MASTER PLAN 2016 B ETHLEHEM NH D r a f t P l a n December 18 , 2 0 1 6 Bethlehem Master Plan 2016 “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” -Benjamin Franklin “You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality.” -Walt Disney Cover Photo Credit: Bethlehem Mural; located at outside at WREN in the Bethlehem Village District; all cover photos by Mike Bruno Page 2 Bethlehem Master Plan - Table of Contents Bethlehem Master Plan 2016 Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................................................................................... 7 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................................................... 9 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................................................................... 9 VISION STATEMENT ....................................................................................................................................................................... 10 GOALS & OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................................................................................... 10 PLANNING HISTORY ....................................................................................................................................................................... 11 CURRENT PLANNING & REGULATORY DOCUMENTS .............................................................................................................................. 11 THE COMMUNITY OF BETHLEHEM, NH .............................................................................................................................................. 11 CHAPTER 1: LAND USE & COMMUNITY DESIGN .................................................................................................................. 15 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................................. 15 MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS .................................................................................................................................... 16 ZONING DISTRICTS......................................................................................................................................................................... 17 EXISTING LAND USE ....................................................................................................................................................................... 19 GOALS & OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................................................................................... 25 SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................................................... 26 CHAPTER 2: TRANSPORTATION ........................................................................................................................................... 27 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................................. 27 MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS .................................................................................................................................... 27 NEW HAMPSHIRE HIGHWAY PLANNING ............................................................................................................................................. 28 NEW HAMPSHIRE ROAD CLASSIFICATIONS.......................................................................................................................................... 29 OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS ................................................................................................................................................................. 30 PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ............................................................................................................................................................... 32 TRANSPORTATION FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES...................................................................................................................................... 33 GOALS & OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................................................................................... 34 SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................................................... 34 CHAPTER 3: COMMUNITY FACILITIES .................................................................................................................................. 35 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................................. 35 MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS .................................................................................................................................... 35 COMMUNITY FACILITIES .................................................................................................................................................................. 35 GOALS & OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................................................................................... 40 SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................................................... 41 CHAPTER 4: UTILITIES & PUBLIC SERVICES ........................................................................................................................... 43 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................................. 43 MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS .................................................................................................................................... 43 UTILITIES & PUBLIC SERVICES .......................................................................................................................................................... 43 GOALS & OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................................................................................... 44 SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................................................... 45 Page 3 Bethlehem Master Plan - Table of Contents Bethlehem Master Plan 2016 CHAPTER 5: POPULATION & HOUSING ................................................................................................................................ 47 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................................. 47 MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS .................................................................................................................................... 47 HOUSING DEMOGRAPHICS .............................................................................................................................................................. 47 HOUSING HISTORY ........................................................................................................................................................................ 48 HISTORIC RECORD OF BUILDING PERMITS SINCE 2005 ......................................................................................................................... 49 HOUSING SUPPLY .......................................................................................................................................................................... 49 FUTURE HOUSING NEEDS ............................................................................................................................................................... 50 GOALS & OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................................................................................... 50 SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................................................... 50 CHAPTER 6: ECONOMY ........................................................................................................................................................ 51 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................................. 51 MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS ...................................................................................................................................