The University of Maine DigitalCommons@UMaine Maine Town Documents Maine Government Documents 2002 1999 Update of the Kittery Comprehensive Plan Kittery (Me.). Comprehensive Plan Update Committee Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/towndocs Repository Citation Kittery (Me.). Comprehensive Plan Update Committee, "1999 Update of the Kittery Comprehensive Plan" (2002). Maine Town Documents. 423. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/towndocs/423 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]. ADOPTED BY COUNCIL 3/25/02 1999 Update Of The Kittery Comprehensive Plan Prepared By: The Kittery Comprehensive Plan Update Committee Frank Clark, Chair With Assistance From: Planning Decisions, Inc. South Portland, ME and Appledore Engineering, Inc. Portsmouth, NH December 1999 Revised November, 2000 1999 Update Of The Kittery Comprehensive Plan Prepared By: The Kittery Comprehensive Plan Update Committee Frank Clark, Chair Joseph Afienko William Bailey Bruce Clark Susan Emery Kim Farrah Terry Gagner Milton Hall Scott Moffat Alan Robinson Richard Rossiter Raymond Smith Craig Wilson Alan Rhoades* Elaine Plante** Tom Allen** Chip Andrews** Mona Skidgell** * Deceased ** Resigned With Assistance From: David Schmidt, Town Planner Mark Eyerman, Planning Decisions, Inc. Jack Mette, Appledore Engineering, Inc. Jennifer Ellis-Merriam, Complex Systems - UNH The Update Committee wishes to publicly acknowledge the contribution of the following people in the preparation of this Plan and to thank them for their contribution to the Town of Kittery: • The Scenic Resources Subcommittee, Susan Emery, Chair Janet Gourley, William Bailey and Earldean Wells • Steve Hundley, Soil Scientist • Barbara Estes, Kittery Historical Society • Michael Rogers, Kittery Water District • Steve Tapley, Kittery Sewer Department • Janice Downing, Kittery Recreation Department • Cindy Denault, Recording Secretary Revised 11/10/00 Table of Contents 1999 Update of the Comprehensive Plan INTRODUCTION ..................................................................... 1 PART ONE BACKGROUND INFORMATION Chapter One The History of Kittery .......................................................................4 Chapter Two The Regional Setting ....................................................................... 5 Chapter Three Land Use Regulation and Comprehensive Planning in Kittery 1952 - 1998....................................................................... 8 PART TWO INVENTORIES, GOALS, AND POLICIES Chapter Four Inventories, Goals, and Policies A. Population & Demographics.................................................. 12 1. Year Round Population..................................................... 12 2. Components of Household Population Change ................ 16 3. Seasonal Population.......................................................... 17 4. School Population .............................................................18 5. Household Change 1970-1990.......................................... 19 6. Demographic Characteristics of Kittery’s Population 21 7. Issues and Implications..................................................... 24 8. Goals and Policies............................................................. 25 B. The Local Economy ......................................................... 25 1. Introduction....................................................................... 25 2. The Kittery Labor Force ................................................... 26 3. Employment by Industry Group .......................................27 4. Commuter Patterns............................................................ 30 5. Kittery’s Economic Base .................................................. 31 6. The Retail Sector............................................................... 32 7. Marine Industries .............................................................. 34 8. Issues and Implications..................................................... 34 9. Goals and Policies............................................................. 36 - 1999 Update of the Kittery Comprehensive Plan Revised 11/10/00 C. Natural Resources ......................................................... 37 1. Geology............................................................................. 38 2. Surface Waters.................................................................. 43 3. Groundwater ..................................................................... 43 4. Threats to Water Quality................................................... 44 5. Wetlands .......................................................................... 47 6. Significant Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat....................... 50 7. Unique Natural Areas ...................................................... 52 8. Floodplains....................................................................... 54 9. Soils..................................................................................55 10. Steep Slopes..................................................................... 61 11. Issues and Implications.................................................... 61 12. Goals and Policies............................................................ 63 D. Scenic Resources ................................................................... 66 1. Scenic Areas..................................................................... 66 2. Scenic Views and Vistas.................................................. 66 3. Scenic Roads.................................................................... 69 4. Issues and Implications.................................................... 70 5. Goals and Policies............................................................ 72 E. Marine Resources................................................................... 75 1. Geographic Setting and Physical Conditions................... 75 2. Natural and Marine Resources......................................... 79 3. Harbor Land and Water Use ............................................ 86 4. Issues and Implications.................................................... 90 5. Goals and Policies............................................................ 92 F. Water and Sewer Service....................................................... 96 1. Public Water Service........................................................ 97 2. Public Sewer Service ....................................................... 99 3. Issues and Implications.................................................. 102 4. Goals and Policies.......................................................... 103 G. Land Use Patterns ................................................................ 107 1. Introduction.................................................................... 107 2. General Pattern of Development.................................... 107 3. Overview of Recent Development................................. 107 4. Residential Land Use ..................................................... 109 5. Commercial Land Use................................................... 121 6. Industrial Land Use........................................................ 122 7. Issue and Implications.................................................... 122 8. Goals and Policies.......................................................... 124 H. Transportation...................................................................... 142 1. Transportation and Circulation ...................................... 142 2. Regional Transportation Planning ................................. 142 3. Vehicular Traffic and Roadways ................................... 143 4. Traffic Volumes............................................................. 148 1999 Update of the Kittery Comprehensive Plan Revised 11/10/00 5. Accidents........................................................................ 150 6. Sidewalks ....................................................................... 152 7. Bridges ........................................................................... 153 8. Parking ........................................................................... 153 9. Other Modes of Transportation...................................... 154 10. Issues and Implications.................................................. 156 11. Goals and Policies.......................................................... 158 I. Housing................................................................................ 164 1. Housing Stock................................................................ 165 2. Affordability .................................................................. 167 3. Affordable Housing Goal............................................... 181 4. Existing Agencies, Past Studies..................................... 181 5. Issues and Implications.................................................. 183 6. Goals and Policies.......................................................... 184 J. Public Facilities ................................................................... 185 1. General Government Facilities ...................................... 185 2. Police Department.......................................................... 186 3. Emergency Medical Services........................................