Town of Vinalhaven A Comprehensive Plan for 2025 Inventory and Analyses Prepared by Vinalhaven Planning Commission; 2013 Vinalhaven, Knox County, Maine [Page intentionally left blank] Acknowledgements This Comprehensive Plan represents the thoughts and admirations of an island community and represents hours of tireless work. This Plan is intended to guide the Town’s future development while conserving, and in some cases preserving, our social, cultural, and natural resources. A special Thank You to all of those who made this plan possible. Board of Selectmen 2011 ‐ ‘13 Dennis Warren Jack Olson; Chairperson Buddy Skoog (through June 2013) Penny Lazaro Eric Gasperini (begin June 2013) Jessica MacDonald Planning Commission Gigi Baas Laura Hamilton Wes Reed Kathy Warren Comprehensive Plan and Economic Development Fellow/Advisors Andrew Dorr, Island Fellow Marjorie Stratton, Advisor Kris Davidson, Advisor Kathy Warren, Advisor Sue Lafricain, Advisor Survey Advisory Group Gigi Baas Tuck Godfrey Robb Warren Marc Candage Doug Littlefield Jake Thompson Bill Chilles Linda Lynch Kris Davidson Dinah Moyer Resource Advisors and Focus Groups Focus Group 1 Focus Group 2 Focus Group 3 Focus Group 4 Linnell Mather Kris Davidson Elizabeth Bunker Eric Davis Chuck Gadzick Gabe McPhail Dylan Jackson Marjorie Stratton Addison Ames Tuck Godfrey Karol Kucinski Kathy Warren Gigi Baas Laura Hamilton Jeff Aronson Wes Reed Community Volunteers Charolette Goodhue Jeannie Benoit Melissa Hall Jacki Robbins, VH CEO/LPI Penelope Lord Erin Creelman Rob Duplisea, VH Assessor Darlene Beckman Carol Baker Eric Galant, MCRP Ex Dir John Wright Dr. Arthur Spiess Ethan Hall Local, State, and Regional Organizations with contributing information Mid‐Coast Regional Planning Commission Maine State Planning Office Vinalhaven Land Trust Vinalhaven Historical Society Island Institute Maine Office of Historic Preservation Contents Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................................... 3 Historic and Archaeological Resources ....................................................................................................... 10 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 10 State and Local Goal(s) ........................................................................................................................ 10 Analyses .............................................................................................................................................. 10 Condition and Trends .......................................................................................................................... 12 Timeline............................................................................................................................................... 25 Survey Results ..................................................................................................................................... 26 Issues of Public Concern ..................................................................................................................... 26 Water Resources ......................................................................................................................................... 27 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 27 State and Local Goal(s) ........................................................................................................................ 27 Conditions and Trends ........................................................................................................................ 32 Issues of Public Concern ..................................................................................................................... 37 Natural Resources ....................................................................................................................................... 38 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 38 State and Local Goal(s) ........................................................................................................................ 38 Analyses .............................................................................................................................................. 38 Conditions and Trends ........................................................................................................................ 40 Survey Results ..................................................................................................................................... 46 Issues of Public Concern ..................................................................................................................... 46 Agricultural and Forest Resources .............................................................................................................. 47 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 47 State and Local Goal(s) ....................................................................................................................... 47 Analyses .............................................................................................................................................. 47 Conditions and Trends ........................................................................................................................ 51 Survey Results ..................................................................................................................................... 54 Issues of Public Concern ..................................................................................................................... 55 Marine Resources ....................................................................................................................................... 56 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 56 State Goal and State Coastal Policies .................................................................................................. 56 Analyses .............................................................................................................................................. 57 Conditions and Trends ........................................................................................................................ 63 Survey Results ..................................................................................................................................... 74 Issues of Public Concern ..................................................................................................................... 74 Population and Demographics .................................................................................................................... 75 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 75 Analyses .............................................................................................................................................. 75 Conditions and Trends ........................................................................................................................ 83 Survey Results ..................................................................................................................................... 85 Issues of Public Concern ..................................................................................................................... 86 Economy...................................................................................................................................................... 87 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 87 State and Local Goal(s) ........................................................................................................................ 87 Analyses .............................................................................................................................................. 87 Conditions and Trends ........................................................................................................................ 92 Survey Results ..................................................................................................................................... 96 Issues of Public Concern ..................................................................................................................... 99 Housing ..................................................................................................................................................... 100 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 100 State and Local Goal(s) ...................................................................................................................... 100 Analyses