TOWN OF LEMPSTER MASTER PLAN JUNE 2007 Prepared by the Lempster Planning Board with Technical Assistance Provided by Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................I-1 PURPOSE OF MASTER PLAN..............................................................................................................I-1 PROCESS TO UPDATE THE MASTER PLAN...................................................................................I-1 ACCOMPLISHMENTS SINCE ADOPTION OF THE 1987 MASTER PLAN...............................I-2 2007 MASTER PLAN UPDATE: PRIORITIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION..................................I-2 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .........................................................................................................................I-2 CHAPTER II REGIONAL SETTING................................................................................ II-1 MAP OF SULLIVAN COUNTY............................................................................................................ II-2 CHAPTER III COMMUNITY VISION............................................................................III-1 COMMUNITY VISION.........................................................................................................................III-1 CORE PRINCIPLES..............................................................................................................................III-2 Preserve What Makes Lempster Special .............................................................................................................. III-2 Provide Direction for Lempster’s Growth............................................................................................................ III-2 Improve the Appearance of Lempster................................................................................................................... III-2 Maintain a Healthy Civic Environment................................................................................................................ III-2 Increase Tax Base.................................................................................................................................................. III-3 PRIORITIES ...........................................................................................................................................III-3 Housing .................................................................................................................................................................. III-3 Transportation........................................................................................................................................................ III-3 Natural Resources.................................................................................................................................................. III-3 Economic Development ........................................................................................................................................ III-4 Facilities, Utilities, Public Services, and Recreation............................................................................................ III-4 Land Use ................................................................................................................................................................ III-4 CHAPTER IV POPULATION........................................................................................... IV-1 HISTORIC TRENDS ............................................................................................................................. IV-1 POPULATION TRENDS....................................................................................................................... IV-2 POPULATION BY AGE........................................................................................................................ IV-2 Preschool Population ............................................................................................................................................. IV-3 School Age............................................................................................................................................................. IV-3 Labor Force............................................................................................................................................................ IV-3 Elderly.................................................................................................................................................................... IV-3 POPULATION PROJECTIONS .......................................................................................................... IV-3 CHAPTER V HOUSING......................................................................................................V-1 HOUSING TRENDS.................................................................................................................................V-1 HOUSING UNITS BY TENURE AND TYPE ......................................................................................V-1 HOUSEHOLDS.........................................................................................................................................V-2 HOUSING COSTS AND AFFORDABILITY.......................................................................................V-3 RENTERS ..................................................................................................................................................V-5 OWNERS ...................................................................................................................................................V-6 CONDITION OF HOUSING STOCK...................................................................................................V-6 HOUSING SETTLEMENT AND DESIGN ..........................................................................................V-7 ACCESSORY APARTMENTS...............................................................................................................V-7 ANALYSIS SUMMARY..........................................................................................................................V-8 HOUSING GOALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................V-8 CHAPTER VI TRANSPORTATION................................................................................ VI-1 DEMOGRAPHICS ................................................................................................................................. VI-1 Commuting patterns .............................................................................................................................................. VI-1 PUBLIC ROAD SYSTEM ..................................................................................................................... VI-3 Roadway classification.......................................................................................................................................... VI-3 Highway expenditures........................................................................................................................................... VI-4 Road conditions ..................................................................................................................................................... VI-4 Traffic volumes...................................................................................................................................................... VI-5 Bridges, culverts and drainage .............................................................................................................................. VI-5 Dirt Roads .............................................................................................................................................................. VI-5 Capital Improvement Program (CIP).................................................................................................................... VI-6 ROAD STANDARDS AND POLICIES............................................................................................... VI-7 Access to highways and roads............................................................................................................................... VI-7 Impact of developments and Off-site Exactions................................................................................................... VI-8 New roads .............................................................................................................................................................. VI-8 Heavy vehicles....................................................................................................................................................... VI-8 Class VI Roads....................................................................................................................................................... VI-9 Street Names and Numbers................................................................................................................................... VI-9 Scenic roads .........................................................................................................................................................VI-10 CHAPTER VII NATURAL RESOURCES ......................................................................VII-1