Sutton Town Plan Originally approved by Selectboard: October 24, 2013 Current Plan Adopted: March 28, 2019 Energy Plan Amended to meet requirements of Act 174: February 25, 2021 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 Table of Contents I. INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW ....................................................................................... 4 A. A Sense Of Place ................................................................................................................... 4 B. A Sense Of The Future ........................................................................................................... 5 II. HISTORY OF SUTTON ............................................................................................................ 5 III. LAND USE PLAN ................................................................................................................... 8 A. Geology and Topography ................................................................................................... 8 B. Goals ................................................................................................................................... 9 C. Existing Land Use ............................................................................................................. 11 D. Proposed Land Use ........................................................................................................... 15 E. Existing and Proposed Land Use Maps ............................................................................ 22 F. Implementation ................................................................................................................. 22 IV. TRANSPORTATION PLAN ................................................................................................. 22 A. Goals ................................................................................................................................. 22 B. Existing Transportation Facilities ..................................................................................... 22 C. Proposed Transportation Facilities ....................................................................................... 24 D. Existing and Proposed Transportation Maps ....................................................................... 25 E. Implementation ..................................................................................................................... 25 V. UTILITY AND FACILITY PLAN.......................................................................................... 26 A. Goals ................................................................................................................................. 26 B. Existing Facilities.............................................................................................................. 26 C. Proposed Facilities ............................................................................................................ 31 D. Existing and Proposed Utilities and Facilities Maps ........................................................... 33 E. Implementation ..................................................................................................................... 33 VI. PRESERVATION PLAN ....................................................................................................... 34 A. Natural Areas, Features, and Resources .............................................................................. 34 B. Scenic Features and Resources ......................................................................................... 35 C. Historic Features and Resources ....................................................................................... 35 D. Implementation ................................................................................................................. 35 VII. EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES PLAN................................................................................. 36 A. Goals ................................................................................................................................. 36 B. Present Uses of the Local Public-School System ............................................................. 37 C. Proposed Uses of the Local Public-School Building ........................................................... 39 D. School System Map ............................................................................................................. 39 E. Implementation ..................................................................................................................... 39 VII. ADJACENT TOWNS ........................................................................................................... 39 A. Barton ................................................................................................................................... 40 B. Burke .................................................................................................................................... 40 C. Lyndon ................................................................................................................................. 41 D. Newark ................................................................................................................................. 42 E. Sheffield ............................................................................................................................... 42 F. Westmore .............................................................................................................................. 43 G. Wheelock ............................................................................................................................. 43 Page 2 of 72 Sutton Town Plan H. Regional Context ................................................................................................................. 43 IX. ENERGY PLAN ..................................................................................................................... 44 A. Goals .................................................................................................................................... 44 B. Objectives of Sutton Energy Committee Charter ................................................................. 45 C. Energy Resources & Usage .................................................................................................. 45 D. Conservation of Energy ....................................................................................................... 53 E. Development of Renewable Energy Resources ................................................................... 55 F. Land Use and Energy Conservation ..................................................................................... 53 G. Renewable Energy Siting Standards .................................................................................... 58 H. Implementation .................................................................................................................... 44 X. HOUSING ELEMENT ............................................................................................................ 66 A. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 66 B. Goals .................................................................................................................................... 66 C. Analysis ................................................................................................................................ 66 D. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 67 E. Implementation ..................................................................................................................... 67 XI. Economic Development.......................................................................................................... 67 A. Economic Overview ............................................................................................................. 67 B. Challenges and Opportunities .............................................................................................. 68 C. Opportunities in a Regional Context .................................................................................... 70 D. Conclusions .......................................................................................................................... 72 E. Implementation ..................................................................................................................... 72 Page 3 of 72 Sutton Town Plan I. INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW The Town of Sutton is located in the northernmost part of Caledonia County. Covering 38.2 square miles, Sutton is bordered on the west by Barton and Sheffield, on the northeast by Newark and Westmore, on the southeast by Burke and on the south by Lyndon. Sutton is a largely rural town of outstanding natural beauty, abundant natural resources, and a strong sense of community. Its residents appreciate Sutton’s attractive working landscapes and traditional values. Yet they recognize that, with one foot in the past and the other in the future, the town is challenged