The
Economy
Goals
Business
activities that promote the sustainable use of natural, historical, and cultural
resources and do not create substantial negative impacts on the environment,
public safety, public health, and the rural character of the Town should be
encouraged. In particular, agricultural uses should be preserved and new
opportunities for specialized or niche agricultural uses encouraged. Managed use
of forest and woodlands and other natural resources should also be encouraged,
using contemporary best management practices where appropriate.
Four-season
tourism should also be promoted, recognizing that both residents and tourists
come to this region because of its unique environmental setting and historic and
cultural resources.
Small-scale
business and service uses should be encouraged which can be accommodated in the
existing hamlets or as home based occupations, particularly crafts, services,
and Internet uses. Large commercial developments or businesses that negatively
impact the rural and undeveloped character of the Town will be prevented.
Development
Patterns
The natural
resource base must be considered, along with scenic resources, in evaluating
proposed development, since these resources are the limiting factors in every
aspect of our lives. The Town’s historic development pattern of concentrated
hamlets separated by low-density open areas will be perpetuated. Existing
commercial hamlets should be strengthened and the distinct character of each
enhanced. The Route 390 corridor must be maintained as a series of separate but
coordinated experiences: mountain views, bustling hamlets, open fields, unique
shops and tourist stops, educational and historic sites, all with quality of
design and maintenance worthy of our regional resource. Areas of significant
open space should be preserved between the hamlets, particularly wetlands,
bedrock outcrops, fields and farmland, and undeveloped stream and creek
corridors, to maintain the functional and visual separation of developed areas
and the rural and natural character of the Town.
Agricultural
Lands, Forest Lands, and other Open Space
All residents
benefit from our local farms and farmers, not only because of their contribution
to our scenic resources, but also because our farms are evidence of the
persistence of a cherished town tradition. Prime agricultural soils lend
themselves to sustainable agricultural practices, while local and regional
markets allow for conservation of non-renewable energy resources and limit air
pollution. It may be beneficial to increase the space available for farmers’
markets, given the level of interest farmers have expressed.
Forests and
woodlands also define the Town by creating vegetative expanses between hamlets
and residences; contribute notably to the open, rural, and mountainous character
of the Town; and are an important economic resource. Maintenance of contiguous,
unfragmented forests and woodlands should be encouraged. Management of forests
to maintain long-term forest health, resilience, productivity, and scenic and
ecological value should be promoted. Sustainable extractive uses of forests
using responsible techniques and recognized best management practices should be
supported.
Other types of
open space such as woodlands and wetlands are also important and should continue
to be protected by existing legislation. The impact of development on these
areas should be mitigated by design guidelines and restrictions on poor
practices.
Critical
Environmental Areas should be identified, a designation based on specific
criteria. This allows for the delineation of especially rare and unique areas.
Areas so designated by the state or the town will receive greater protection at
State or Town levels.
Historic
and Cultural Resources
Among the most
valuable manmade resources are those structures or areas that are of historic,
archaeological, or cultural significance. These include old stone walls, early
and native dwellings, and burial grounds. The protection of these structures and
areas must involve recognition of their importance and the ability to identify
and describe them. The resources can be found in the hamlets, in isolated
structures, and in unique sites or facilities. All practicable means to protect
these resources should be taken, and these should likewise be addressed in
development planning.
The Town should
conduct and maintain an inventory of cultural resources to identify priority
historical and cultural resources for conservation. This data will be used as a
basis to protect these resources and may include, for example, landowner
incentives for conservation and state preservation easements. This should also
be used to inform ordinances, guidelines, and site-specific proposals.
All proposed
actions within proximity of the boundary of an historic, architectural,
cultural, or archaeological resource that would be incompatible with the
objective of preserving the quality and integrity of the resource and its
surroundings should be carefully considered and rejected when necessary.
Compatibility between the proposed action and the resource means that the
general appearance of the resource should be reflected in the architectural
style, design material, scale, proportion, composition, mass, line, color,
texture, detail, setback, landscaping, and related items of the proposed action
to the maximum extent possible.
Alteration of
or addition to one or more of the architectural, structural, ornamental, or
functional features of a building, structure, or site that is a recognized
historic, cultural, or archaeological resource should be compatible with the
resource.
Demolition or
removal in full or part of a building, structure, or earthworks that is a
recognized historic, cultural, or archaeological resource should only be
undertaken if restoration or preservation is determined to be impractical.
Features that
are integral to the historic landscape, such as stone walls, barns, and
outbuildings, should be maintained and integrated with new development to the
maximum extent practical.
Archaeological
resources are non-renewable resources that should be preserved for continued use
and enjoyment by future generations. Landowners should be encouraged to minimize
activities that disturb sites and protect them from looters.
Housing
Housing
opportunities for the full economic range of the Town’s population should be
provided in a form that is compatible with the scale and pattern of existing
development.
The special
housing needs of senior citizens, lower-income, and young families should
receive particular attention.
Guidelines for
environmentally sensitive and visually sound multi-family dwellings in hamlets,
such as town homes and apartments, should be developed to accommodate future
population growth in a compatible manner and provide for affordable housing
opportunities and socio-economic equity in our community.
Low density,
multi-family housing may also be appropriate for certain demographic groups,
such as senior citizens and others with special needs. Such housing should be
located in or adjacent to existing hamlets and designed to be compatible with
the scale, design, and architectural character of single family home
development. Rehabilitation of the Town’s existing housing stock is the most
effective means to provide housing opportunities that are compatible with
existing development patterns and to foster hamlet revitalization. Renovation
and revitalization should be promoted through incentive plans.
Infrastructure
and Community Facilities
Necessary
infrastructure, including sewage disposal and water supply and system
augmentation, may eventually be necessary to allow concentration and expansion
of the hamlets.
The quantity
and quality of existing surface water and groundwater supplies must be protected
and monitored to ensure that safe and adequate supply is preserved for existing
uses and available for future users.
State-of-the-art
communications services must be provided to facilitate economic growth dependent
on high-speed access to outside markets and to enhance emergency service
response.
Enhanced,
affordable public service should be provided to support the quality of life of
residents and the experience of tourists.
Repair or
construction of underground utilities (electric, phone, and cable) in the
hamlets should be coordinated with sidewalk development and development of
off-street parking areas and underground relocation of overhead lines.
Techniques to
regulate development in accord with the capacity and quality of groundwater
supplies should be developed and measures to facilitate development of central
water supply systems investigated.
An appropriate
site or sites for cell tower placement should be identified. Sites should be
selected according to amount of available setback, low impact on viewsheds,
health concerns, if applicable, and suitability of a site’s physical
properties.
Tourist
information services, visitor centers, lodging referral networks, and similar
services should be coordinated with all involved public, non-profit, and
business agencies to provide "one-stop shopping" for tourists.
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