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Fact Sheet
Draft Whitefield Comprehensive Plan
What is it? The Plan is a set of goals, policies and
implementation strategies to guide Town activities and manage the
direction of growth.
Check it out on the web at: www.mainething.com/plan
Information also available at the Town Office
The Plan also contains an Inventory (71 pages and 12
maps!) characterizing existing conditions and a listing of issues that the
Town will face as growth continues over the next 20 years. The
Comprehensive Planning Committee has worked nearly two years collecting
information and developing a proposal responsive to your opinions
expressed in the 2003 survey.
Vision: To maintain Whitefield's rural character
while accommodating growth in population and commercial development:
What is rural character? A sense of community,
neighborliness, farms and forest, clean water, scenic views of open space,
woods harboring birds and animals, outdoor recreation and an efficient,
effective municipal government.
Manage Development by Incentive – Not Regulation
o The Plan does not enact zoning
o The Plan does not take away
land-owner rights
o The Plan is not an Ordinance or
Regulation
But The Plan Does Identify Needs With Respect To The
Existing Ordinances:
- Fair and consistent implementation of existing ordinances – Notice
of Intent to Build
- Adds flexibility to the Minimum Lot Size Regulation – Allows
cluster development (more units in less space) in exchange for
preserving open space
- Develops incentives to encourage location of high impact
commercial development along the Route 17 corridor
- Sets standards for curb cuts – limits access points to roads for
public safety – multiple homes could use the same access point
Now it’s your turn!
Do you share our vision? Can growth be managed by
incentive? What are your priorities?
Recommended by Planning Board
Unanimously endorsed by the Selectmen
Public Meetings
July 9, 2005, 7:00 pm
Kings Mills Union Hall
July 28, 2005, 7:00 pm
Lion’s Club, Coopers Mills
With no Plan, the future character of Whitefield will be
determined by newcomers and commercial developers – Are we willing to take
a chance that we will like their vision?
Highlights of the Plan
Striking the balance between accommodating growth and
our Vision –
Protecting our rural character and natural resources
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Issue |
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Goal |
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Fastest growing Town in Lincoln County, 18% increase
in population between 1990 – 2000: Projected to grow from 2,273 in
2000 to 2,685 in 2015 |
Population |
Preserve community’s rural, scenic and natural
qualities |
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Development pressure on farmland – land is more
valuable as house lots than open space |
Land Use |
Orderly development while preserving open space,
forestry, farming and protecting critical resources |
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Shifting from local jobs to a bedroom community;
changing character of population |
Local Economy |
Encourage economic growth, opportunities for jobs
locally |
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33% increase in number of houses between 1990 and
2000; 48% of houses were built after 1980. |
Housing |
Encourage new housing and fuller utilization of
existing housing to accommodate aging population |
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More traffic, higher speeds, increasing points of
access result in more accidents |
Transportation |
Improve safety, efficiency, scenic character of Town
roads by developing standards for “curb cuts” |
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Municipal offices, fire and rescue need to grow to
meet needs of increasing and aging population |
Public Services
Facilities |
Provide effective, efficient public services and
facilities |
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Need to preserve tradition of public access to private
land for hunting, fishing, hiking; expand opportunities |
Recreation |
Enhance recreational opportunities |
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Residents shouldn’t have to leave Town for culture |
Cultural Resources |
Ensure access to events/programs/facilities |
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Our past should be our guide to our future |
Historic, Archaeological |
Ensure appreciation of our heritage through
education/preservation |
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Development pressure is most intensive along the
Sheepscot River and it will shift to “backland” from existing road
corridors as frontage is used up |
Natural Resources |
Preserve the quality of our natural resources for
future generations: Sheepscot River, aquifer, deer yards, lake
frontage, wetlands |
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State funding for revenue sharing and education are
reduced by the fraction that local property valuation is lower than
the State valuation |
Fiscal Capacity |
Maintain Town’s fiscal soundness; continue efforts to
update valuation, develop long range capital improvement plan. |
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Want to learn more? Want to weigh in with different ideas?
Want to host a neighborhood discussion of the merits of the Plan? Contact
any member of the Comprehensive Planning Committee or the Town Office.
A YES Vote for the Comprehensive Plan in November
is a Vote for preserving our rural character, natural resources, and our
way of life!
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