TOWN PLAN for HARTLAND, VERMONT Approved January 4, 2017 by the Hartland Planning Commission: Adopted May 15, 2017 by the Hartland Selectboard Assistance on this Plan was provided by the Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission Hartland Town Plan 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 OVERVIEW AND STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES ................................................................................ 5 CHAPTER 1: LAND USE ............................................................................................................................ 6 Existing Land Use .................................................................................................................... 6 Growth Rate ............................................................................................................................. 6 Hartland Planning Survey ........................................................................................................ 8 Siting Issues.............................................................................................................................. 9 Land Use Goals, and Siting Policies and Recommendations................................................. 10 Future Land Use Areas ........................................................................................................... 12 Village Area....................................................................................................................................................................... 12 US 4/VT 12 Junction ......................................................................................................................................................... 15 I-91 Interchange Area ........................................................................................................................................................ 16 Industrial Area ................................................................................................................................................................... 18 Rural Residential Area ....................................................................................................................................................... 19 Rural Area ......................................................................................................................................................................... 19 River Area ......................................................................................................................................................................... 20 Excavation and Mining ...................................................................................................................................................... 20 CHAPTER 2: NATURAL, HISTORIC AND SCENIC RESOURCES ..................................................... 22 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 22 Historical Resources ............................................................................................................... 22 Historical Goals, Policies, and Recommendations............................................................................................................. 24 Agriculture and Forestry Resources ....................................................................................... 25 Agriculture and Forestry Goals, Policies, and Recommendations ..................................................................................... 26 Natural Areas, Fragile Areas, and Wildlife Habitat Resources.............................................. 27 Natural Areas, Fragile Areas, and Wildlife Habitat Resources Goals, Policies, and Recommendations ........................... 29 Scenic and Aesthetic Resources ............................................................................................. 30 Scenic and Aesthetic Resources Goals, Policies, and Recommendations .......................................................................... 31 CHAPTER 3: WATER RESOURCES ....................................................................................................... 32 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 32 Planning Survey Results......................................................................................................... 32 Surface Water Resources ....................................................................................................... 33 Rivers, Brooks, and Ponds ..................................................................................................... 33 Water Resources Goal and Rivers and Ponds Policies and Recommendations ................................................................. 35 Floodplains, River Corridors, and Flood Resilience .............................................................. 37 Flood Resilience Goals, Policies, and Recommendations ................................................................................................. 42 Wetlands ................................................................................................................................. 43 Wetlands Policy and Recommendations ............................................................................................................................ 44 Vernal Pools ........................................................................................................................... 44 Vernal Pools Policy and Recommendations ...................................................................................................................... 45 Groundwater Resources ......................................................................................................... 45 Groundwater Policies and Recommendations ................................................................................................................... 46 CHAPTER 4: HOUSING ........................................................................................................................... 49 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 49 Housing Supply and Ownership ............................................................................................. 49 Hartland Town Plan 2 Housing Type and Condition ................................................................................................. 50 Housing Cost and Affordability ............................................................................................. 50 Housing Goal, Policies, and Recommendations .................................................................... 51 CHAPTER 5: TRANSPORTATION.......................................................................................................... 52 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 52 Public Highways .................................................................................................................... 52 Scenic Roads .......................................................................................................................... 55 Private Roads.......................................................................................................................... 56 Driveways and Curb Cuts ...................................................................................................... 56 Parking ................................................................................................................................... 57 Pedestrians and Bicyclists ...................................................................................................... 57 Public Transportation ............................................................................................................. 57 Air...................................................................................................................................................................................... 57 Rail .................................................................................................................................................................................... 57 Transportation Goal, Policies, and Recommendations .......................................................... 58 CHAPTER 6: ENERGY ............................................................................................................................. 61 BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................ 61 VERMONT PERSPECTIVE AND ENERGY DEMANDS ...................................................................... 61 CURRENT ENERGY SOURCES ...................................................................................................... 63 RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES ............................................................................................. 65 PERMITTING CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................................................... 68 TELECOMMUNICATION TOWERS ................................................................................................