TOWN OF SLAUGHTER BEACH 2018 Comprehensive Land Use Plan TOWN OF SLAUGHTER BEACH Contents • TOWN, COUNTY AND STATE OFFICIALS ........................................................................................................ v • ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................................ vi Chapter I BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. The Authority to Plan ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Public Participation .............................................................................................................................. 1 A. Resilient Community Partnership (RCP) ............................................................................................... 1 B. Comprehensive Land Use Planning Committee ................................................................................... 4 1.3. Overview of the Community ................................................................................................................ 4 Location ................................................................................................................................................ 4 Community, History, and Characteristics ............................................................................................. 4 Topography .......................................................................................................................................... 5 Soil Conditions ...................................................................................................................................... 6 Wetlands .............................................................................................................................................. 6 1.4. Existing Land Use .................................................................................................................................. 6 A. Residential ............................................................................................................................................ 6 B. Commercial .......................................................................................................................................... 7 C. Wharf ................................................................................................................................................... 7 D. Conservation/Agriculture ..................................................................................................................... 7 E. Residential/Commercial ....................................................................................................................... 7 F. Non-Conforming Uses .......................................................................................................................... 8 G. Recreational ......................................................................................................................................... 8 H. Preserved ............................................................................................................................................. 9 I. Adjacent Land Use ................................................................................................................................ 9 1.5. Overall Community Vision and Goals ................................................................................................. 10 A. Findings .............................................................................................................................................. 11 B. Declaration of Intent .......................................................................................................................... 12 Chapter 2. MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY ......................................................................................... 13 2.1 Local Government ............................................................................................................................ 13 2.2 Land Use Planning and Regulation Process .................................................................................... 13 2.3 Demographics, Future Population, and Housing Growth .............................................................. 14 2.4 Provisions of Utilities, Community Facilities and Services, and Transportation .......................... 17 i TOWN OF SLAUGHTER BEACH A. Utilities ............................................................................................................................................... 17 Public Water............................................................................................................................................ 17 Wastewater Treatment Systems ............................................................................................................ 18 Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling ........................................................................................................ 19 B. Community Facilities and Services ..................................................................................................... 19 Fire and Emergency Medical Services ..................................................................................................... 19 Police Protection ..................................................................................................................................... 20 Hospitals and Emergency Services .......................................................................................................... 20 Education ................................................................................................................................................ 21 Recreation ............................................................................................................................................... 21 Open Spaces ............................................................................................................................................ 21 Public Access and Public Beaches ........................................................................................................... 22 C. Transportation ................................................................................................................................... 22 Roads ...................................................................................................................................................... 22 Pedestrians and Bicycles ........................................................................................................................ 23 Drawbridge ............................................................................................................................................ 24 Flooding of Roadways ............................................................................................................................ 24 2.5 Community Character, Design and Redevelopment ...................................................................... 24 A. Community Character and Design ............................................................................................. 24 B. Critical Community Development / Redevelopment Issues ................................................ 25 2.6 Natural Resources, Features, and Habitat ...................................................................................... 25 A. Shore Birds ...................................................................................................................................... 26 B. Horseshoe Crabs ............................................................................................................................ 27 General Information ............................................................................................................................... 27 Horseshoe Crab Spawning Habitat ......................................................................................................... 27 Mortality ................................................................................................................................................. 28 Community-based Conservation Measures ............................................................................................ 28 C. Diamondback Terrapins ............................................................................................................... 29 D. Other Vital Flora and Fauna ......................................................................................................... 31 Geology ................................................................................................................................................... 31 Floodplains .............................................................................................................................................. 32 Wetlands ................................................................................................................................................. 32 Fish and Wildlife Values .......................................................................................................................... 32 Environmental Quality Values ...............................................................................................................