Emergency Procedures for the Beechcraft B19 Sport

Wastewater......................................................................................Pg 50 Solid Waste.......................................................................................Pg 51 Emergency Management................................................................Pg 51 Mitigation..........................................................................................Pg 51 Preparedness....................................................................................Pg 52 Response...........................................................................................Pg 52 Recovery............................................................................................Pg 53 Healthcare And Social Services.....................................................Pg 54 Town Governance Goals.................................................................Pg 54 Housing.........................................................................Pg 56 Housing Goals...................................................................................Pg 58 Transportation..............................................................Pg 59 Highways And Roads........................................................................Pg 59 Bridges And Culverts......................................................................Pg 61 Poultney VT Transportation Map...................................................Pg 62 Traffic Volume And Safety...............................................................Pg 63 Poultney VT High Crash Locations Average Annual Daily Traffic Pg 64 Municipal Roads And General Permit...........................................Pg 65 Alternative Transportation..............................................................Pg 66 Complete Streets.............................................................................Pg 67 Regional Overview...........................................................................Pg 68 Transportation Goals.......................................................................Pg 69 Energy............................................................................Pg 71 Energy Consumption.......................................................................Pg 71 Energy Production And Efficiency.................................................Pg 72 Energy Goals.....................................................................................Pg 74 Flood Resilience..........................................................Pg 75 History Of Flooding And Vulnerable Assets................................Pg 75 Flood Hazard Mapping And Assessment......................................Pg 76 Flood Mitigation Strategies............................................................Pg 76 Flood Resilience Goals....................................................................Pg 77 The Plan..........................................pg 78 Authority To Plan.............................................................................Pg 78 Planning Process...............................................................................Pg 79 Implementation.................................................................................Pg 79 Acknowledgements............pg 81 1 The Town of Poultney, with a population of 3,020 as of 2020, is located in the southwestern part of Rutland County, 17 miles from Rutland, 35 miles from Glens Falls, NY, and 80 miles from Albany, NY. The historic Poultney Village, a state designated downtown, and East Poultney Village, a state designated Village Center, lies within the town’s 44 square miles. Although simply a rest stop on the Albany to Montreal turnpike in early days, the downtown area now hosts the town’s main business district, the homes of approximately 1,552 residents, and the sprawling cam- pus, formerly Green Mountain College, at its western terminus. The north half of Lake Saint Catherine is within the town’s boundaries and has been recognized as a vacation resort for over 100 years. Although the lakeshore is mostly in private ownership, the Lake Saint Catherine State Park on the east side of the Lake provides campsites, picnic areas, and swimming facilities for gen- eral public use. An exceptional expanse of wild and undeveloped land lies in the northeast and is characterized by mountain peaks, steep slopes and a high ridge line. Poultney has a varied natural environment. It is bounded on the west by the Poultney River. Its land boundaries range from eleva- tions of 500 feet or less to 2,320 feet elevation at Spruce Knob on the east boundary. Several small streams ripple through the hills to the east and flow west to the Poultney River or to Lake Saint Catherine. The Buczek Marsh Wildlife Management Area (96 acres) is located approximately halfway between the down- town and the lake. The Bird Mountain Wildlife Management Area (350 acres) is located in the northeast corner of Poultney. The Town of Poultn ey 2 Lewis Deane Nature Preserve is east of the lake and encompasses the row of prominent cliffs that extend into the Town of Wells. Recreation opportunities are plentiful. The town’s Recreation Commission provides a seasonal program for children and adults, and many private and nonprofit organizations provide numerous social and recreational opportunities. The Delaware and Hudson (D&H) Rail Trail, local rivers and streams and Lake Saint Catherine provide abundant outdoor recreational opportunities, and Slate Valley Trails, a public access trail network, comprises over 40 miles of multi-use trails for mountain biking, hiking, cross-country skiing, and other outdoor recreation. The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST), responsible for the organization of the sport of snowmobiling in the State of Vermont, utilizes the D&H Rail Trail right-of-way and oversees snowmobile trails within the town. An extensive system of local trails is organized and maintained by the Poultney Valley Snowmobile Devils, in cooperation with Poultney landowners who allow them to use their property. The town, in addition to its natural resources and recreational as- sets, has also shown itself to be an incredibly adaptable communi- ty. It did not sit idly by when its landmark, Green Mountain College (GMC), announced its impending closure in 2019; instead, leading up to and since that time, the community has actively sought out and engaged with local, State, and federal partners to support the evolution of the town beyond the closing of GMC. 3 Vision People who live, work, and play in Poultney appreciate our differ- ences, celebrate what we have in common, and seek to grow the quality of all our lives. These qualities lead us to care—sometimes passionately—about what should change about our town or what should not. We want leaders who can help us help ourselves make a stronger, better Poultney for all. Goals 1. Conserve our natural environment and preserve our historic resources. 2. Maintain a welcoming, neighborly, safe community. 3. Increase and diversify the local economy: 4. Grow Poultney’s outdoor recreational economy in line with the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) plan. 5. Support existing businesses and encourage new ones. 6. Maintain necessary infrastructure: 7. Follow a long-term Capital Improvement Plan and work to en- sure it reflects current community needs. 8. Partner with the RRPC for transportation or road related proj- ects and grants. 4 Current Land Use There are three distinctive population centers: Poultney Village (home of historic Main Street and Poultney’s designated downtown), East Poultney (centered on the historic East Poultney green), and the shore of Lake Saint Catherine. Beyond the village, home sites are scattered, with newer homes built among the older residences. In earlier days, rail service and landscape together set the pattern of home distribution. The Poultney River flows through the town and delimits its western boundary with New York State. Poultney Village is the current hub of commerce, while East Poultney was the original settlement. The two villages are linked by Route 140. Major concentrations of seasonal dwellings are located on the shoreline of Lake Saint Catherine. Despite the crowding of summer cottages, this area of town retains much of its natural beauty, namely: a geologic fault lake nestled between two hills with Route 30 running along its eastern edge. Poultney originally established categories of land use through the adoption of a town plan in 1970 and zoning in 1971. The town’s Unified Bylaws, adopted in 2014 and subsequently amended, establishes thirteen Zoning Districts each with different purposes and limitations. This town plan seeks to layout a future land use plan by addressing the goals and objectives articulated throughout this document. The Land 5 Based on Department of Taxes’ 2019 data, more than half of parcels located within the town are used for residential purposes. The following gives an overview of Poultney’s primary areas and their function(s). Poultney Village The Village of Poultney is not only the central focus of the town, but is the center for community functions, employment and commerce. The town and village offices, visitor center, water and sewer services, schools, fire station, and major employment and commercial uses are located in the village area. It encompasses a compact regional shopping area associated and several commercial and industrial establishments arranged mostly on Main Street with the campus of the former Green Mountain College at its 6 westernmost terminus. Poultney Village encompasses the Main Street Historic District which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The parcels within the heart of the village are included in Poultney’s designated downtown (see the Future Land Use Map). The Village of Poultney is home to four future land use areas: Village Residential, Village Commercial, Village Industrial, and the Green Mountain College Adaptive Reuse Area. Agriculture & Rural Residential Areas East Poultney, the one population center in this district, consists of a cluster of homes, mostly old and many of historical interest. It is centered around a triangular green along with a church and three museum buildings owned by the Poultney Historical Society. It is a recognized historic district by the National Register of Historic Places and, as previously noted, it is a designated Village Center through the Vermont Downtown Program. Outside the population hubs of Poultney Village, East Poultney and Lake Saint Catherine, the town is generally rural with open spaces, scenic vistas and heavily forested ridgelines that provide ample opportunity for various forms of recreation, as discussed in The Resources chapter. Residences and farms are located along the primary highways of Route 30, 31 and 140, as well as alongside roads such as those located in Hampshire, Finel and Morse Hollows. The hilly terrain, steep slopes and thin soils have limited development in the eastern section of the town. 7 Commercial activity in this district is primarily natural resource based. The superiority of slate for roofing, flooring and other uses has served to make slate quarrying and processing the dominant industry. While agriculture is declining, farm and forestry operations occupy this area, along with abundant home occupations and cottage industries. Some portions of the Agricultural & Rural Residential areas require conservation and protective measures due to their fragile, unique or irreplaceable nature, or are necessary for the maintenance of environmental quality. No area in this area is served by municipal water and sewer. Any development in this area is served by on-site sewage disposal systems, and any development with on-site sewage disposal and potable water requires a wastewater and water supply permit issued by the Agency of Natural Resources. Development in this area must also be reasonably served by the existing road network. Constraints for development vary for each specific district within the Agriculture & Rural Residential Areas, and are outlined in the Poultney Unified Bylaws, which should be referenced for additional information and guidance. Flood Hazard Area The flood hazard area in Poultney is designated on the 2008 Federal Insurance Administration Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM). This area is also identified in the Future Land Use Map and the Zoning Districts Map adopted by the town. More detailed maps are available at the town office. For additional information, see the Future Land Use section following this section. Lakeshore Area Lake Saint Catherine has served as a vacation destination since the 1880’s. Much of the development consists of historic summer cottages and camps with direct lake access. Recently, some of these have been winterized or expanded upon. There are few rentals on the lake, and most homes are occupied only in summer and on holidays. Few commercial establishments occupy this area, and even on busy weekends there is a peaceful, quiet nature to the lakeshore. Village Industrial and Industrial Areas Industrial and light manufacturing activities are an important component of Poultney’s economy and landscape. The Industrial areas in town reserve lands for expanded industrial and directly associated commercial development outside the village on soils and slopes best suited to such intense use, and which are served by town roads. The Village Industrial area contemplates only those developments that are in keeping with environmental and siting standards due to proximity to less intensive land uses. 8 Northeast Conservation & Wildlife Habitat Area The Northeast Conservation and Wildlife Habitat Area is generally defined as the northeast corner of the town, bounded by the Castleton and Ira town lines and in part by the Middletown Springs town line, and on the interior by Pond Hill Road to the west, both the north and south sides of Ames Hollow Road and easterly and northeasterly of Clark Hollow Road and along both sides of Morse Hollow Road. It includes generally the town’s highest mountain peaks or slopes from mountain peaks just outside of the town boundaries, including Birdseye Mountain, Herrick Mountain and Spruce Knob, and connecting ridgelines within the town. This area is characterized by steep slopes with thin soils and fragile vegetation that provides significant recharge to the ground and surface waters. It includes significant seasonal and year- round watercourses draining into the Poultney River watershed. In 2011, it was identified as an area containing irreplaceable natural resources and provides an unparalleled significant expanse of unbroken, unfragmented and significant wildlife and natural habitat area. Significant tracts of land just outside the town boundaries are now owned by the State of Vermont as wildlife habitat areas. The pristine and unfragmented ridgeline frames the northeast area of town as a significant scenic resource. The large tracts of land are in the ownership of relatively few individuals or businesses and have been traditionally devoted to uses involving forest resources, recreation and hunting. Access is difficult and limited and is traversed generally only by a single class 4 Town Highway and an “Impassable or Untraveled” trail, as defined by the Town of Poultney General Highway Map. Downtown & Village Center Designations Vermont’s Downtown and Village Center Program designations provide incentives and give communities the technical assistance needed to encourage new development and redevelopment in our compact, designated areas. The program’s incentives are for both the public and private sector within the designated area, including tax credits for historic building rehabilitations and code improvements and priority consideration for other state grant programs. Village Center The East Poultney Village Center designation has enabled the town to preserve and celebrate the rich history of Poultney where the town first began. The focal area of the Village Center consists of a beautiful green where many community events are held and the iconic and historic United Baptist Church of Poultney which sits atop the green. These emblematic fixtures are surrounded by quiet residences, mixed-use residence/home occupations, the East Poultney General Store and many historic buildings, several of which have been turned into museums operated by the Poultney 9 Historical Society. Through the Village Center Designation, the town has been able to apply for grants to enhance the area, including a comprehensive sidewalk network and a pedestrian friendly bridge over the East Poultney Gorge. The designation was first awarded in June 2005 and needs to be reapplied for every eight years. Designated Downtown Poultney’s designated Downtown encircles the primary hub of commerce in town, encompassing Main Street, extending to Poultney High School at its eastern terminus and the lands formerly housing the Green Mountain College campus on the westerly terminus. The designated downtown is overseen by the Poultney Downtown Revitalization Committee, Inc., (PDRC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Designation was first received in 2002, and revitalization efforts by the PDRC and other partner organizations have included streetscape improvements (such as benches, streetlights, flowerbeds, trash receptacles, banners, and improved signage), sidewalk expansions and connectivity, construction of the Slate Quarry Park, attracting new businesses to Poultney’s downtown, and encouraging the repurposing of historic structures for new and expanding businesses. These efforts and more remain a goal into the future. As with the village center designation, downtown designation status needs to be renewed every eight years. 10 Natural Resources Land and Wildlife Poultney is the product of drastic tectonics and subsequent glaciation and erosive forces. Its landscape is a patchwork of hills, basins and other depressions and valleys with corresponding variation in its underlying bedrock, its soils and surface and subsurface water. For many years a principal source of revenue, the slate industry is located on the western edge of town and in adjoining New York state and in the neighboring towns of Castleton, Fair Haven, Wells, and Pawlet. Associated with the slate belt is a long zone underlaid by greywacke, a sandstone apparent in ledge outcrops. A substantial part of eastern Poultney consists of various hills with bedrock of the Saint Catherine formation, a complex including phyllites and quartzite. The soils are shallow and mostly occupied by forests of hardwoods and softwoods, excepting where they have been cleared for pastures. The shallowness of these soils, with occasional pockets of deeper soil, has important implications for the location of domestic water wells and conventional septic systems. Drilled wells in these areas are satisfactory if they tap into aquifers in fractured bedrock. Rare and endangered species of plants and animals are present throughout the town. A total of fifteen sites have been identified by the Vermont Non-Game and Natural Heritage Program. The 11 approximate, generalized locations of these sites are shown on Natural Resources Map 1. The town continues to encourage the protection of these sites. The Agency of Natural Resources Department of Fish and Wildlife has identified significant natural communities located in the Northeast Conservation and Wildlife Habitat Area, including wildlife migration corridors. The “Inventory and Assessment of Wetland and Upland Wildlife Habitat in the Upper Poultney River Watershed’’ confirmed and identified these areas in northeast Poultney. The area has traditionally provided recreational opportunities including horseback riding, hiking, snowmobiling and hunting. The lack of easy access, the limited existence of primitive roads and trails, and its remoteness have contributed to its preservation. The Agency of Natural Resources has designated this area as worthy of special attention due to its unfragmented nature in a state in which development has caused increasing encroachments on, and fragmentation of, such habitats. As of 2020, Poultney was home to over 2,322 acres of conserved land. The town has a mix of forested and open land, both of which provide critical habitat areas for significant flora and fauna. Outstanding natural areas that offer refuge for endangered species or are examples of the natural heritage of the town should be protected from development. The benefits provided by wildlife habitats and other natural and fragile areas are numerous. They contribute to the economy by attracting travelers, recreation seekers, and wildlife admirers as well as add to the community’s character and sense of place. Wildlife habitats and other natural and fragile areas are mapped generally by the state and include deer wintering areas (commonly known as deer yards), bear habitat, migratory staging areas for waterfowl, mast stands, fisheries and sites of rare plants and animals. Other significant types of wildlife habitat include large intact forested tracts capable of supporting larger mammals and wildlife corridors. A wildlife corridor is an area of land used by wildlife to travel from one large block of habitat to another. In the Poultney area, the two blocks run along the north and eastern border of Lake Saint Catherine and along the eastern most border of the town. This can also be viewed in Habitat and Wildlife Connectivity Map. While most animals do not cover the entire distance between the mountain ranges, maintaining a continuous network of habitat allows for genetic flow between animal populations and lets individuals range as far as they need. Wildlife habitats, deer wintering yards, rare plant and animal areas, and priority habitat blocks are mapped on Natural Resources Maps 1 and 2 as well as the Habitat and Wildlife Connectivity Map. Conservation of open spaces and natural resources should be a high priority to maintain Poultney’s rural character as well as its ability to be resilient to the potential effects of climate change. These important maps – Habitat and Wildlife Connectivity, Natural Resources 1, and Natural Resources 2 – follow. 12 E n d l e s s Br o o k N o r t h B r ook P o u ltne y River P o u ltn e y R i v er C o y B roo k Vai l Br oo k Sou th Br ook WELLS La ke St. C a the ri n e SOUTH ST RIVER ST WINDYWOOD ACRES RD COLLEGE ST N SAW MILL HILL RD W LAKE RD HILLSIDE RD NORTH ST FURNACE ST FAIRWAY LN S YORK ST EXT FERNCLIFF RD THRALL RD FRK NORTON AVE S MARY LN VT ROUTE 30 S BERTS NEST RD BEAMAN ST LAKE RD AMERIO RD BENTLEY AVE VT ROUTE 31 EVERGREEN RD CONES POINT RD PARKS DR COY HILL RD TOPAZ RD BULL FROG HOLLOW RD TOWN HWY 19 GRANVILLE ST WEST ST OTIS DR MCINTYRE RD JONES RD LAMB HILL RD MAHAR RD RANNY RD VT ROUTE 30 WILSON AVE BLISSVILLE RD MEADOW LN VAUGHAN LN BIRD ST TOWN HWY 16 BOYCE AVE UPPER RD HANNON RD PLEASANT VIEW RD SFH MASLACK DR E MAIN ST FENTON RD WHITE'S RD RIDER RD FERNCLIFF CAMPS RD MARCY LN NORTH ST COY HILL RD VT ROUTE 30 S LILY POND LN WOODLAND LN K LN VT ROUTE 140 WATKINS HILL RD TOWN HWY 45 MARY LN LEWIS RD LENNOX RD BURDOCK AVE ROBERTS AVE POTTER LN FOX BRIDGE LN CATAMOUNT LN STONEHENGE RD GREENE RD PENINSULA DR BERTS NEST RD TOWN FARM RD ELRENA RD SAWMILL RD TACONIC VIEW LN LENWOOD LN MOUNTAIN RD CANDLESTICK LN OBRIEN RD SAND HILL EXT TARAN RD FERNCLIFF RD EXT WESCOTT RD LOOKAWAY RD CHELSEA LN YORK ST TUCKER RD LEAVITT LN ROSS RD FIELDSTONE DR LAKE SAINT CATHERINE DR MILL POND RD WHITE RD COLD SPRING LN CATHERINE CAPER LN E DELANEY CROSS RD VERONA RD POND HILL RD CAPRON LN SFH MANY SPRINGS DR ENDLESS BROOK RD HIGH RD SALTIS RD KERBER LN RAE TER PARKERS RD NEW BOSTON RD IVY LN ORCHARD RD DAYTON HILL RD PESSLER LN SOUTH ST TOWN HILL RD RUBY RD CLARK HOLLOW RD QSI RD GRIFFIN RD BROWN RD SUNDOG LN RAYMOND RD WESCOTT RD EXT FARNAM RD LOOKOUT LN GEM OAK DR KINNI KINNIC LN HEMENWAY DR HILLTOP RD ROCKS & TREES LN SPRING DR HIGH CHAPPARAL RD NORTON RD BUXTON AVE WALKER RD OLD LAKE RD JUSTAMERE DR DEBONIS QUARRY RD MCCARTHY QUARRY RD GOURLAY MOUNTAIN DR UPPER RD BIRDSEYE RD HAMPSHIRE HOLLOW RD BOLGER RD OROURKE TRL WARD RD RIVER ST BALLARD FARM RD DAYTON HL BUTTERNUT HILL RD EAST RD W DELANEY CROSS RD HIGHLAND GRAY RD POND HILL RANCH RD POMEROY PL VT ROUTE 30 N AMES HOLLOW RD TOWN HWY 29 THRALL RD FINEL HOLLOW RD GORHAMTOWN RD GARRON RD MORSE HOLLOW RD SPRUCE KNOB RD B36 B21 B22 B4 B5 B7 B32 B33 B9 B84 B87 B2 B3 B10 B7M B9 B4 B8 B11 B3 B4 B9 B12 B15 B16 B18 B1 B16 B17 B18 B19 B20 B21 B22 B23 B24 B25 B26 B27 B28 B29 B30 B31 B41 B17 B37 VCGI RRPC Path: D:\RRPC\POULTNEY\Town plan maps 2020\Poultney Habitat Blocks 2020.mxd Transportation Systems Bridges and Culverts ") State Bridges #* Town Bridges Roads State Highway Town Highway Class 1 Town Highway Class 2 Town Highway Class 3 Town Highway Class 4 Private ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 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Date: 5/21/2021 Poultney, Vermont Habitat and Wildlife Connectivity Map Legend Highest Priority Surface Water and Riparian Areas Highest Priority Wildlife Crossings Riparian Wildlife Connectivity Highest Priority Habitat Blocks Final Weighted Threat Class 7 Final Weighted Threat Class 8 HABITAT BLOCKS: derived from the Vermont Conservation Design Species and Community Scale Components and Vermont Conservation Design Landscape Scale Components used in BioFinder 2016. Legend "/ Hydrants !(V Poultney Village Office !© Poultney Fire House !(T Poultney Town Office ")z Poultney Town Garage !! 2 Poultney Transfer Station ¿ ä Poultney High School ¿ ä Poultney Elementary School 13 uÓ uÓ E n d l e s s Br o o k N o r t h B r ook P o u ltne y River P o u ltn e y R i v er C o y B roo k Vai l Br oo k Sou th Br ook WELLS La ke St. C a the ri n e LAMB HILL RD SOUTH ST SOUTH ST DAYTON HL WINDYWOOD ACRES RD COLLEGE ST N SAW MILL HILL RD W LAKE RD HILLSIDE RD NORTH ST FURNACE ST MAIN ST FAIRWAY LN S TOWN HWY 12 YORK ST EXT FERNCLIFF RD THRALL RD FRK NORTON AVE RIVER ST S MARY LN BERTS NEST RD BEAMAN ST LAKE RD AMERIO RD BENTLEY AVE VT ROUTE 31 EVERGREEN RD CONES POINT RD COY HILL RD TOPAZ RD BULL FROG HOLLOW RD TOWN HWY 19 ALUMNI DR GRANVILLE ST WEST ST OTIS DR JONES RD MAHAR RD RANNY RD VT ROUTE 30 WILSON AVE BLISSVILLE RD MEADOW LN ON THE GREEN VAUGHAN LN RICE WILLIS RD BOYCE AVE PARKERS RD UPPER RD HANNON RD PLEASANT VIEW RD SFH MASLACK DR E MAIN ST FENTON RD WHITE'S RD FERNCLIFF CAMPS RD MARCY LN NORTH ST COY HILL RD WHITLOCK RD VT ROUTE 30 S LILY POND LN WOODLAND LN K LN VT ROUTE 140 WATKINS HILL RD TOWN HWY 45 MARY LN BROWN LN LEWIS RD LENNOX RD BURDOCK AVE POTTER LN PARTRIDGE LN FOX BRIDGE LN CATAMOUNT LN STONEHENGE RD AUTUMN WAY GREENE RD PENINSULA DR BERTS NEST RD TOWN FARM RD ELRENA RD SAWMILL RD TACONIC VIEW LN LENWOOD LN MOUNTAIN RD CANDLESTICK LN OBRIEN RD SAND HILL EXT TARAN RD FERNCLIFF RD EXT WESCOTT RD LOOKAWAY RD CHELSEA LN YORK ST TUCKER RD LEAVITT LN VT ROUTE 30 S ROSS RD FIELDSTONE DR LAKE SAINT CATHERINE DR WHITE RD SAND HILL RD COLD SPRING LN CATHERINE CAPER LN VERONA RD POND HILL RD CAPRON LN SFH MANY SPRINGS DR ENDLESS BROOK RD HIGH RD SALTIS RD CHANNEL DR KERBER LN RAE TER NEW BOSTON RD IVY LN ORCHARD RD DAYTON HILL RD PESSLER LN SOUTH ST TOWN HILL RD RUBY RD CLARK HOLLOW RD QSI RD GRIFFIN RD BROWN RD SUNDOG LN RAYMOND RD WESCOTT RD EXT FARNAM RD LOOKOUT LN GEM OAK DR KINNI KINNIC LN HEMENWAY DR HILLTOP RD ROCKS & TREES LN BALLARD FARM RD SPRING DR NORTON RD BUXTON AVE WALKER RD OLD LAKE RD JUSTAMERE DR DEBONIS QUARRY RD MCCARTHY QUARRY RD GOURLAY MOUNTAIN DR UPPER RD HAMPSHIRE HOLLOW RD BOLGER RD OROURKE TRL WARD RD RIVER ST DAYTON HL W DELANEY CROSS RD BUTTERNUT HILL RD EAST RD BIRDSEYE RD HIGHLAND GRAY RD POND HILL RANCH RD POMEROY PL VT ROUTE 30 N AMES HOLLOW RD TOWN HWY 29 THRALL RD FINEL HOLLOW RD GORHAMTOWN RD GARRON RD MORSE HOLLOW RD SPRUCE KNOB RD RRPC Path: D:\RRPC\POULTNEY\Town plan maps 2020\Poultney Nat Res 1 2020.mxd Transportation Systems Roads State Highway Town Highway Class 1 Town Highway Class 2 Town Highway Class 3 Town Highway Class 4 Private ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ #* #* ") ") #* ¿ä ¿ä ")z !(T !© uÓ !(V COLLEGE ST N FURNACE ST MAIN ST YORK ST EXT NORTON AVE CHURCH ST BEAMAN ST BENTLEY AVE GRANVILLE ST GROVE ST SCHOOL CIR YORK ST E MAIN ST SOUTH ST RAE TER VT ROUTE 30 N VT ROUTE 30 S B4 B5 B87 B4 B41 D and H Rail Trail uÓ Electric Utility Substation ! ! VT Electric Transmission Line Corridors Rivers and Streams Lakes, Ponds, & Major Rivers Poultney Village Boundary Poultney Town Boundary Location Map 1 inch = 0.32 miles 0 0.5 1 0.25 Miles . Date: 5/21/2021 Legend Rare Plant or Animal FEMA Flood Hazard FEMA Zone A FEMA Zone AE 0.2 PCT Annual Chance Flood Hazard FLOODWAY Deer Wintering Areas Vermont Significant Wetland Inventory River Corridor Small Streams(50 ft setback) Vermont River Corridor Slopes 6 - 10 % Slopes 10 - 14 % Slopes 14 - 20 % Slopes 20 - 24 % Slopes Above 24 % Poultney, Vermont Natural Resources 1 Map Legend "/ Hydrants !(V Poultney Village Office !© Poultney Fire House !(T Poultney Town Office ")z Poultney Town Garage !! 2 Poultney Transfer Station ¿ä Poultney High School ¿ä Poultney Elementary School 14 E n d l e s s Br o o k N o r t h B r ook P o u ltne y River P o u ltn e y R i v er C o y B roo k Vai l Br oo k S ou th Br ook WELLS La ke St. C a the ri n e LAMB HILL RD SOUTH ST SOUTH ST DAYTON HL WINDYWOOD ACRES RD COLLEGE ST N SAW MILL HILL RD W LAKE RD HILLSIDE RD NORTH ST FURNACE ST MAIN ST TOWN HWY 12 YORK ST EXT FERNCLIFF RD THRALL RD FRK NORTON AVE RIVER ST S MARY LN BERTS NEST RD BEAMAN ST LAKE RD AMERIO RD BENTLEY AVE VT ROUTE 31 EVERGREEN RD CONES POINT RD COY HILL RD TOPAZ RD BULL FROG HOLLOW RD TOWN HWY 19 ALUMNI DR GRANVILLE ST FAIRWAY LN N WEST ST OTIS DR JONES RD MAHAR RD RANNY RD VT ROUTE 30 WILSON AVE BLISSVILLE RD MEADOW LN ON THE GREEN VAUGHAN LN RICE WILLIS RD BOYCE AVE PARKERS RD UPPER RD HANNON RD PLEASANT VIEW RD SFH MASLACK DR E MAIN ST FENTON RD WHITE'S RD FERNCLIFF CAMPS RD MARCY LN NORTH ST COY HILL RD WHITLOCK RD VT ROUTE 30 S LILY POND LN WOODLAND LN K LN VT ROUTE 140 WATKINS HILL RD TOWN HWY 45 MARY LN BROWN LN LEWIS RD LENNOX RD BURDOCK AVE POTTER LN PARTRIDGE LN FOX BRIDGE LN CATAMOUNT LN STONEHENGE RD AUTUMN WAY GREENE RD PENINSULA DR BERTS NEST RD TOWN FARM RD ELRENA RD SAWMILL RD TACONIC VIEW LN LENWOOD LN MOUNTAIN RD CANDLESTICK LN OBRIEN RD SAND HILL EXT TARAN RD FERNCLIFF RD EXT WESCOTT RD LOOKAWAY RD CHELSEA LN YORK ST TUCKER RD LEAVITT LN VT ROUTE 30 S ROSS RD FIELDSTONE DR WHITE RD SAND HILL RD COLD SPRING LN CATHERINE CAPER LN VERONA RD POND HILL RD CAPRON LN SFH MANY SPRINGS DR ENDLESS BROOK RD HIGH RD SALTIS RD CHANNEL DR KERBER LN RAE TER NEW BOSTON RD IVY LN ORCHARD RD DAYTON HILL RD PESSLER LN SOUTH ST TOWN HILL RD RUBY RD CLARK HOLLOW RD QSI RD GRIFFIN RD BROWN RD SUNDOG LN RAYMOND RD WESCOTT RD EXT FARNAM RD LOOKOUT LN GEM OAK DR KINNI KINNIC LN HEMENWAY DR HILLTOP RD ROCKS & TREES LN BALLARD FARM RD SPRING DR NORTON RD BUXTON AVE WALKER RD OLD LAKE RD JUSTAMERE DR DEBONIS QUARRY RD MCCARTHY QUARRY RD GOURLAY MOUNTAIN DR UPPER RD HAMPSHIRE HOLLOW RD BOLGER RD OROURKE TRL WARD RD RIVER ST DAYTON HL W DELANEY CROSS RD BUTTERNUT HILL RD EAST RD BIRDSEYE RD HIGHLAND GRAY RD POND HILL RANCH RD POMEROY PL VT ROUTE 30 N AMES HOLLOW RD TOWN HWY 29 THRALL RD FINEL HOLLOW RD GORHAMTOWN RD GARRON RD MORSE HOLLOW RD SPRUCE KNOB RD Lake St. Catherine State Park Buczek Marsh WMA Bird Mountain WMA VLT VLT Easement Wetland Reserve Program Easement RRPC Path: D:\RRPC\POULTNEY\Town plan maps 2020\Poultney Nat Res 2 2020.mxd Transportation Systems Roads State Highway Town Highway Class 1 Town Highway Class 2 Town Highway Class 3 Town Highway Class 4 Private ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! uÓ COLLEGE ST N FURNACE ST MAIN ST YORK ST EXT NORTON AVE CHURCH ST BEAMAN ST BENTLEY AVE GRANVILLE ST GROVE ST SCHOOL CIR YORK ST E MAIN ST SOUTH ST RAE TER VT ROUTE 30 N VT ROUTE 30 S D and H Rail Trail uÓ Substation ! ! VT Electric Transmission Line Corridors Rivers and Streams Lakes, Ponds, & Major Rivers Poultney Village Boundary Poultney Town Boundary Location Map 1 inch = 0.32 miles 0 0.5 1 0.25 Miles . Date: 5/21/2021 Legend Potential Sand Resource Potential Sand and Gravel Resource Source Protection Area - Groundwater State Park DH_ROW Conserved Land Wetland Reserve Program Easement (Federal) Wildlife Management Area (State) Vermont Land Trust Easement (State) Agricultural Soil Poultney, Vermont Natural Resources 2 Map 15 Wetlands Wetlands are land areas that are saturated with water at least part of the year and include marshes, swamps, sloughs, fens, and mud flats and bogs. Wetlands – of which there are 1,580.32 acres in Poultney – provide important wildlife habitats, but also provide other benefits such as storing stormwater runoff, purifying surface and groundwater supplies, recharging aquifers, controlling erosion, and providing areas for recreation. Because of their many beneficial functions, direct loss of wetlands due to filling can have dramatic ecological effects in addition to habitat losses. In concert with the State of Vermont, the Town of Poultney prohibits development within a 50’ buffer of Class II Wetlands and a 100’ buffer of Class I Wetlands. Sand, Gravel and Slate Sand, gravel and slate are important resources to the town’s economy and underlie many areas in town. During much of Poultney’s early history, the town’s economy rose and fell with demand for these natural resources, especially slate. The Slate Quarry Park Group, a nonprofit formed in 2016, has worked closely with the Town of Poultney, the Poultney Historical Society, and various local and regional stakeholders to construct a pocket park on Main Street. The park, located on town-owned land, was erected in honor of Poultney’s rich history with slate, and to pay tribute to the workers and industry that began in the 1850s. An official ground-breaking took place in 2021. Much of the sand and gravel resources in Poultney are used for town road maintenance, and it is essential to identify and plan 15 16 for future use of those deposits, which are of sufficient quality, and for which the impacts of a sand and gravel operation can be successfully mitigated. In determining which sand and gravel deposits should be planned for future extraction, it is important to identify those which are also recharge areas both for existing public or community wells and for potential public water supplies. Many mining operations, especially in the slate industry, will idle as the market for the product decreases and then reopen as the economic tides turn in favor of the product. As increased residential development occurs in the town, care must be taken to decrease potential future conflicts as old quarries reopen. Agriculture and Forestry The prime lands for farming are found in the valleys of the several tributaries to the Poultney River and in the sand and gravel basin found along the lower reaches of the Poultney River. Poultney is home to approximately 1,085.47 acres of prime agricultural soils. Historically, farming consisted of many dairy and beef cattle farms. These agricultural operations have declined since the 1970’s, though there are still a number of active farms in beef, dairy, rabbit, and vegetable production. Farmers, squeezed by high costs relative to income, supplement their income through maple syrup production, harvesting of timber, and crop raising. Farmland is gradually being converted into other, primarily residential, uses. Currently the lowlands of Poultney are occupied by hardwood forests of maples, oaks, hickories and young elms not affected by Dutch Elm disease. The highlands consist of birch and beech forests. To increase the viability of farm and forest resources, the manufacture and marketing of value-added agricultural and forest products on these lands is strongly encouraged. Locally produced food products are an asset to the community and a large driver of tourism in Vermont. As such, uses that provide access to locally sourced foods, including farmer’s markets, CSAs, co-operatives, community gardens and farm stands, are strongly encouraged in town. Water Resources The town is traversed by the Poultney River and several tributary brooks running from basins and through valleys of alluvial gravel and sand. Areas of the Poultney River have been identified as a high priority for restoration work as well to address bank stabilization and the re-growth of natural plant communities. Stream headwaters located in the upper reaches of a watershed are usually cool and have a high oxygen content and low nutrient content. Because stream headwaters are usually forested, which retards erosion processes, headwater streams are clean and allow the photosynthetic zone to extend across the width of 17 the streams. For this reason, upland streams tend to be highly productive in vegetative growth and are extremely sensitive to sedimentation and pollution discharges. Many of these streams are ephemeral, flowing only during periods of high runoff when water tables rise and intersect the stream channel. All of these factors make headwaters and pristine streams extremely sensitive to perturbation resulting from logging and urbanization. Individual domestic water supplies are drawn from various kinds of wells in the alluvium, and the leaching characteristics for septic effluent disposal are generally acceptable. Development in areas with high water tables risk pollution by septic tanks. Once contaminated, these waters may present health hazards and pollute surface waters if the ground water contributes to stream flow or wetlands. In addition to the river tributaries, the town’s water resources consist variously of small ponds (including a number of artificial ponds), vernal pools, Class II Wetlands, and a substantial portion of Lake Saint Catherine, a major summer resort. The waters of Lake Saint Catherine are monitored by the Lake Saint Catherine Association. In partnership with state, regional and local entities, the Association has taken an active role in invasive species management and other lake health initiatives, such as encouraging septic upgrades with the construction of additions to houses on the lake. Steep Slopes and Ridgelines The suitability of land for development decreases on steep slopes where soils could be shallower and surface water runoff increases. When vegetation is removed for the construction of roads and buildings, the area for absorption of precipitation is reduced. In turn, the susceptibility to increased rates of runoff may result in excessive erosion. Slopes greater than 20% in steepness may present problems in complying with the Vermont Wastewater Regulations. Thus, settlement is generally restricted in areas where the slopes are in excess of 20% and development in areas of 15-20% slope may be permitted if it can be demonstrated that subsurface sewage disposal will meet all state requirements. Serious limitations to steep slope development also include depth of soil and access for emergency and delivery vehicles. Roads must be designed to allow year round access by emergency and service vehicles, with maximum slopes for unpaved roads not exceeding 7% finish grade (for paved roads, the grade should not exceed 10%). In support of resilient erosion control measures, the use of riprap is discouraged and the use of hydroseeder (where appropriate) is encouraged. In addition, areas with high elevation and ridgelines present striking visual features and contribute significantly to the town’s unique landscape. Settlement in these areas may be extremely visible from other parts of Poultney and adjacent towns. With 18 elevations of 500 feet or less to 2,320 feet elevation, the Town of Poultney considers it critically important to protect its viewsheds within the town. Ridgelines also present significant land use development problems. At high elevations, ridgeline precipitation is greater, air and soil temperatures are lower, soils are shallower and lower in nutrients, slopes are steeper, wind speeds are higher and re-establishing vegetative cover is difficult and slow to replenish. Scenic Resources Poultney’s landscape is still primarily rural, with the exception of Poultney and East Poultney villages. This pattern of development offers scenic vistas and open space for residents and visitors alike. The Route 30 Scenic Byways project (the Stone Valley Byway) is a recognition of the scenic resources found throughout the town. The continuation of open spaces and agriculture in the town benefits those in agriculture, as well as those who appreciate the scenic values associated with the rural landscape, whether they be residents or visitors to the town. The work to revitalize the village areas contribute to the retention of rural areas in town by offering vibrant and economically viable population growth centers appropriate for residential and commercial development. The pristine and natural ridgelines and mountain peaks of the Northeast Conservation and Wildlife Habitat Area constitute a significant contributor to the scenic resources of the town and frames the viewscape to the northeast. Goals and Action Items 19 1. Protect natural ecosystems that support wildlife, rare and endangered species, and other significant natural areas and resources identified in this Plan. • Educate the public about the functions and values of wildlife habitats and the protection of rare, endangered and threatened species. • Network landowners with private conservation groups such as the Vermont Land Trust or the Nature Conservancy who can acquire development rights or purchase land to protect these resources. 2. Advance the protection and enhancement of wildlife habitats, natural communities and rare, endangered and threatened species, and, in particular, discourage any further fragmentation of these areas. Discourage and refrain from industrial or large-scale development and roads in these areas. • Encourage practices and land uses that decrease the amount of forest fragmentation to the extent possible. 3. Maintain and conserve with a heightened sense of awareness the Northeast Conservation and Wildlife Habitat Area. • Limit the use of this area to historical forest resource uses, but with a heightened requirement of adherence to sustainable timber management practices and consistent with protection of wildlife habitat and nondestructive recreational uses. Discourage the type of development which could lead to posting of the land, making it unavailable for hunting and other recreational purposes. • Maintain language in Poultney’s Unified Bylaws to prohibit all other types of land use in this area. 4. Protect Class II wetlands (Class I are not present) in accord with Vermont Wetland Rules. • Provide information and education to landowners and developers about the location and functions of wetlands and the requirement of the Vermont Wetland Rules. • Post maps of Class II wetlands, public water aquifers, and wellhead protection areas in the Poultney Town Office; notify affected property owners of wetlands identified on their property before further development. • Promote the importance of a vegetated buffer strip along the shore, to trap and filter nutrients and sediment in the Lake Shore Zoning District. • Assist owners in securing proper permits under the Vermont Wetland and Shoreline Protection Rules before development occurs. • Discourage the use of riprap. 5. Promote the continued growth of the slate industry in a manner that is compatible with other goals of the town. • Support the Slate Quarry Park on Main Street as a community gathering place and a tribute to the slate industry and its rich history in Poultney • Regularly review existing standards to ensure future sand and gravel operations are compatible with surrounding uses. • Reference the NRCS handbook, “Vegetating Vermont Sand and Gravel Pits” in requirements for reclamation plans. 6. Encourage the conservation of the best agricultural and timber producing lands in the town for their beneficial influence on the watersheds, wildlife, aesthetics and character of Poultney as well as for their economic values. • Promote an ethic of volunteerism in conservation of trees as a resource. • Increase public knowledge of forest stewardship concepts in the cycle of tree planting, care and maintenance. • Development of prime agricultural soils should be planned in such a way as to preserve the future agricultural use of the land. • Protect forest blocks and avoid fragmentation. As such, development shall be designed and sited in a manner to limit the fragmentation of large blocks of contiguous forest to the greatest degree possible. • Encourage residents to enroll in the Current Use program and/or conserve their forestlands. 20 • Continue to explore the use of planned unit developments to protect agricultural soils and minimize potential wildlife habitat fragmentation. • Limit the use of the Northeast Conservation and Wildlife Habitat Area to historical forest resource uses, but with a heightened requirement of adherence to sustainable silvicultural practices, consistent with protection of wildlife habitat and nondestructive recreational uses. • Support the local production of food through Farmer’s Markets, CSAs, Co-Operatives, Community Gardens, and Farm Stands. 7. Protect and enhance the ability of Poultney’s water resources to provide wildlife habitat, travel corridors, and public recreational opportunities. • Protect groundwater recharge areas. • Encourage water quality best practices by property owners and contractors to protect streambanks and shorelines. • Promote the use of adequate erosion control measures in areas of high erosion potential (e.g. steep slopes, roads and erodible soils) and high susceptibility to surface water pollution (e.g. along wetlands, streams and ponds). • Encourage the use of practices that will help address water quality by decreasing nutrient run-off, erosion and sedimentation • Establish reasonable, site specific stream buffers that preserve and conserve water quality, natural habitats, wildlife movement, and other processes along aesthetically, ecologically and recreationally important sections of streams. • Provide information about permitting, proper installation and maintenance of septic systems as mandated by the State of Vermont. • Provide information to encourage local farmers to use the best management practices (BMPs) reasonably available. • Provide forest landowners with information and incentives to protect water quality. • Support the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resource Conservation District monitoring of Poultney River water quality and efforts to identify methods to address concerns. • Support efforts of the Lake Saint Catherine Association to deal with invasive species in the lake. • Support the Poultney Mettowee NRCD and University of Vermont Lake Education and Action Program, which work with lake associations and area youth to implement water quality projects and develop long-term water quality education programs. • Development should be consistent with rules under the Shoreline Protection Act and setback a minimum distance of 50’ from the shoreline of all natural streams and natural and man-made ponds in the town, including Lake Saint Catherine, unless an extreme hardship exists because of topography, size of land parcel, or other unusual circumstances, or the developer submits evidence that an adverse impact will not occur by closer development. • Support grant applications written by the Lake Saint Catherine Association to maintain and improve water quality. • Support local, regional and statewide agencies and initiatives disseminating information regarding non-native invasive species, including Eurasian milfoil, water chestnuts, zebra mussels and others. 8. All development other than those uses and structures essential to the operation of agriculture, forestry, recreation and wildlife production shall be restricted from flood hazard areas as designated on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) for Poultney, as well as taking into account information gained through the Geomorphic Assessment of the Poultney River. Those structures and uses permitted should be allowed only as conditional use in conformity with the provisions of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973. • Support the use of the Poultney River Geomorphic Assessment and Stream Corridor Plan in development decisions. • Continue to hold flood emergency preparedness and response planning in the community. 9. Maintain high air quality standards for current and future residential, commercial and industrial development in Poultney. 21 10. Encourage the protection and enhancement of the natural beauty and scenic characteristics of special significance to local landscapes. • Encourage the preservation of significant scenic and aesthetic values. Prohibit large-scale developments on ridgelines, and in particularly the Northeast Conservation and Wildlife Habitat Area which would have the effect of impacting its natural beauty as a scenic resource as well as wildlife. Prohibit any development requiring structures containing flashing warning lights or navigational aids. • Encourage residential, industrial and commercial development to avoid undue adverse impact on significant natural areas to the greatest extent possible. Establish a process for conceptual review of proposed large scale developments to influence project design to protect scenic resources and natural areas. • Investigate and evaluate the availability of a natural area Transfer of Development Rights program (TDR) to protect important natural areas and historic and scenic resources while, at the same time, respecting the economic interests of property owners. • Achieve appropriate balance between the desire to protect and preserve natural areas and features and the rights of property owners to make reasonable use of their property. • Encourage landowners to avoid undue adverse impact on natural areas and historic and scenic resources that are designated as important. 22 Future Land Use Poultney Village & Future Utility District The village – a hub for services, business, and community for the town - is basically a district of services for water, sewage, street maintenance, and lighting with its own administration. Poultney’s schools and several of its churches lie within the village. It is accessible from Routes 30, 31, 140 and 22A, connecting it with Castleton, Granville, NY, Middletown Springs, Wells, Hampton, NY, and Fair Haven. New development in this district should be characteristic of the existing development pattern. It should occur at a similar density and continue the diversity of uses seen in the village today. Future development should maintain and reinforce the village as the town center, while continuing to preserve its distinctive residential, commercial and industrial mix of uses, for which there have been established individual future land use areas: • Village Residential Primarily residential uses with some light commercial mixed in, always within the same structure. • Village Commercial Primarily commercial uses with some residential, particularly multi-family housing, mixed in, often within the same structure. • Village Industrial Lands with historic industrial uses located within the village, for which light industrial uses should continue at a reasonable scale and intensity so as not to be disruptive to neighboring residential districts. Commercial uses subordinate to and directly related to adjoining industrial uses should be allowed. The purpose of the Future Utility District is to provide for development that is characteristic of the existing village development pattern in lands most suitable for growth, where there is the capacity for extending water and sewer lines. Growth in this centralized location should also tie into the existing sidewalk network wherever feasible, to continue to foster a walkable and bikeable village core. Development in the Future Utility District should not occur at a pace or in a manner that would create strip development along VT Route 30 or the village roadways. 23 Green Mountain College Adaptive Reuse Area The campus lands formerly home to Green Mountain College include multiple structures (many historic), athletic fields, barns and farmlands, and natural resources. Given its close proximity to Poultney Village and connections to municipal water and sewer, there is ample opportunity to redevelop this parcel with uses appropriate to the area and surrounding neighborhoods. While this land has primarily been used as an educational facility, various complementary, accessory uses have occurred here over the decades, including lodging, wood and metal shops, art galleries, artist studios, cafés and eateries, music and theatrical performance venues, culinary arts, camps, clubs, and many others. Agriculture and Rural Residential District Outside the population hubs of the Village of Poultney, East Poultney, and Lake St. Catherine, Poultney is generally rural with open spaces, scenic vistas and heavily forested ridgelines that provide ample opportunity for various forms of recreation, as discussed in The Resources chapter. Based on the lack of municipal water and sewage, any future developments in this area require: on-site sewage disposal systems and water, a wastewater and water supply permit issued by the Agency of Natural Resources and be reasonably served by the existing road network. Due to the differing capabilities of the land in the various areas of town, and of the road network, density of residential development should vary according to the severity of those constraints: 24 • Agriculture Rural Residential 1-Acre (ARR-1) Areas suitable for development at 1 acre densities. Lands with- in this designation have slopes less than 15%, soils with slight or moderate limitations for onsite sewage disposal, a good road network of arterials and collectors, and are not susceptible to flooding. • Agriculture Rural-Residential 2-Acre (ARR-2) The decrease in permitted density is dependent upon the presence of one or more development constraints including limitations for onsite sewage disposal, high water table, or shallow soils. However, the vast majority of the lands within the town fall into this suitability category. A combination of arterial and collectors which are generally in good condition and are adequate to carry additional development suffice as an adequate road network. • Agriculture Rural-Residential 5-Acre (ARR-5) The density decreases again in this designation due to the addition of slopes over 15% to the list of development constraints. This district contains roads which are generally capable of carrying increased traffic loads. • Agriculture Rural-Residential 10-Acre (ARR-10) This designation includes lands which, in general, have very severe limitations for development due to steep slopes, shallow and/or wet soils and a severely limited road network. This area also includes much of the forested land in the town, as well as many of the soils identified as high potential for forestry. Flood Hazard Area A Poultney flood hazard area is designated on the Federal Insurance Administration Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM), last updated August of 2008. This area is identified in the Future Land Use Map and the Zoning Districts Map adopted by the town. Overall, there are 1,519.37 acres located within a Special Flood Hazard area. More detailed maps are available at the Poultney Town Office. All new development other than those uses and structures essential for the operation of agriculture, forestry, recreation and wildlife production shall be restricted within the Flood Hazard Area designation. Any permanent structure associated with the above uses, and any other structure allowed in the Flood Hazard Area shall be subject to the regulations set forth in the Poultney Unified Bylaws, Article VIII: Flood Hazard Area. In 2009, the Planning Commission met with representatives of the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District and determined that the Flood Hazard Area closely overlaps areas identified as susceptible to Fluvial Erosion Hazards. As a result, the town has and continues to provide information to landowners about the risks of Fluvial Erosion Hazards and has informed owners that insurance provided through the National Flood Insurance Program does not cover damages resulting from Fluvial Erosion. 25 The Planning Commission continues to work with the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District to ensure that risks to public safety, critical infrastructure, historic structures and municipal investments are mitigated or removed entirely from existing, expanded or proposed development. The Poultney Geomorphic Assessment and Stream Corridor Plan and the expertise of the staff of the PMNRCD and the Vermont River Management Section are routinely relied upon for development decisions. Lakeshore District This district was specifically created to preserve the qualities of minimal commercial presence and peaceful, quiet nature as well as to control water pollution, maintain the scenic value of the shoreline, minimize shoreline erosion and maintain vegetation and habitat along the shoreline. Industrial District Industrial uses shall be limited to those which are non-polluting and are not a nuisance within their neighborhood. This is especially important in the industrial areas within the Village Industrial District where dense residential development is present. Commercial uses subordinate to and directly related to adjoining said industrial uses should be allowed. Industrial designations are identified on the Poultney Future Land Use Map included in this Plan. Northeast Conservation and Wildlife Habitat Area The Northeast Conservation and Wildlife Habitat Area is specifically defined as that land having an elevation of 1,300 feet or greater above sea level and lying easterly of Hampshire Hollow Road and easterly of Pond Hill Road, as depicted on Poultney’s Northeast Conservation and Wildlife Habitat Area map. Significant natural communities recently identified by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department are depicted on the Poultney Habitat and Wildlife Connectivity map. This area has been identified as related to a significant wildlife corridor for the northeast region of the United States of America. The Poultney Mettowee Conservation District was involved in a more extensive research project to assess the wildlife habitat in the Poultney Watershed. In 2011, they released a report titled “Inventory and Assessment of Wetland and Upland Wildlife Habitat in the Upper Poultney River Watershed.” This report largely confirms the presence of significant natural communities and potential wildlife linkage in the Northeast Conservation and Wildlife Habitat Area, giving this block of land a high priority. Two other identified blocks are located within the Town of Poultney. The Future Land Use Map of Poultney’s districts, overlayed with the transportation system, and boundary information can be found on the following page. 26 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! E n d l e s s Br o o k N o r t h B r ook P o u ltne y River P o u ltn e y R i v er C o y B roo k Vai l Br oo k Sou th Br ook WELLS La ke St. C a the ri n e LAMB HILL RD SOUTH ST SOUTH ST WINDYWOOD ACRES RD COLLEGE ST N SAW MILL HILL RD W LAKE RD HILLSIDE RD NORTH ST FURNACE ST MAIN ST FAIRWAY LN S TOWN HWY 12 YORK ST EXT FERNCLIFF RD THRALL RD FRK NORTON AVE RIVER ST BERTS NEST RD BEAMAN ST LAKE RD AMERIO RD BENTLEY AVE VT ROUTE 31 EVERGREEN RD CONES POINT RD COY HILL RD TOPAZ RD BULL FROG HOLLOW RD TOWN HWY 19 ALUMNI DR GRANVILLE ST WEST ST OTIS DR JONES RD MAHAR RD RANNY RD VT ROUTE 30 WILSON AVE TOWN HWY 81 BLISSVILLE RD MEADOW LN ON THE GREEN VAUGHAN LN RICE WILLIS RD PARKERS RD UPPER RD HANNON RD PLEASANT VIEW RD SFH MASLACK DR E MAIN ST FENTON RD WHITE'S RD FERNCLIFF CAMPS RD MARCY LN NORTH ST COY HILL RD WHITLOCK RD VT ROUTE 30 S LILY POND LN WOODLAND LN K LN VT ROUTE 140 WATKINS HILL RD TOWN HWY 45 MARY LN BROWN LN LEWIS RD LENNOX RD BURDOCK AVE PARTRIDGE LN FOX BRIDGE LN CATAMOUNT LN STONEHENGE RD AUTUMN WAY GREENE RD PENINSULA DR BERTS NEST RD TOWN FARM RD ELRENA RD LENWOOD LN MOUNTAIN RD CANDLESTICK LN OBRIEN RD SAND HILL EXT TARAN RD FERNCLIFF RD EXT WESCOTT RD LOOKAWAY RD CHELSEA LN YORK ST TUCKER RD LEAVITT LN VT ROUTE 30 S ROSS RD FIELDSTONE DR LAKE SAINT CATHERINE DR WHITE RD SAND HILL RD COLD SPRING LN CATHERINE CAPER LN VERONA RD POND HILL RD CAPRON LN SFH MANY SPRINGS DR ENDLESS BROOK RD HIGH RD SALTIS RD CHANNEL DR KERBER LN RAE TER NEW BOSTON RD IVY LN ORCHARD RD DAYTON HILL RD PESSLER LN SOUTH ST TOWN HILL RD RUBY RD CLARK HOLLOW RD QSI RD GRIFFIN RD BROWN RD SUNDOG LN RAYMOND RD WESCOTT RD EXT FARNAM RD LOOKOUT LN GEM OAK DR KINNI KINNIC LN HEMENWAY DR HILLTOP RD ROCKS & TREES LN BALLARD FARM RD SPRING DR NORTON RD BUXTON AVE WALKER RD OLD LAKE RD JUSTAMERE DR DEBONIS QUARRY RD MCCARTHY QUARRY RD GOURLAY MOUNTAIN DR UPPER RD HAMPSHIRE HOLLOW RD BOLGER RD OROURKE TRL WARD RD RIVER ST DAYTON HL W DELANEY CROSS RD BUTTERNUT HILL RD EAST RD BIRDSEYE RD HIGHLAND GRAY RD POND HILL RANCH RD POMEROY PL VT ROUTE 30 N AMES HOLLOW RD TOWN HWY 29 THRALL RD FINEL HOLLOW RD GORHAMTOWN RD GARRON RD MORSE HOLLOW RD SPRUCE KNOB RD VCGI RRPC Path: D:\RRPC\POULTNEY\Town plan maps 2020\Poultney Future Land Use 2020.mxd Transportation Systems Roads State Highway Town Highway Class 1 Town Highway Class 2 Town Highway Class 3 Town Highway Class 4 Private ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ "/ uÓ #* #* ") ") #* ¿ä ¿ä ")z !(T !© !(V COLLEGE ST N FURNACE ST MAIN ST YORK ST EXT NORTON AVE CHURCH ST BEAMAN ST BENTLEY AVE GRANVILLE ST GROVE ST SCHOOL CIR YORK ST E MAIN ST SOUTH ST RAE TER VT ROUTE 30 N VT ROUTE 30 S B4 B5 B87 B4 B41 D and H Rail Trail uÓ Substation ! ! VT Electric Transmission Line Corridors Rivers and Streams Lakes, Ponds, & Major Rivers East Poultney Village Designtion Poultney Designated Downtown District Poultney Village Boundary Poultney Town Boundary Location Map 1 inch = 0.32 miles 0 0.5 1 0.25 Miles . Date: 10/11/2022 Poultney, Vermont Future Land Use Map Future Land Use Districts Ag. Rural Res. 1 Acre Ag. Rural Res. 10 Acre Ag. Rural Res. 2 Acre Ag. Rural Res. 5 Acre GMC Adaptive Reuse Flood Hazard Industrial Lake Shore Utility Village Commercial Village Industrial Village Residential NCWHOD Overlay District Legend "/ Hydrants !(V Poultney Village Office !© Poultney Fire House !(T Poultney Town Office ")z Poultney Town Garage !! 2 Poultney Transfer Station ¿ä Poultney High School ¿ä Poultney Elementary School Goals and Action Items 27 1. Maintain the historic character of Poultney Village and designated downtown while providing opportunities for social, cultural, and economic diversity. • The density and character of any development should be compatibly integrated into the existing form of the village and its zoning districts. The existing mix of uses should continue, with industrial uses sited in the traditional industrial areas of the village. • Plan and encourage development and settlement patterns that maintain the historic character of the village. Provide citizens with healthy, diverse and desirable housing, recreational and economic opportunities, and encourage wise and efficient use of public and private resources. • Identify means to bring more reliable and cost effective internet access to Poultney residents. • Maintain the designation status of Poultney’s downtown and East Poultney’s village center through the Vermont Downtown Program. • Develop capital plans and programs that will implement efficient public infrastructure planning in advance of development. 2. Allow the orderly growth and re-development of the former Green Mountain College property within the context of the village such that expansion of the property’s uses does not unduly impact the capacity of community services and facilities or adversely impact surrounding neighborhoods. 3. Maintain the rural character of the town while encouraging economic use of the available natural resources in a manner that protects other natural resource values addressed in this Plan. • Within the Green Mountain College Adaptive Reuse Area and the Village Commercial zoning district, land use regulations should encourage the development of new and retention of existing businesses serving the recreation industry. 4. Maintain the natural and aesthetic values associated with Lake Saint Catherine. • Encourage the establishment and maintenance of a vegetative buffer along the shoreline for erosion control, filtration and/or capture of nutrient and chemical runoff by providing information to local contractors, updating the town website, and any homeowner associations. • Support and/or participate in the Basin Water Quality Council. 5. Maintain a viable industrial component to the town’s economy. • Provide for the limited expansion of existing industrial developments and appropriate new industrial developments within the Industrial and Village Industrial districts. • Provide for local industrial employment opportunities that do not unduly impact the capacity of community services and facilities, while protecting less intense adjacent land uses and maintaining high environmental and siting standards. 6. Conserve the Northeast Conservation and Wildlife Habitat Area to maintain its irreplaceable natural and wild resources, its asset as a scenic resource and to protect watershed which is fed by this drainage area. • Limit the use of this area to historical forest resource uses, but with a heightened requirement of adherence to sustainable timber management practices and consistent with protection of wildlife habitat and nondestructive recreational uses. • Encourage and promote the use of conservation easements by private landowners consistent with the goals of protecting the area. • Encourage the use of the “Inventory and Assessment of Wetland and Upland Wildlife Habitat in the Upper Poultney River Watershed” in landowner education and planning. 28 Compaibility Development in Poultney affects neighboring communities, and vice-versa. This is especially apparent along major roadways, on Lake Saint Catherine, and where employment is concerned. This plan promotes the preservation of Poultney’s historical settlement pattern through the focusing of economic development efforts in the village, a designated downtown, as well as supporting the revitalization efforts being undertaken throughout the town. Residential growth is also promoted in this area of town. Outside of the villages, residential and commercial sites are more dispersed, and the capability of the land and surrounding natural resources guides the intensity and nature of development activities. These outlying areas are characterized by agriculture and other natural resource industries, recreation, and low-density residential uses. Poultney’s plan and development trends reinforce a rural character on its borders with Wells, Middletown Springs and Ira. It is the belief of the town that this Plan is compatible with those of its neighbors, sharing many of the same values for water quality protection, concentrated development, and active natural resource industries. Cooperation with neighboring towns can be seen in the presence of emergency mutual aid agreements with surrounding towns and the town’s support of the Lake Saint Catherine Association and the Poultney Mettowee Resource Conservation District water quality efforts affecting the surface waters of Poultney and its neighboring towns. This plan is also compatible with the Rutland Regional Plan, last adopted in 2018. Resources 29 Historic & Cultural ResourcesHistoric Resources The Town of Poultney was chartered in 1761 and named after Lord William Poulteney, Earl of Bath. This village, with East Poultney, is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. East Poultney was settled in 1771 by Ethan Allen’s cousins. His brother, Heber Allen, was the first town clerk. Its historic district includes about 60 houses, two churches, a store and post office, and three museums. Information on the historic development of Poultney is obtainable in a booklet published in 1988 by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation. The booklet is one of a set covering each of the twenty-seven towns in Rutland County published under the encompassing title of The Historic Architecture of Rutland County. The Poultney booklet includes maps of Poultney, its several historic districts, and an inventory of buildings preserved by these districts. It covers eight different styles of buildings spanning more than 130 years of history. These and other materials may be available at the Poultney Historical Society, and more information can be 30 found at poultneyhistoricalsociety.com. Walking/Driving Tours are available for download on the website, and brochures for the Walking/Driving Tours can be found at area businesses and in the Stonebridge Visitor’s Center. Cultural Resources The Poultney Public Library (PPL), located at 205 Main Street, as of 2020 housed a collection of over 13,800 books, including a selection of audio books (715) and DVDs (3,464). Other items available for check out included craft and activity kits and outdoor recreation equipment such as snowshoes, bicycles, and telescopes. PPL is a hub for online connectivity, with free 24/7 wireless internet access and eight public access laptops available to cardholders. Both the elementary and high schools maintain libraries as well. There are five churches in town. These institutions provide for the spiritual needs of the community and are also an integral part of the social and community service fabric of the town. The Poultney Area Artist Guild, Horace Greeley Writers Guild, Stone Valley Arts, and area art studios all contribute cultural opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy or participate in. Castleton University, located 8 miles to the north, is a public 4-year college offering a broad variety of educational opportunities. It is the home of the Castleton Summer Festival of the Arts and throughout the year, presents various activities and programs in the fine arts and other academically related programs, which are open to the general public. 31 Poultney is also home to the former Green Mountain College (GMC) environmental liberal arts institution. Founded in 1834 as the Troy Conference Academy (Methodist), it become a private 4-year liberal arts college with approximately 700 students by 2011. The college closed its doors in 2019 and, in 2020. the college property was sold at auction. Community volunteer service organizations contribute significantly to the wellbeing of a community. Local volunteer organizations cover a broad range of interests, including: health, recreation, safety, agriculture, environment, religion, arts, history, economic development, youth, senior citizens, social service public affairs, fundraising, and education. A representative listing of organizations follows: • American Legion, J. Claire Carmody Post #39 • Poultney Area Chamber of Commerce • Poultney Downtown Revitalization Committee • Poultney Historical Society • Poultney Rotary Club • Poultney Fish and Game Club • Boy Scouts of America Troop 13 Cub Scout Pack 122 • Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains • Poultney Area Artists Guild • Poultney Area St. David’s Society • Poultney Booster Club • Poultney Community League • Poultney-Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District • Poultney Valley Snowmobile Devils • Men’s Group of St. Raphael • Poultney Woman’s Club • Bomoseen Valley Grange • St. Raphael’s Women’s Guild • The Nature Conservancy • Slate Valley Trails • Stone Valley Arts • Poultney Bluegrass Society • Poultney Area REKO Ring 32 RecreationThe town appoints a volunteer Recreation Commission, which is responsible for planning, implementing, and supervising programs and for maintenance of facilities. Their operations are supported by tax dollars, program fees, grants and donations. The Commission offers a variety of programs and activities within the community, including traditional sports (tennis, basketball, baseball, soccer, miniature golf, etc.), and arts and crafts. Special programs have been provided to make use of residents’ special skills and talents, including camps centered on farming and animal husbandry. Outdoor facilities owned by the town or school district include ball fields at Poultney High School, and the 13-acre park–Veterans Park–located behind Poultney Elementary School. Veterans Park facilities include two tennis courts, a basketball court, four softball fields, a soccer field and a playground area with play equipment and picnic facilities. The Poultney Community League, which administers the youth baseball and T-ball program, also utilizes these fields in their programming. The tennis and basketball courts are open to the general public. The Poultney Elementary School gymnasium provides meeting facilities for youth groups and basketball and classrooms for arts and crafts programs. Slate Quarry Park, constructed in 2021, is a pocket park, located on Main Street on town-own lands. Recreational opportunities for those youth that do not wish to participate in traditional team sports are needed in town. Facilities 33 such as a municipal skateboard park would help fill this need. Slate Valley Trails (SVT), a local non-profit organization dedicated to building and maintaining multi-use trails open to the public, has partnered with the High School since 2019 to establish and coach a mountain bike club. Other outdoor facilities include an eighteen-hole golf course at the Lake Saint Catherine Country Club and a miniature golf course on Route 30 east of Lake Saint Catherine. The town is home to two Wildlife Management Areas – the 350-acre Bird Mountain Wildlife Management Area in the northwest corner of Poultney and the 96-acre Buczek Marsh Wildlife Management Area northwest of Lake Saint Catherine – both of which offer dispersed fish and wildlife-based pursuits including hunting, fishing, trapping, wildlife viewing, walking and hiking, and maintain varying degrees of connectivity to the VAST trail network. Lake Saint Catherine, a 5.6 mile-long body of water, covers 1,088 acres and is composed of three sections: Lily Pond to the north has 22 acres, the main lake has 904 acres, and, to the south, Little Lake has 162 Acres. These areas offer public swimming, camping, picnic facilities, private boat rentals, water skiing and fishing. Lake Saint Catherine State Park, located on the eastern shore of the main lake, has summer camps, full bath facilities, swimming, boating, fishing, a playground, a disc golf course and a nature museum. An adaptive mountain bike trail at the park was constructed in Summer 2021. It is the eighth most visited state park in Vermont. Pond Hill Ranch, located on Pond Hill Ranch Road in the northeast corner of Poultney, offers horseback riding, rodeo and similar events. Throughout town, area streams, rivers, and the lake provide fishing for brook, brown, and rainbow trout and for bass and pickerel. The Delaware and Hudson Recreation Path, also known as the D&H Rail Trail, was established in 1986 when the Vermont General Assembly authorized the Vermont Agency of Transportation to lease the Washington branch of the Delaware and Hudson rail right-of-way to the Vermont Department of Forests and Parks for recreational use. The section of the trail within Poultney is 7.14 miles in length. The trail’s 19.77 miles runs from the New York state line in Rupert through Pawlet, Wells, and Poultney, ending in Castleton. The trail is open to non-motorized recreational use with the exception of snowmobiles, which are permitted in winter as conditions allow. The trail within the four cooperating towns is supervised and maintained by the Vermont Agency of Transportation and Vermont Forests and Parks. In addition to helping supervise the D&H Trail, the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (V.A.S.T) oversees an additional system of trails running through Poultney. State and local police are empowered to enforce regulations of the trails. In 2020, several investments were made to the D&H Trail 34 in the vicinity of Poultney’s downtown. A new parking area was established off Bentley Avenue, the trail was resurfaced, and several sections of split rail fencing were installed alongside the trail. Beyond the D&H Rail Trail, the Poultney Valley Snowmobile Devils snowmobile club oversees a vast network of local trails. The club works closely with landowners to secure and retain trail access, and only members have permission to ride these trails. New trails have been installed in and around Poultney’s downtown, many of which spearheaded by Slate Valley Trails (SVT). SVT manages the Poultney River Trail, a multi-use trail that creates a loop off of the D&H Rail Trail and runs behind the former Green Mountain College campus. The town and a number of volunteers are working to improve this asset. These networks are both educational and recreational in nature. SVT, in partnership with private landowners, also manages many miles of other trails throughout Poultney and the surrounding area, including: • More than 40 miles of multi-use trails accessed from trail- heads on Town Farm Road, Endless Brook Road, and the Lake Saint Catherine Country Club, popular with mountain bikers, hikers, and families • Several miles of hiking trails on Howe Hill in East Poultney • Approximately 5 miles of multi-use trails at Delaney Woods in Wells As of 2021, Slate Valley Trails is working with the town and local leaders to plan connections from the villages of Poultney and East Poultney to these trails, as well as to sites along Lake Saint Catherine. These connections are critical in linking trail users and visitors to local businesses, driving a local recreation economy. 35 VOREC In 2019, the Town of Poultney was awarded a Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) grant from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. The state’s VOREC webpage provides an overview of the purpose for the program, stating in part: “In Vermont, a healthy outdoor recreation economy directly supports related businesses and organizations. Moreover, it also contributes to numerous other aspects of the Ver- mont economy and culture, including the encouragement of healthy communities and individuals, enhancement of the Vermont lifestyle and the Vermont brand, increased con- nection to nature and attraction of high-quality employ- ers and a sustainable workforce in all economic sectors” ( Source: fpr.vermont.gov/vorec. 4.22.21 ). As of 2021, Poultney’s VOREC grant was being implemented by a local Advisory Committee including town representatives, key stakeholders and local leaders that comprise the Outdoor Recre- ation Opportunities Task Force developed during the 2019 Poult- ney Comes Together planning initiative. The grant includes mar- keting consultation, development of a new brochure, website, and panel for the Fair Haven Visitor Center (1356 Prospect Street, Fair Haven, VT), wayfinding signs to identify key outdoor recreation sites, and an Economic Assessment report. 36 Goals Historic & Cultural Resources 1. Protect historic and cultural resources that contribute to small- town character. 2. Encourage adaptive re-use of historic properties that does not degrade the overall quality of the town’s historic districts. 3. Seek opportunities to provide financial or technical support to property owners to improve the appearance of and/or maintain older structures. 4. Consider the need to create and adopt architectural or site design standards for the villages. 5. Gauge community interest in establishing a Certified Local Government (CLG) administered by the National Park Service and the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation to increase access to funding and technical assistance. Recreation 1. Continue to support investment in, maintenance of, and stewardship for the D&H Rail Trail as an outstanding recreation asset to Poultney. Foster relationships with the state to ensure goals are met. 2. Support research that investigates future recreational infrastructure and opportunity. 3. Conduct studies to determine feasibility of connecting the downtown to Lake Saint Catherine and other recreational trails. 37 Economy Between 1771 and 1821 as the town was settled, the core of Poultney’s economic activity was agricultural. Many distilleries popped up, including the manufacture of corn and rye whiskeys and cider brandy, until at one point there were ten operations within the town limits. Then a large part of the town’s commerce, these operations swiftly disappeared in the 1830s due to the rise of the Temperance movement. Between 1824 and 1835, sheep husbandry boomed, followed by dairy associations and fruit growing. Mills and foundries connected the villages of Poultney and East Poultney, and the turnpike (now Vermont Route 30) cemented the Village of Poultney’s role as a transportation center. The railroad arrived in 1851, and much of East Poultney moved west to meet it. By the 1900s, there was a huge boom in the slate industry, and the slate quarries that had opened in the 1840’s were now employing hundreds of Welsh, Italian, Irish and Slavic immigrants, as Poultney was transformed and industrialized. At this time, Poultney’s downtown housed five department stores, dry goods stores, restaurants, stables, and several photographic studios. According to the American Community Survey, as of 2017, Poultney had 1,640 working citizens with nearly 27% working in the education services and health care industry and retail being the next major employer. The median household income was $49,417 in Poultney, lower than the Rutland County median 38 income of $57,808. The average travel time to work for a Poultney resident was 19.5 minutes with the majority (75%) of residents driving alone. With the closure of Green Mountain College in 2019, the town lost not only a major employer but also a keystone of the town’s reputation, a community player, and a reliable seasonal influx of students (and thus, consumers). Since 2019, there has been a concerted effort by the town and residents, with support from the Rutland Regional Planning Commission (RRPC), along with numerous federal and state agencies and organizations, to envision a path forward. With the 2020 purchase of the property, the new owners are working closely with town officials as they explore future development ideas. Poultney Comes Together In April 2019, over 200 residents attended a community meeting to begin the discussions of how the town would adapt to a future without Green Mountain College. This meeting and following meetings resulted in a report, Poultney Comes Together, which outlined the process and the five key actions identified to support the town moving forward and represents a coalition of Poultney townspeople. The key actions were: • Expand trails, biking and outdoor recreation opportunities as an economic driver for Poultney’s future • Develop a Poultney co-working space and incubator for new start-up businesses and invite newcomers to the town • Develop a Bank • Improve Broadband Infrastructure • Boost Poultney’s downtown For each key action, an individual taskforce with local community members was formed to pursue related goals as well as local and state resources, including the identification of community members who could offer support. 0 200 400 600 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining !"#$%&'(&#)*+, - # ) . ( # / * + , $ . 0 $ 1 " + 2 1 3 + 0 & 1 ( $ 1 " * + 2 1 3 + 4 $ 1 $ 1 " Construction Manufacturing Wholesale trade Retail trade Transportation, warehousing, utilities Information Finance, insurance, real estate Professional, scientific, waste management services Educational services, health care Arts, recreation, accommodation, food services Other services, except public administration Public administration Industry and Occupation of Poultney Residents 39 Poultney Economic Development Office In 2020, the Town of Poultney established its first ever Economic Development Office (EDO) with funding from a USDA Rural Business Development Grant. The town used the grant to hire a part-time Economic Development Coordinator to work in tandem with a professional planner that was closely involved with the Poultney Comes Together planning initiative. A summary of the work of the EDO in its inaugural year is below: Assisted local businesses with COVID Recovery grants and programs; • Updates to the Vermont Vacation website; • Provided support and responded to requests relative to the sale of the former Green Mountain College campus in August 2020; • Prepared marketing materials in collaboration with the Poultney Downtown Revitalization Committee (PDRC) and the Poultney Area Chamber of Commerce; • Oversaw implementation of Poultney’s Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) grant with Ad- visory Committee; • Established a social media presence for the town; • Coordinated with Poultney Rotary and Young at Heart Se- nior Center to implement the Everyone Eats program; • Developed a Poultney Bucks program with the Poultney 40 Area Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region (CEDRR); • Supported the start-up of the REclaimED Makerspace; • Developed a joint application with Stone Valley Arts and REclaimED Makerspace for public arts funding; • Led the Steering Committee for the EPA Recreation Econo- my for Rural Communities (RERC) project; • Prepared findings and recommendations relative to the town’s zoning bylaws and economic development; • Met with potential new businesses seeking to locate in Poultney. In 2021, the town included funding for the part-time Economic Development Coordinator in its budget and will continue to seek other funding to support the office and related projects. The vision for Poultney’s economic development focuses on retaining and expanding the scope of current businesses, while also seeking to diversify and strengthen the town’s overall economic picture through the attraction of new businesses in certain identified sectors. The major focus of new business recruitment is twofold, the first being the attraction of those businesses that would support and grow Poultney’s tourist economy, the second being the attraction of knowledge-based businesses that focus on intellectual capital. The overall goal of new business recruitment is to provide meaningful, well-paying jobs for Poultney residents particularly in the areas of recreation economy, manufacturing, and value-added products that support existing farm and agricultural operations. EPA Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (EPA RERC) The closure of Green Mountain College in 2019 spurred multiple revitalizations actions and efforts. With assistance from state and regional agencies, the town applied for, and was selected, as one of ten communities within the entire U.S to receive planning assistance from the EPA Office of Community Revitalization. In February 2021, the town participated in a week-long series of virtual workshops aimed at growing the recreation economy in Poultney. The workshops yielded a number of action items that will guide investment and economic development efforts in Poultney in years to come. Protecting Poultney’s Uniqueness Across the United States, rural areas face a real and growing threat to small town character through the exponential increase and encroachment of formulaic retail establishments (chains). While a healthy balance of use types is highly desirable, it behooves us to ensure that economic growth in Poultney occurs at a pace and 41 scale that is complementary to, rather than destructive of, our historic built environment and the community it has supported and continues to foster. This plan supports local businesses that speak to the town’s essential character. Community Branding As of 2021 the Town of Poultney lacks a cohesive, branded identity. While various logos, slogans, banners, signage and websites have appeared over time, their creation has been need- based and not strategically considered. According to the Vermont Downtown Action Team (V-DAT) Design Tool Kit, produced by the State of Vermont, community branding “is an essential part of fostering the sense of place that keeps residents interested in downtown and that makes the community an attractive destination for visitors, potential residents and investors.” This plan supports efforts to embark on a strategic branding initiative, one which would seek to increase exposure for Poultney businesses, serve as a recruitment tool in attracting future businesses, boost retail traffic, and attract future residents. Deliverables sought by such an initiative can include, but shouldn’t be limited to, a logo, color palette, typography and layout guidelines, updated signage guidelines consistent with sign regulations, town signage and banner guidelines, updated wayfinding signage, town hall signs, town slogan, town stationery, iconography guidelines, a website redesign for those web assets owned or authored by the Town, and a branding guidelines page on the town website whereby all such guidance will be readily available to interested citizens and community organizations. 42 1. Partner with and provide support for Lake Saint Catherine State Park, Slate Valley Trails and others to promote growth of the outdoor recreation economy. 2. Support businesses and establishments that sell Vermont made goods and products to leverage the value of the Vermont brand. 3. Encourage visitor related establishments and events to occur in the downtown. 4. Create a business environment knowledgeable in, and supportive of, an outdoor recreation economy and that provides goods and services reflective of the needs of recreationalists. 5. Expand marketing of the town’s cultural and recreational assets through the VT Department of Tourism website and/or other online outputs. 6. Support the creation of high-quality social media for the town and its businesses. 7. Support the repurposing of the former Green Mountain College campus to provide jobs and increase the economic vitality of the region. 8. Focus on creating a supportive climate for entrepreneurs. 9. Create tax incentives and/or loan programs to attract new businesses. 10. Establish funding programs for microenterprises and property improvements. 11. Identify and address infrastructure issues that hinder economic development in the c