Seek legislation establishing adequate funding for upgrade and repair of sewage treatment facilities. Work with local, state, and federal government officials to provide adequate funding to protect water quality. SOIL AND TOPOGRAPHY GOALS 1. Maintain healthy, productive soils and minimize negative impacts such as erosion by ensuring land uses are consistent with the limitations of their soils and topography. SOIL AND TOPOGRAPHY POLICIES Minimize areas of earth disturbance, grading and clearing vegetation on slopes over 15% In and Resource future land use areas, developments on slopes between 15-24% shall be designed and located on the site in order to minimize adverse erosion and stormwater impacts by incorporating Low Impact Development (LID) strategies, including: Development of a lot or site shall require the least amount of site disturbance and reduce the lot coverage and building footprints as much as possible in order to maintain the natural hydrologic processes and reduce the volume and water quality impacts of the proposed development. Roads, driveways, buildings and utilities must be located on the flattest portions of the site. Minimize crossing steep slopes with roads and driveways and lay them out to follow topographic contours in order to minimize soil and vegetation disturbance. Minimize the length of driveways. Reduce the total length of residential streets by examining alternative street layouts to determine the best option for increasing the number of homes per unit length. The scale of development will not exceed the development capacity of the site. Development is prohibited (other than appropriately designed recreational trails and ski lifts) in areas predominated by slopes exceeding 25% or above 2,500 feet in elevation. When any alternative exists, developments shall not be sited on soils that are: Susceptible to flooding; Located in identified corridor protection areas; and Not suited for foundations and/or septic systems. Development proposals for shallow soils shall provide and conform to an erosion control plan for construction activities and a site drainage plan. SOILS AND TOPOGRAPHY RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Assist towns in the development of policies and ordinances that minimize the negative impacts of development on steep slopes, high elevation areas, highly erosive and shallow, unstable wet soil types.
Seek legislation establishing adequate funding for upgrade and repair of sewage treatment facilities. Work with local, state, and federal government officials to provide adequate funding to protect water quality. SOIL AND TOPOGRAPHY GOALS 1. Maintain healthy, productive soils and minimize negative impacts such as erosion by ensuring land uses are consistent with the limitations of their soils and topography. SOIL AND TOPOGRAPHY POLICIES Minimize areas of earth disturbance, grading and clearing vegetation on slopes over 15% In and Resource future land use areas, developments on slopes between 15-24% shall be designed and located on the site in order to minimize adverse erosion and stormwater impacts by incorporating Low Impact Development (LID) strategies, including: Development of a lot or site shall require the least amount of site disturbance and reduce the lot coverage and building footprints as much as possible in order to maintain the natural hydrologic processes and reduce the volume and water quality impacts of the proposed development. Roads, driveways, buildings and utilities must be located on the flattest portions of the site. Minimize crossing steep slopes with roads and driveways and lay them out to follow topographic contours in order to minimize soil and vegetation disturbance. Minimize the length of driveways. Reduce the total length of residential streets by examining alternative street layouts to determine the best option for increasing the number of homes per unit length. The scale of development will not exceed the development capacity of the site. Development is prohibited (other than appropriately designed recreational trails and ski lifts) in areas predominated by slopes exceeding 25% or above 2,500 feet in elevation. When any alternative exists, developments shall not be sited on soils that are: Susceptible to flooding; Located in identified corridor protection areas; and Not suited for foundations and/or septic systems. Development proposals for shallow soils shall provide and conform to an erosion control plan for construction activities and a site drainage plan. SOILS AND TOPOGRAPHY RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Assist towns in the development of policies and ordinances that minimize the negative impacts of development on steep slopes, high elevation areas, highly erosive and shallow, unstable wet soil types.
Natural-Resources-Chapter-Draft-091714.docx