TOWN OF HARTFORD TOWN PLAN Adopted by the Hartford Selectboard June 4, 2019 Prepared by the Hartford Planning Commission with the assistance from the Hartford Department of Planning and Development Services and the Town Plan Steering Committee ADOPTION STATEMENT This revised Town Plan was adopted by the Town of Hartford Selectboard, pursuant to 24 V.S.A. Chapter 117, Section 4385(c). The Town Plan was prepared by the Hartford Planning Commission with the assistance of the Hartford Department of Planning and Development Services, the Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission, Community Workshop LLC, Energy Commission, Conservation Commission and the Hartford Town Plan Steering Committee. The Hartford Planning Commission held public hearings on March 25, 2019 and April 1, 2019. The Hartford Selectboard formally adopted the Town Plan on June 4, 2019 after holding public hearings on May 21, 2019 and June 4, 2019. The following people participated in the 2019 Town Plan development and adoption: Selectboard Planning Commission Simon Dennis, Chair Bruce Riddle, Chair Richard Grassi, Co-Chair John Reid, Vice-Chair Dennis Brown, Clerk Toby Dayman, Clerk Alan Johnson Peter Merrill Kim Souza Robin Adair Logan Jameson C. Davis Jacques Harlow Dan Fraser David Sherman Hartford Department of Planning and Development Services Lori Hirshfield, Director Matt Osborn, AICP Planner Geoff Martin, Energy Coordinator Brenda Lamphere, Administrative Assistant Town Plan Steering Committee Bruce Riddle, Chair, Planning Commission Toby Dayman, Planning Commission Angela Emerson, Conservation Commission Dylan Kreis, Resilient Hartford Robin Adair Logan, Planning Commission Lynn Luczkowski, Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce Chris Lowe, Zoning Board of Adjustment Martha McDaniel, Energy Commission Peter Merrill, Planning Commission/School Board John Reid, Planning Commission David Sherman, Planning Commission P.J. Skehan, Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce Kim Souza, Selectboard Pat Stark, Hartford Historic Preservation Commission TABLE OF CONTENTS HARTFORD TOWN PLAN INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................1 Introduction to Town Planning ................................................................................................................................ 1 Hartford’s Geography ............................................................................................................................................... 1 Hartford’s Assets - What Makes it a Special Place .................................................................................................. 1 Town Plan Update and Steering Committee ........................................................................................................... 2 Public Input and Guiding Principles ....................................................................................................................... 2 Town Planning Goals ............................................................................................................................................... 2 Authority ................................................................................................................................................................... 3 What is Included in a Town Plan ............................................................................................................................. 3 Format of the Town Plan ......................................................................................................................................... 3 History of Hartford’s Municipal Plans .................................................................................................................. 4 CHAPTER I HISTORIC RESOURCES ....................................................................................5 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................... 5 Results from the Town Plan Community Forums ...................................................................................................... 5 Preservation Tools .................................................................................................................................................... 5 Downtown/Village Revitalization ............................................................................................................................. 9 Threats to Historic Resources ................................................................................................................................. 10 Resource List ........................................................................................................................................................... 10 Potential Archaeological Areas .............................................................................................................................. 11 Cemeteries ............................................................................................................................................................... 12 Overview of Town History ....................................................................................................................................... 12 Goals, Strategies and Actions ................................................................................................................................. 14 CHAPTER II LAND USE ..........................................................................................................18 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 18 Results from the Town Plan Community Forums .................................................................................................... 18 Community Vision ................................................................................................................................................... 18 Existing and Historic Land Use ............................................................................................................................. 19 Development and Our Natural Resources .............................................................................................................. 21 Overlay Districts .................................................................................................................................................... 24 Hartford’s Villages and Rural Areas ..................................................................................................................... 25 Recent Land Use Trends ......................................................................................................................................... 35 Vision for the Future of Hartford ........................................................................................................................... 41 Land Use Plan ......................................................................................................................................................... 42 Goals, Strategies and Actions ................................................................................................................................. 47 CHAPTER III POPULATION ...................................................................................................56 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 56 Results from the Town Plan Community Forums .................................................................................................... 56 Hartford and the Upper Valley................................................................................................................................ 56 Population Trends ................................................................................................................................................... 57 Population Change within Hartford ........................................................................................................................ 58 Natural Increase and Migration .............................................................................................................................. 58 Household Size ........................................................................................................................................................ 59 Age Distribution ...................................................................................................................................................... 60 Race ......................................................................................................................................................................... 62 Seasonal Population ................................................................................................................................................ 62 Population Projections ............................................................................................................................................ 63 Goals, Strategies and Actions ................................................................................................................................