BRIDGTON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN - TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. HISTORY, HISTORIC, ARCHAEOLOGIC RESOURCES .................................. 4 The Setting ..................................................................................................................... 4 Incorporation and Town Government ........................................................................... 4 The Residents and Their Economy ................................................................................ 4 Historic and Cultural Resources .................................................................................... 6 Sites on the National Register of Historic Places .......................................................... 7 Sites with Possible National Register Eligibility ........................................................... 7 Areas Eligible for Historic District Designation ........................................................... 7 Historic Graveyards ....................................................................................................... 8 Open Land with Historic Significance .......................................................................... 8 Prehistoric Archaeological Sites .................................................................................... 9 Historic Archaeological Sites ........................................................................................ 9 Threats to Archaeological Resources .......................................................................... 10 2. THE PEOPLE OF BRIDGTON……………………………………………………10 Comparative Population Change ................................................................................. 11 Age Distribution .......................................................................................................... 12 Median Age ................................................................................................................. 12 Household Size ........................................................................................................... 13 Household Type ........................................................................................................... 13 Educational Attainment ............................................................................................... 14 Median Household Income and Poverty...................................................................... 14 Population Projections ................................................................................................. 15 3. HOUSING Changes in Total Housing Stock ................................................................................. 16 Selected Characteristics of Housing Units .................................................................. 17 Housing Types ............................................................................................................. 17 Housing Age and Services ........................................................................................... 18 Housing Affordability .................................................................................................. 18 Housing Values ............................................................................................................ 19 Ownership Costs .......................................................................................................... 20 Housing Selling Prices and Affordability .................................................................... 20 Rental Affordability………………………………………………………………….21 Future Growth and Housing Affordability…………………………………………..21 4. THE ECONOMY Introduction .................................................................................................................. 22 Opportunity 1: Expand Arts/Culture/Crafts Activities ................................................ 22 Opportunity 2: Expand Tourism .................................................................................. 24 Opportunity 3: Expand Health Center Role ................................................................. 25 Opportunity 4: Foster High Tech Spin-Offs ................................................................ 26 Opportunity 5: Promote Appropriate Housing ............................................................ 26 1 Summary ...................................................................................................................... 28 5. LAND USE Land Use Trends .......................................................................................................... 28 Neighborhood Values .................................................................................................. 30 Neighborhood Land Use Plans .................................................................................... 30 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................. 30 2. A Future Development Scheme for Bridgton ......................................................... 30 3. Growth and Rural Neighborhoods .......................................................................... 32 4. Measures to Distinguish Downtown Growth and Rural Neighborhoods ............... 32 What is Cluster Development? .................................................................................... 32 6. NATURAL RESOURCES…………………………………………………………33 Groundwater Resources ............................................................................................... 33 Bedrock and Sand and Gravel Aquifers ...................................................................... 33 Threats to Groundwater Quality .................................................................................. 34 Current Groundwater Protection Measures and Policy Issues .................................... 35 Rivers, Streams and Brooks ......................................................................................... 35 Lakes ............................................................................................................................ 36 Maine’s Water Quality Goals for Lakes and Streams ................................................. 36 Threats to Lake Water Quality .................................................................................... 37 Local Actions and Regulations .................................................................................... 38 State Actions and Regulations ..................................................................................... 41 Surface Use and Lake Access ...................................................................................... 41 Summary ...................................................................................................................... 42 Wetlands ...................................................................................................................... 42 The Casco Bay Watershed Wetlands Functional Assessment ..................................... 43 Wetland Regulations .................................................................................................... 43 Vernal Pools………………………………………………………………………….43 Floodplains .................................................................................................................. 44 Forest Resources .......................................................................................................... 44 Wildlife Habitats .......................................................................................................... 45 Conservation Lands………………………………………………………….……….47 Plant and Wildlife Habitat of Statewide Significance………………………………..47 Other Wildlife Resources…………………………………………………………….48 High Elevation Points and Steep Slopes……………………………………………..49 Areas with Visual Significance………………………………………………………49 Natural Resource Constraints to New Development ................................................... 49 7. TRANSPORTATION……………………………………………….……………...50 Traffic Counts .............................................................................................................. 50 Road Safety and Accident Summary ........................................................................... 51 Access Management .................................................................................................... 51 Bridges ......................................................................................................................... 52 Local Roads ................................................................................................................. 52 Airports ........................................................................................................................ 54 2 8. PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES…………………………………………54 Municipal Government and Administration ................................................................ 54 Bridgton Community Center…………………………………………………………55 Bridgton Fire Department ............................................................................................ 55 Bridgton Police Department ........................................................................................ 56 Bridgton Water District ............................................................................................... 57 Harrison Water District ................................................................................................ 58 Sanitary Sewer and Subsurface Sewage Disposal ......................................................