WARREN, VERMONT 2019 DRAFT TOWN PLAN Credits Warren Planning Commission Michael Ketchel, Chair Camilla Behn Dan Raddock James Sandford J. Michael Bridgewater Randy Graves Alison Duckworth Prepared with funding from the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Affairs. 1 vision and goals 1 3.3 Community Profile 27 4 objectives and strategies 80 3.3.01 Demographics 27 1.1 Vision 1 3.3.02 Housing 28 4.1 Introduction 80 1.2 Goals 2 3.3.03 Economy 33 4.2 Objectives 80 1.3 Implementation Program 5 3.3.04 Energy 37 4.2.01 Resource Protection 80 4.2.03 Land Use and Development 80 3.4 Community Resources 39 4.2.04 Resiliency, Sustainability and Adaptation 81 3.4.01 Working Lands 39 4.2.05 Infrastructure and Transportation 82 2 about the plan 6 3.4.02 Mineral and Groundwater Resources 41 4.2.06 Community Facilities and Services 82 2.1 Planning Process 6 3.4.03 Archaeological, Historic and Cultural Resources 42 4.2.07 Administration and Governance 82 2.1.01 Why Plan? 6 3.4.04 Rural and Scenic Character 44 4.2.08 Regional Coordination and Cooperation 82 2.1.02 Purpose 6 3.4.05 Public Lands, Trails and Recreation Resources 46 2.1.03 Authority 7 3.4.06 Renewable Energy Resources 48 4.3 Strategies 83 4.3.01 Maintaining Rural Character 83 2.1.04 Public Participation 7 3.5 Community Infrastructure 50 4.3.02 Fostering Appropriate Growth and Development 85 2.2 Compatibility and Consistency 8 3.5.01 Transportation 50 4.3.03 Improving infrastructure, Facilities and Services 93 2.2.01 With State Law 8 3.5.02 Solid Waste 54 4.3.04 Promoting Responsible Governance 97 2.2.02 With the Region 8 3.5.03 Water and Sewer 55 2.2.03 With the Mad River Valley 8 3.5.04 Energy 57 2.2.04 With Neighboring Towns 9 3.5.05 Communications 58 5 appendices 3.6 Community Services 59 1 Supplemental Energy Information 3.6.01 Town Buildings and Land 59 2 2018 Community Survey Report 3 about warren 10 3.6.02 Town Government 60 3.1 Natural Setting 10 3.6.03 Civic Facilities and Organizations 61 3.1.01 Climate 10 3.6.04 Public Safety 62 3.1.02 Air Quality 10 3.6.05 Human Services 64 3.1.03 Terrain and Elevation 11 3.6.06 Education 65 3.1.04 Geology 11 3.7 Land Use and Development 66 3.1.05 Soils 13 3.7.01 Introduction 66 3.1.06 Water Resources 15 3.7.02 Current Land Use 66 3.1.07 Land Cover 19 3.7.03 Development Capability 66 3.1.08 Wildlife and Fisheries 20 3.7.04 Conservation Strategies 67 3.2 Historic Context 25 3.7.05 Land Use and Development Regulations 68 3.2.01 Pre-History 25 3.7.06 Land Use Areas 70 3.2.02 1780 to 1850 25 3.2.03 1850 to 1950 26 3.2.04 1950 to Present 26 WARREN TOWN PLAN 2019 TO 2027 contents and figures i Figures Figure 1. Climate Change 10 Figure 2. Elevation Map 12 Figure 3. Slope Map 13 Figure 4. Septic Suitability Map 14 Figure 5. Water Resources Map 16 Figure 6. Flood and Erosion Hazard Areas Map 19 Figure 7. Forest Blocks and Core Habitat Map 20 Figure 8. Wildlife Habitat and Travel Corridors Map 21 Figure 9. Deer Wintering Areas Map 22 Figure 10. Special Habitat Features Map 23 Figure 11. Population Change in Warren, 1800 to 2010 27 Figure 12. Average Annual Rate of Population Change 27 Figure 13. Housing Units by Type in Warren 28 Figure 14. Average Annual Rate of Housing Construction 28 Figure 15. Year-Round and Seasonal Housing Rates, 2016 29 Figure 16. Taxable Receipts & Skier Visits in Warren, 2000-2016 34 Figure 17. Taxable Receipts in Ski Resort Towns, 2016 34 Figure 18. Agricultural Soils & Meadowland Map 40 Figure 19. Conserved and Working Lands 41 Figure 20. Current Use Program 42 Figure 21. Transportation Map 51 Figure 22. Utilities and Facilities Map 62 Figure 23. Conservation Subdivision Design 69 Figure 24. Warren Village Center 70 Figure 25. Future Land Use Map 73 WARREN TOWN PLAN 2019 TO 2027 contents and figures ii 1 vision and goals 1.1 VISION We envision that the Town of Warren will remain a small town with a distinctive sense of place rooted in a rugged, yet fragile landscape. That landscape will continue to shape Warren – its character and way of life – even as climatic and market conditions bring change to the ski industry that shaped the community as we know it today. People will continue to visit and choose to live in Warren because our landscape offers scenic beauty and supports an active outdoor lifestyle. To guide and adapt to the inevitable changes the future will bring, Warren will need to: • Foster an appreciation and responsible stewardship of the natural resources and open spaces upon which our community’s identity and economy are dependent; • Respect our heritage and preserve the historic resources that contribute to our community’s distinctive character; • Recognize that love of the outdoors and active recreation are defining elements of our community’s way of life and are values shared by residents and visitors alike; • Creatively and cooperatively respond to the challenges that a changing climate will bring to our tourism-dependent community and region; and • Have open, responsive and effective town governance. WARREN TOWN PLAN 2019 TO 2027 vision and goals 1 1.2 GOALS The 2019 Warren Town Plan is consistent with the state planning goals as required by the Vermont Planning and Development Act and demonstrated below. To be ‘consistent with a goal’ requires that one or more objectives identified in this plan will result in Warren making substantial progress towards attaining the stated goal. In some cases, the Town of Warren is not the party responsible for making substantial progress towards a stated goal. In that case, to be ‘consistent’ should be interpreted to mean that the objectives and strategies stated in this plan would not impede the responsible party(s) from making substantial progress towards the goal. Warren’s planning goals largely mirror the state’s planning goals. The table that follows states Warren’s overall goals and identifies the related objective(s) established in Chapter 4 of this plan. 1 To plan development so as to maintain the historic settlement pattern of compact village and urban centers separated by rural Objectives 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, countryside Warren will: 8, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17 _ Preserve the town’s rural character, cultural heritage and historic working landscape; _ Preserve the town’s historic settlement pattern, defined by compact villages surrounded by rural countryside; _ Foster conscientious growth and controlled development in the town; and _ Develop a compact village core at the immediate base of Lincoln Peak and Sugarbush Village to serve as one of the town’s primary growth centers alongside the historic Warren village center. 2 To provide a strong and diverse economy that provides satisfying and rewarding job opportunities and that maintains high Objectives 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, environmental standards, and to expand economic opportunities in areas with high unemployment or low per capita incomes Warren 13, 20, 22 will: _ Promote a diverse local economy characterized by varied employment and entrepreneurial opportunities; _ Support those businesses and industries that contribute to Warren’s rural character and high quality of life; and _ Support the economic viability of Sugarbush Resort and other businesses that contribute to the Valley’s attractiveness as a four- season resort destination. 3 To broaden access to educational and vocational training opportunities sufficient to ensure the full realization of the abilities of all Objectives 18, 22, 23 residents Warren will: _ Support educational programs and facilities that enable every child to become a competent, caring, productive, responsible individual and citizen through our participation with the Harwood Unified Union School District and the regional career and technical education programs. WARREN TOWN PLAN 2019 TO 2027 vision and goals 2 4 To provide for safe, convenient, economic and energy efficient transportation systems that respect the integrity of the natural Objectives 3, 6, 10, 12, environment, including public transit options and paths for pedestrians and bicyclists Warren will: 15, 16, 17, 22, 23 _ Maintain and improve a transportation system that is safe and efficient; _ Support programs that encourage minimizing transportation energy consumption and trips, like park and ride, electric vehicle charging stations and ride sharing programs; _ Support regional efforts to provide and maintain systems that meet the needs of all segments of the population; and _ Support efforts to develop additional paths for non-motorized transportation. 5 To identify, protect, and preserve important natural and historic features Warren will: Objectives 1, 5, 13, 14, 16 _ Promote a greater understanding and appreciation of Warren’s historic and cultural heritage. 6 To maintain and improve the quality of air, water, wildlife, forests, and other land resources Warren will: Objectives 2, 8, 14 _ Maintain, preserve and enhance the town’s natural resources and environmental quality for the benefit of future generations; and _ Regulate land development in a manner which protects important natural and community resources including farm land, forest resources, important wildlife habitat and water quality while allowing for diverse land uses in appropriate locations. 7 To make efficient use of energy, provide for the development of renewable energy resources, and reduce emissions of greenhouse Objectives 3, 8, 12, gases Warren will: 13, 15 _ Promote conservation of renewable and nonrenewable energy; _ Encourage programs that reduce direct and indirect transportation demands; and _ Encourage development of local renewable energy sources.