BEACON FALLS PLAN OF CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT DRAFT Submitted To Beacon Falls Land Planning and Zoning Commission April 11, 2013 P.O. Box 117, Cheshire, CT 06410 TEL 203.271.2458 www.TurnerMillerGroup.com Contents Acknowledgements ...........................................................................................................4 1. Introduction & Background ........................................................................................1 1.1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................1 1.2 Purpose of the POCD .........................................................................................1 1.3 Statutory Requirements ......................................................................................1 2. Goals and Policies .....................................................................................................5 2.1 Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats .........................................5 2.2 Principles of the Plan ..........................................................................................7 3. Environment and Natural Resources ........................................................................8 3.1 Existing Conditions ..............................................................................................8 3.1.1 Wetlands ......................................................................................................9 3.1.2 Floodplains ................................................................................................ 11 3.1.3 Topography ............................................................................................... 11 3.1.4 Groundwater .............................................................................................. 14 3.1.5 Farmland ................................................................................................... 14 3.1.6 Climate Change ........................................................................................ 16 3.2 Natural Resource Inventory ............................................................................. 16 3.3 Open Space Management ............................................................................... 18 3.4 Existing Open Space Resources ..................................................................... 18 3.5 Goals, Policies and Recommendations ........................................................... 21 3.5.1 Goal ........................................................................................................... 21 3.5.2 Policies ...................................................................................................... 21 3.5.3 Strategies .................................................................................................. 21 4. Demographic and Housing Characteristics ........................................................... 23 4.1 Existing Demographic Conditions – Summary ................................................ 23 4.1.1 The Population .......................................................................................... 23 4.1.2 Labor Force ............................................................................................... 24 4.1.3 Housing ..................................................................................................... 24 4.1.4 Population Growth Trend .......................................................................... 24 4.3 Affordability of Housing .................................................................................... 27 4.4 Housing Goals, Policies and Recommendations ............................................ 31 4.4.1 Housing Goal: ........................................................................................... 31 4.4.2 Policies ...................................................................................................... 31 4.4.3 Strategies .................................................................................................. 31 5. Parks and Recreation ............................................................................................. 33 5.1 Existing Conditions ........................................................................................... 33 5.2 Existing Facilities .............................................................................................. 34 5.3 Other Recreational Facilities ........................................................................... 35 5.4 Needs ............................................................................................................... 35 5.5 Issues ............................................................................................................... 36 5.6 Goals, Policies and Recommendation – Open Space .................................... 37 5.6.1 Goal ........................................................................................................... 37 5.6.2 Policies ...................................................................................................... 37 5.6.3 Strategies .................................................................................................. 37 6. Economic Development ......................................................................................... 39 6.1 Importance of Economic Development ........................................................... 39 6.2 Economic Conditions ....................................................................................... 39 6.2.1 Labor Force ............................................................................................... 40 6.2.2 Employment and Industry ......................................................................... 41 6.3 Municipal Fiscal Environment .......................................................................... 43 6.4 Underlying Economic Factors .......................................................................... 46 6.5 Goal for Economic Development ..................................................................... 48 6.6 Policies ............................................................................................................. 50 6.7 Strategies ......................................................................................................... 50 7. Transportation and Circulation ............................................................................... 54 7.1 Existing Conditions ........................................................................................... 54 7.1.1 Roadways ................................................................................................. 54 7.1.2 Road Design ............................................................................................. 55 7.1.3 Mass Transit .............................................................................................. 56 7.1.4. Pedestrian and Bicycle Travel .................................................................. 57 7.1.5 Other Modes ............................................................................................. 57 7.2 Funding and Planned Projects ......................................................................... 57 7.3 Transportation Deficiencies ............................................................................. 58 7.4 Goals, Policies and Recommendations ........................................................... 59 7.4.2 Policies ...................................................................................................... 59 7.4.3 Strategies .................................................................................................. 59 8. Community Services & Facilities ............................................................................ 61 8.1 Existing Conditions ........................................................................................... 61 8.1.1 Sanitary Sewer Service ............................................................................. 61 8.1.2 Storm Drainage ......................................................................................... 63 8.1.3 Water Service ............................................................................................ 65 8.1.4 Educational Facilities ................................................................................ 67 8.2 Goals, Policies and Strategies ......................................................................... 69 8.2.1 Goal ........................................................................................................... 69 8.2.2 Policy ......................................................................................................... 69 8.2.3 Recommendations .................................................................................... 69 9. Historic and Cultural Resources ............................................................................. 70 9.1. Existing Conditions ........................................................................................... 70 9.1.2 Connecticut State Register of Historic Places .......................................... 71 9.2 Goals, Polices and Recommendations ........................................................... 71 9.2.1 Goal ........................................................................................................... 71 9.2.2 Policies .....................................................................................................