Groton Town Plan Adopted: May 18, 2017 Groton Selectboard: Groton Planning Commission: Mary Grant Carrie Peters Wade Johnson Kelly Emerson Deborah Jurist Julie Oliver Ranee Curtis Nancy Vaughan 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 3 1.1 The Purpose of Groton’s Plan ...................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Statement of Goals and Objectives .............................................................................................. 4 1.3 Town Overview and History ........................................................................................................ 6 2. LAND USE ............................................................................................................................................ 8 2.1 Groton State Park and Groton State Forest ............................................................................... 8 2.2 Fish and Wildlife Based Outdoor Opportunities ..................................................................... 10 2.3 Nonindustrial Forestland ............................................................................................................. 11 2.4 Agriculture ..................................................................................................................................... 11 2.5 Flash Floods .................................................................................................................................. 12 2.6 Recreation ...................................................................................................................................... 12 2.7 Land Attributes Influencing Future Development Patterns in Groton ............................... 14 2.8 Village Center Designation .......................................................................................................... 18 3. TRANSPORTATION ....................................................................................................................... 21 3.1 Highways ........................................................................................................................................ 21 3.2 Planning Considerations .............................................................................................................. 23 3.3 Airports and Rail ........................................................................................................................... 24 3.4 Alternative Transportation Plan ................................................................................................. 24 4. UTILITIES AND FACILITIES ...................................................................................................... 28 4.1 Hospitals ........................................................................................................................................ 28 4.2 Community Building .................................................................................................................... 28 4.3 Fire Department............................................................................................................................ 29 4.4 Town Garage ................................................................................................................................. 29 4.5 Education ....................................................................................................................................... 29 4.6 Water and Wastewater ................................................................................................................. 30 4.7 Cemeteries ...................................................................................................................................... 32 4.8 Recreational Facilities ................................................................................................................... 32 4.9 Police Protection ........................................................................................................................... 32 4.10 Emergency Planning .................................................................................................................. 32 4.11 Solid Waste .................................................................................................................................. 33 4.12 Emergency Food Shelf .............................................................................................................. 35 4.13 Library .......................................................................................................................................... 35 4.14 Telecommunications .................................................................................................................. 36 Groton Town Plan Adopted 5.18.2017 Page 1 5. PRESERVATION .............................................................................................................................. 38 5.1 Historical Homes and Buildings ................................................................................................. 38 5.2 Natural Areas ................................................................................................................................. 40 6. EDUCATION ..................................................................................................................................... 44 7. ENERGY ............................................................................................................................................. 45 7.1 Home heating ................................................................................................................................ 45 7.2 Electricity ....................................................................................................................................... 47 7.3. Transportation .............................................................................................................................. 48 8. HOUSING ........................................................................................................................................... 51 8.1 Housing Zoning Districts ............................................................................................................ 51 8.2 Affordable Housing ...................................................................................................................... 52 8.3 Future Housing Needs and Issues ............................................................................................. 53 9. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................... 57 9.1 Groton’s Workforce ..................................................................................................................... 57 9.2 Employment Opportunities in Groton ..................................................................................... 59 9.4 Planning Considerations for Economic Development ........................................................... 60 10. FLOOD RESILIENCE ................................................................................................................... 65 10.1 Existing Conditions .................................................................................................................... 65 10.2 Flood Risks in Groton ............................................................................................................... 65 10.3 Floodplains .................................................................................................................................. 66 10.4 Flood Hazard Regulations ......................................................................................................... 67 10.5 River Corridors ........................................................................................................................... 67 10.6 Uplands and Wetlands ............................................................................................................... 68 10.7 Emergency Relief and Assistance Fund .................................................................................. 68 10.8 Local Emergency Operations Plan .......................................................................................... 69 10.9 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan ................................................................................................... 69 11. IMPLEMENTATION..................................................................................................................... 72 12. ADJACENT TOWNS ..................................................................................................................... 74 This plan was developed with support from a Municipal Planning Grant awarded by the Vermont Department of Housing & Community Development. Photos: courtesy of Julie Oliver, Debra Johnson, Groton Library, and Groton Historical Society Groton Town Plan Adopted 5.18.2017 Page 2 1. INTRODUCTION It still feels like small town America. -- Groton Community Survey respondent 1.1 The Purpose of Groton’s Plan A town plan helps define a community in laying out a general direction for future development by identifying local needs and desires. Its primary purpose is to encourage appropriate development of land in a manner that will promote public health, safety, prosperity, efficiency,