The University of Maine DigitalCommons@UMaine Maine Town Documents Maine Government Documents 1-2008 The omprC ehensive Plan for the Town of Wiscasset Wiscasset (Me.). Comprehensive Plan Committee Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/towndocs Repository Citation Wiscasset (Me.). Comprehensive Plan Committee, "The omprC ehensive Plan for the Town of Wiscasset" (2008). Maine Town Documents. 3351. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/towndocs/3351 This Plan is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in Maine Town Documents by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Comprehensive Plan For The Town Of Wiscasset October 2006 Amended January 2008 Acknowledgments This plan is presented to the Town of Wiscasset by the Wiscasset Comprehensive Plan Committee, who wishes to thank the many town citizens who also gave their time and ideas to help better the future of Wiscasset. Subcommittee members did the painstaking work of gathering information, analyzing it, making recommendations, and putting all of that into writing. Planning consultants Esther Lacognata and Richard Rothe provided very important help over the course of the work. Jeffrey Hinderliter, Wiscasset town planner and economic development director, was a steadfast and patient guide. Jackie Lowell gave much-needed editing to the final form; remaining errors are unintentional and belong to the committee. September 2006 Eric Dexter, chairman David Cherry Gwenn de Mauriac Anne Leslie Larry Lomison John Rinehart Sean Rafter Karl Olson Other citizens who worked on the plan: Tom Abello Mel Applebee John Blagdon, Jr. Amy and Jeffrey Burchstead Leon Chatelain, III Jack Crane Tim Forester Don Jones Kerry Leeman Seaver Leslie David Nichols, Jr. The late Marguerite Rafter Sandra Weismann Herb Crafts Stephen Widmer Judy Flanagan Karl Tarbox Philip Simpson WISCASSET COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. HISTORIC AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES Historic Overview...................................................................................................... 1-1 Prehistoric Archaeology.............................................................................................1-2 Designation of the Historic District ........................................................................... 1-2 Private Properties Listed in the National Register of Historic Places ....................... 1-4 Public Properties Listed in the National Register of Historic Places......................... 1-8 Schools..................................................................................................................... 1-10 Fishing.......................................................................................................................1-11 Timber Trade........................................................................................................... 1-11 Shipbuilding............................................................................................................. 1-12 Brickyards................................................................................................................ 1-12 Ice............................................................................................................................. 1-13 Railroad.................................................................................................................... 1-13 21st Century.............................................................................................................. 1-14 Cemeteries................................................................................................................ 1-14 Historic Archaeological Sites.................................................................................. 1-14 Existing Historic Preservation Programs and Laws................................................. 1-14 State Laws or Programs ........................................................................................... 1-16 Local Ordinances..................................................................................................... 1-17 Potential Consequences of Inaction......................................................................... 1-18 Past Efforts and Studies ........................................................................................... 1-18 Summary Findings................................................................................................... 1-19 2. POPULATION Introduction................................................................................................................ 2-1 Historical Population Change .................................................................................... 2-1 Population Change and Comparisons ........................................................................ 2-2 Age Distribution......................................................................................................... 2-3 Household Size and Characteristics .......................................................................... 2-5 Density ....................................................................................................................... 2-6 Educational Attainment ............................................................................................. 2-7 Income and Poverty ................................................................................................... 2-7 Population Projections ............................................................................................... 2-9 3. HOUSING Introduction................................................................................................................ 3-1 Changes in Total Housing Stock................................................................................ 3-1 Selected Characteristics of Housing Units................................................................. 3-1 Housing Types ........................................................................................................... 3-2 Growth by Type of Structure, 1990-2000.................................................................. 3-3 Housing Values and Costs ......................................................................................... 3-3 Affordable Housing Needs Analysis ......................................................................... 3-4 i 4. ECONOMY Recent Economic Highlights ..................................................................................... 4-1 Previous Studies......................................................................................................... 4-2 Employment/Unemployment..................................................................................... 4-3 Employment by Industry............................................................................................ 4-4 Employment by Occupation ...................................................................................... 4-5 Commuting to Work .................................................................................................. 4-6 Place of Work, Wiscasset Residents.......................................................................... 4-7 Residence of People Who Work in Wiscasset........................................................... 4-7 Taxable Consumer Retail Sales ................................................................................. 4-8 Economic Development Assets and Opportunities.................................................... 4-8 State Programs ......................................................................................................... 4-11 Opportunities............................................................................................................ 4-12 Constraints ............................................................................................................... 4-14 Public Opinion ......................................................................................................... 4-15 5. NATURAL RESOURCES Introduction................................................................................................................ 5-1 Soils............................................................................................................................ 5-1 Topography................................................................................................................ 5-3 Wetlands .................................................................................................................... 5-4 Surface Water............................................................................................................. 5-7 Groundwater ............................................................................................................ 5-13 Wildlife and Unique Natural Areas ......................................................................... 5-15 Scenic Resources ..................................................................................................... 5-19 Open Space .............................................................................................................. 5-21 Farmland .................................................................................................................. 5-22 Forests.....................................................................................................................