Sutton Town Plan Originally approved by Selectboard: October 24, 2013 Plan Amendment Adopted: March 28, 2019 Prepared by the Sutton Planning Commission with the assistance of the Northeastern Vermont Development Association and by a Municipal Planning Grant, awarded by the Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development. Sutton Town Plan 1 Table of Contents 2 I. INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW ....................................................................................... 4 3 A. A Sense Of Place ................................................................................................................... 4 4 B. A Sense Of The Future ........................................................................................................... 5 5 II. HISTORY OF SUTTON ............................................................................................................ 5 6 III. LAND USE PLAN ................................................................................................................... 8 7 A. Geology and Topography ................................................................................................... 8 8 B. Goals ................................................................................................................................... 9 9 C. Existing Land Use ............................................................................................................. 11 10 D. Proposed Land Use ........................................................................................................... 15 11 E. Existing and Proposed Land Use Maps ............................................................................ 22 12 F. Implementation ................................................................................................................. 22 13 IV. TRANSPORTATION PLAN ................................................................................................. 22 14 A. Goals ................................................................................................................................. 22 15 B. Existing Transportation Facilities ..................................................................................... 22 16 C. Proposed Transportation Facilities ....................................................................................... 24 17 D. Existing and Proposed Transportation Maps ....................................................................... 25 18 E. Implementation ..................................................................................................................... 25 19 V. UTILITY AND FACILITY PLAN.......................................................................................... 26 20 A. Goals ................................................................................................................................. 26 21 B. Existing Facilities.............................................................................................................. 26 22 C. Proposed Facilities ............................................................................................................ 31 23 D. Existing and Proposed Utilities and Facilities Maps ........................................................... 33 24 E. Implementation ..................................................................................................................... 33 25 VI. PRESERVATION PLAN ....................................................................................................... 34 26 A. Natural Areas, Features, and Resources .............................................................................. 34 27 B. Scenic Features and Resources ......................................................................................... 35 28 C. Historic Features and Resources ....................................................................................... 35 29 D. Implementation ................................................................................................................. 35 30 VII. EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES PLAN................................................................................. 36 31 A. Goals ................................................................................................................................. 36 32 B. Present Uses of the Local Public-School System ............................................................. 37 33 C. Proposed Uses of the Local Public-School Building ........................................................... 39 34 D. School System Map ............................................................................................................. 39 35 E. Implementation ..................................................................................................................... 39 36 VII. ADJACENT TOWNS ........................................................................................................... 39 37 A. Barton ................................................................................................................................... 40 38 B. Burke .................................................................................................................................... 40 39 C. Lyndon ................................................................................................................................. 41 40 D. Newark ................................................................................................................................. 42 41 E. Sheffield ............................................................................................................................... 42 42 F. Westmore .............................................................................................................................. 43 43 G. Wheelock ............................................................................................................................. 43 Page 2 of 61 Sutton Town Plan 1 H. Regional Context ................................................................................................................. 43 2 IX. ENERGY PLAN ..................................................................................................................... 44 3 A. Goals .................................................................................................................................... 44 4 B. Objectives of Sutton Energy Committee Charter ................................................................. 45 5 C. Energy Resources & Usage .................................................................................................. 45 6 D. Conservation of Energy ....................................................................................................... 46 7 E. Development of Renewable Energy Resources ................................................................... 47 8 F. Land Use and Energy Conservation ..................................................................................... 47 9 G. Renewable Energy Siting Standards .................................................................................... 47 10 H. Implementation .................................................................................................................... 52 11 X. HOUSING ELEMENT ............................................................................................................ 54 12 A. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 54 13 B. Goals .................................................................................................................................... 55 14 C. Analysis ................................................................................................................................ 55 15 D. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 55 16 E. Implementation ..................................................................................................................... 56 17 XI. Economic Development.......................................................................................................... 56 18 A. Economic Overview ............................................................................................................. 56 19 B. Challenges and Opportunities .............................................................................................. 57 20 C. Opportunities in a Regional Context .................................................................................... 58 21 D. Conclusions .......................................................................................................................... 60 22 E. Implementation ..................................................................................................................... 61 23 24 Page 3 of 61 Sutton Town Plan 1 I. INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW 2 The Town of Sutton is located in the northernmost part of Caledonia County. Covering 38.2 3 square miles, Sutton is bordered on the west by Barton and Sheffield, on the northeast by 4 Newark and Westmore, on the southeast by Burke and on the south by Lyndon. 5 Sutton is a largely rural town of outstanding natural beauty, abundant natural resources, and a 6 strong sense of community. Its residents appreciate Sutton’s attractive working landscapes