“October Crossing,” Robin LaHue MASTER PLAN MONTPELIER, VERMONT Montpelier Planning Commission enVision Montpelier Stakeholders Department of Planning and Community Development Adopted: September 8, 2010 Readopted with edits: September 23, 2015 Readopted with edits: December 20, 2017 Cover Art: “October Crossing” Robin Lahue 2 Alexandria Heather, Montpelier resident Table of Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................... 13 Master Plan Process ..................................................................................................................... 13 National Citizens Survey ............................................................................................................. 17 Survey Findings ............................................................................................................................ 17 Consistency with Act 200 ............................................................................................................. 19 Background ............................................................................................................................. 24 Development History ................................................................................................................... 24 State and Regional Context ......................................................................................................... 27 Montpelier’s Magic ...................................................................................................................... 29 Natural Environment ........................................................................................ 31 3.1 Natural Features ........................................................................................................... 31 Natural Setting ............................................................................................................................. 31 3 Water Resources .......................................................................................................................... 31 Montpelier’s Waterways ............................................................................................................. 31 Flood Mitigation ........................................................................................................................... 34 Stormwater Management ............................................................................................................ 35 Municipal Water Service ............................................................................................................. 38 Water Quality ............................................................................................................................... 40 Water Conservation ..................................................................................................................... 40 Sewers ........................................................................................................................................... 40 Potential Service Areas ................................................................................................................ 41 Natural Communities and Biodiversity ..................................................................................... 42 Invasive Species ............................................................................................................................ 45 Open Space and Recreation ........................................................................................................ 45 Public Parks .................................................................................................................................. 46 Waste Management ..................................................................................................................... 50 Air Quality .................................................................................................................................... 51 Land and Soil ............................................................................................................................... 52 Agricultural Soils ......................................................................................................................... 52 3.2 Goals for the Montpelier Natural Environment.......................................................... 60 3.3 Natural Environment Recommendations ......................................................... 62 Goal A: Water Resources ........................................................................................................... 62 Goal B: Natural Communities & Biodiversity .......................................................................... 68 Goal C: Open Space & Recreation ............................................................................................. 71 Goal D: Air & Climate ................................................................................................................ 74 Goal E: Land & Soil .................................................................................................................... 76 Goal F: Waste Management ....................................................................................................... 78 Infrastructure & the Built Environment ........................................................... 81 4.1 Montpelier’s Built Environment Overview ....................................................... 81 The Evolution of Montpelier’s Built Form ................................................................... 81 The State House, Capitol Complex, and Downtown .................................................... 81 Architectural History and Design .................................................................................. 82 Design Review ................................................................................................................. 83 Neighborhoods ................................................................................................................ 84 Barre Street ...................................................................................................... 84 4 College Hill ........................................................................................................ 85 Berlin/Hill Street .............................................................................................. 85 PleasantHood ................................................................................................... 85 Stonewall Meadows ........................................................................................ 85 Cliffside .............................................................................................................. 85 The Meadow ..................................................................................................... 85 Wild Wood ......................................................................................................... 86 North Street ...................................................................................................... 86 Northfield Street .............................................................................................. 86 Park West .......................................................................................................... 86 Toy Town ........................................................................................................... 86 Upper Towne Hill Road .................................................................................. 86 City Gateways and Entrance Corridors .................................................................................... 89 Western Entrance and Gateway ................................................................................................. 89 Eastern Entrance and Gateway .................................................................................................. 89 Other Entrances ........................................................................................................................... 89 4.2 Transportation and Circulation ........................................................................................ 89 Pedestrian Network ....................................................................................................................... 92 Bicycle Network ........................................................................................................................... 93 Accommodating Bicycles in the Street System .......................................................................... 95 Montpelier’s Bridges ................................................................................................................... 97 Journey to Work Data ................................................................................................................. 99 Public Transit Services and Facilities ........................................................................................ 99 Passenger Rail and Freight ....................................................................................................... 103 Montpelier’s Street Network .................................................................................................... 104 Street Network Planning and Design 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