilities 4-7 4.9 Non-Profit Organizations 4-9 CHAPTER 5 – UTILITIES AND PUBLIC SERVICES 5.0 Introduction 5-1 5.1 Electricity 5-1 5.2 Telephone Service 5-1 5.3 Cable Television 5-2 5.4 Telecommunications Facilities 5-2 5.5 Solid Waste 5-3 5.5.1 Landfill 5-3 5.5.2 Transfer Station 5-3 5.5.3 Village District Waste Collection 5-4 5.5.4 Wastewater Collection 5-4 5.6 Water Supply 5-5 CHAPTER 6 – POPULATION AND HOUSING 6.0 Introduction 6-1 6.1 Population 6-2 V 6.1.1 Populations Trends 6-2 6.1.2 Populations Projections 6-3 6.1.3 Net Migration 6-4 6.1.4 Seasonal Population 6-4 6.1.5 Population Distribution 6-5 6.2 Housing 6-6 6.2.1 Introduction 6-6 6.2.2 Housing Supply 6-6 6.2.3 Ownership Trends 6-7 6.2.4 Housing Characteristics 6-8 6.2.5 Cost of Housing 6-9 6.2.6 Senior Housing 6-10 6.2.7 Manufactured Housing 6-10 6.2.8 Condominiums 6-11 6.2.9 Town Regulations 6-11 CHAPTER 7 – ECONOMY 7.0 Introduction 7-1 7.1 Employment 7-2 7.2 Income 7-5 7.3 Local Economy 7-6 CHAPTER 8 – NATURAL RESOURCES 8.0 Introduction 8-1 8.1 Climate 8-1 8.2 Topography 8-2 8.3 Slope 8-3 8.4 Bedrock Geology 8-4 8.5 Surficial Geology 8-4 8.6 Gravel Excavations 8-5 8.7 Soils 8-5 8.8 Water Resources 8-7 8.8.1 Surface Water 8-7 8.8.2 Lakes and Ponds 8-8 8.8.3 Impoundments 8-9 8.8.4 Wetlands 8-10 8.8.5 Floodplains 8-10 8.8.6 Shoreland Protection 8-11 8.8.7 Existing Water Resources 8-12 8.8.8 Water Quality 8-15 8.9 Non-Point Pollution Sources 8-15 8.9.1 Point Pollution Sources 8-18 8.10 Vegetation 8-18 VI 8.11 Fish and Wildlife 8-20 8.12 Scenic Resources 8-23 8.13 Conservation Land 8-24 CHAPTER 9 – RECREATION 9.0 Introduction 9-1 9.1 Existing Recreation Facilities 9-1 9.1.1 Bethlehem Country Club 9-1 9.1.2 Town Swimming Pool and Playground 9-2 9.1.3 Tennis Courts 9-2 9.1.4 Baseball Fields 9-2 9.1.5 Skating Rink and Skate Park 9-2 9.1.6 Basketball Courts 9-2 9.1.7 School Facilities 9-2 9.1.8 Snowmobile Trails 9-3 9.1.9 Hiking Trails 9-3 9.2 Regional Facilities 9-3 9.3 Summary 9-3 CHAPTER 10 – CULTURAL AND HISTORIC RESOURCES 10.0 Introduction 10-1 10.1 The Bethlehem Heritage Society (BHS) 10-2 10.1.1 Historic Resource Survey 10-2 10.1.2 National Register of Historic Places 10-3 10.2 Local Regulations 10-4 10.3 Historic Preservation Tools 10-5 10.4 Historical Preservation Plan 10-8 10.5 Summary 10-8 CHAPTER 11 – REGIONAL CONCERNS 11.0 Introduction