NEW HAVEN TOWN PLAN
Adopted
March 7, 2006
Future Land Use Map Amended on:
March 6, 2007
NEW HAVEN TOWN PLAN
PREAMBLE
As in any town planning effort, New Haven’s past and present form the foundation for our vision of our future. A Town Plan contains policies and recommendations based on that vision that are intended to guide future development in the town. New Haven’s past has been strongly linked to agriculture for over two hundred years and there is a fervent desire to continue this strong agricultural and rural heritage. At the same time, the world is changing. Globalization, new technology and a multitude of economic and development pressures combine to threaten the continued existence of family farms all over the country, including in Addison County and New Haven. Although farms are still the most visible use of land in the town, the number of houses continues to increase and a growing number of townsfolk commute outside New Haven to work. The Town Plan which follows reflects New Haven’s very strong desire to support farming and prevent the conversion of farm land to other uses.
The Vermont State legislature grants towns the ability to plan and zone the land within their borders in order to “conserve the value of property and encourage the most appropriate use of land.” The state statute also describes statewide goals that are intended to be incorporated into municipal objectives. The primary purpose of the Town Plan itself is to generally describe the town’s past, present and desires for the future and to provide recommendations governing future development. The Town zoning and subdivision bylaws are intended to implement the recommendations of the plan through regulation. Both documents reflect a democratically-established vision that attempts to balance the rights of individual property owners with the needs of the larger community.
OBJECTIVES
THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF NEW HAVEN ARE:
§ To support a rural, agricultural and economically diverse town.
§ recognize the importance of traditional settlement patterns in shaping the rural character of the Town.
§ strengthen the historical pattern of small, densely settled enclaves, surrounded by large areas of farm and forest land.
§ To promote an environment which ensures the health, safety and well-being of present and future residents.
§ envision and plan for long-term Town objectives over short-term solutions.
§ encourage proper installation and maintenance of septic systems.
§ To preserve and promote the economic viability of agriculture.
§ promote farm viability in cooperation with state and federal government and private efforts.
§ discourage development in areas with productive agricultural soils.
§ encourage landowners to protect agricultural land through voluntary conservation easements to land trusts and other parties.
§ acknowledge the farmer's right to use acceptable agricultural practices, including those that generate odors and noise, regardless of the presence of nearby development.
§ encourage agricultural diversity, processors of local agricultural products and purveyors of agricultural supplies.
§ To protect the natural, historic and aesthetic resources of the Town's environment.
§ maintain the natural appearance of ridges and steep slopes by restricting development which may degrade scenic and environmental quality.
§ protect ecologically sensitive areas by encouraging cooperative efforts of conservation organizations and landowners.
§ identify and protect significant wetlands and wildlife habitats.
§ limit development near and support efforts to improve water quality and aquatic habitat of all waterways and wetlands.
§ encourage and promote efforts to identify and restore historic sites and buildings.
§ To limit the rate of commercial, industrial and residential growth to the capacity of the Town to provide services.
§ devise plans to analyze the impact of growth on the Town’s need for routine services and for increased capital expenditures.
§ establish procedures for determining fiscal impact of proposed projects.
§ consider an annual limit on new residential development linked to the enrollment capacity of Beeman Elementary School.
§ To encourage small, home-based businesses that are compatible with surrounding land uses.
§ encourage the appropriate use of existing structures.
§ monitor and control the impact, size and activities of small home-based businesses.
§ To accommodate small, clean, light industries which foster a diverse economy.
§ encourage small start-up business enterprises in appropriate zoning districts.
§ favor those enterprises that do not overburden the existing transportation network.
§ To encourage energy conservation and the use of renewable energy sources.
§ promote the use of renewable energy sources that are compatible with sound environmental and economic principles.
§ continue to support local recycling efforts.
§ consider incentives for energy efficient siting and construction.
§ To maintain the King House, Town Hall, Beeman Elementary School, and the Town Green as the hub of community life.
§ To coordinate Town planning and zoning activities with regional and state interests.
§ participate in the regional planning commission.
§ participate in hearings on projects in nearby towns, which could affect New Haven.
LAND USE AND PHYSICAL FEATURES
New Haven’s character is generally rural, defined by open space with agricultural activity, several small enclaves of village settlement and residential development along town and state highways. There is a relatively dense residential settlement in the area of New Haven Village, and to a lesser extent at New Haven Mills and Brooksville (in the latter two areas because available water power historically supplied industry). Modern commercial and industrial development has occurred primarily along or adjacent to Ethan Allen Highway US 7. Although there is a growing number of small businesses and home occupations, widely scattered throughout the town, the predominant land use is still agriculture.
Fundamental intentions are:
§ to encourage and assist in the maintenance of the present uses of New Haven’s agricultural, forest and other undeveloped land;
§ to prevent accelerated residential and commercial development thereon;
§ to enhance New Haven’s scenic resources while still strengthening the economic base;
§ to enable New Haven’s residents to plan for orderly growth in the face of increasing pressure for development.
Agricultural use makes possible the continued presence of open land. Such use supports family farms, thereby contributing to the regional economy and to the character of the local community. Open land is also valued as a scenic attraction, as an encouragement to tourism and an enhancement of local property values with low impact on the tax base.
Dairy farming continues to dominate New Haven’s agricultural pattern with approximately 13 farms shipping milk. If current economic trends persist, the number of dairy farms will decline as more farms consolidate and as farmers retire. Other farming operations active in New Haven include Christmas trees, poultry, fruit and vegetable, vineyards, horse stables, and a variety of small, diversified operations. New Haven’s soil is good for agricultural use, and many fields are large enough to adapt well to modern agricultural practices. When fragmentation of land parcels occurs, it becomes difficult for farms to expand in the face of land values, which rise with increased development. To sustain agricultural use beyond this generation, an effort should be made to discourage development in areas with the best agricultural land.
Total land area in New Haven is 26,576 acres, of which 7% (1,949 acres) is considered prime agricultural soil, 58% (15,381 acres) is classified by USDA as soils of statewide or local agricultural importance, and 35% (9,253 acres) is non-agricultural soil. These data contrast sharply with county and state totals:
Soils New Haven County State
Prime agricultural importance 7.0% 5.2% 6.4%
Statewide agricultural importance 58.0% 36.5% 16.2%
Other 35.0% 58.3% 77.4%
Prime soil types are well drained with high natural fertility: examples are Melrose, Nellis, Winooski and Hadley. Agricultural soils of statewide importance are usually wetter or stonier, but still considered good for most farming: examples are Covington, Vergennes clay, Livingston and Limerick.
To maintain New Haven's productive soils in agricultural use is an important Town goal. Besides zoning districts, other methods should be explored to promote agricultural land use.
Terrain varies from low-lying wetland to ridge. In creating land use districts, relevant data and information provided by soil surveys, aerial photographs and similar sources should account for features such as topography, soil type, vegetation, wetlands, stream banks, ponds, and current uses.
New Haven's surface waters are three primary rivers:
Length of miles through New Haven
Otter Creek 4.5
New Haven River 6.0
Little Otter Creek (west branch) 4.1
Little Otter Creek (east branch) 3.8
Land Use Plan
The following land use districts are designed to implement the ten specific objectives listed in the section on Statement of Objectives. The Town has also considered in the establishment of the Land Use Districts, the Soils Map (SCWS), a copy of which is also incorporated by reference as apart of this Plan. In determining land use potential. The Town also considered, in establishing Land Use Districts, the availability of proximity of transportation routes. The official 2x3 foot maps are housed at the New Haven Town Offices and reduced copies are included at the end of this plan. The following Land Use Districts are hereafter described and set forth on the Land Use Plan Map:
In 2005, the Town received formal Village Designation from the VT Agency of Commerce and Community Affairs for the village area at the intersection of Route 17 (Main St) and South St. and North St. This area encompasses the elementary school (Beeman Academy), the Dana-King House, town green, general store and other areas of the neighborhood-commercial district.
Residential-Agricultural District, RA-2: District RA-2 shall be located in an area one lot deep along all present roads in the town except Ethan Allen Highway (U.S. Route 7), Main Street - Otter Creek Highway (Vermont Route 17), River Road, flood hazard areas and other areas specified below. A minimum of two acres per lot and a minimum of 200 feet of public road frontage are recommended. It is recommended that there be only one access roadway to each lot from the public road. The RA-2 district allows for higher density residential development on the lesser traveled roads.
Residential-Agricultural District, RA-5: District RA-5 shall be located in an area one lot deep along Route 17 and River Road except for flood hazard areas and other areas specified below. A minimum of five acres per lot is recommended. A minimum of 400 feet of road frontage is recommended. It is recommended that there be only one access roadway to each lot from the public road. The RA-5 district allows for medium density residential development along two roads which are less traveled than Route 7, but generally more traveled than other town roads. The Town encourages planned developments as specified in Title 24 V.S.A. section 4401in this district as a method of preserving larger acreages of open agricultural or forest land unmarked for development.
Residential-Agricultural District, RA-10: District RA-10 shall be located in all areas of the town not designated by the other proposed districts. A minimum of 10 acres per lot is recommended. A minimum of 600 feet of road frontage is recommended for any lot adjacent to U.S. Route 7. It is recommended that there be only one access roadway from U.S. Route 7 to each lot. The RA-10 district allows for low density residential development primarily along U.S. Route 7 and on the interior lands away from public roads. The Town encourages planned developments as specified in Title 24 V.S.A. section 4401 in this district as a method of protecting large unfragmented acreages of agricultural or forest land from development.
Neighborhood Commercial District, NC: District NC shall be located in those areas of the Town where there is a greater concentration of residences. The purpose of this district is primarily to provide services to local residents. It is recommended that there be a NC district located in New Haven Village approximately as follows: Beginning at the intersection of Main Street and North Street and extending one quarter mile along each street as well as 2000ft along both South Street and Town Hill Road. This district will have a uniform depth of 300 feet from the centerline of the road.
Highway Commercial District, HC: District HC shall be located in those areas of town near U.S. Route 7. The purpose of this district is primarily an area to service highway oriented businesses and highway users. It is recommended that access to all HC areas be limited in number to promote safety and to ease traffic flow on public roads. The specific locations and intended boundaries of the Highway Commercial Districts are more particularly described and set forth on the Land Use Plan Map.
Industrial District, IN: IN districts are located so that they have highway and rail access. The purpose of this district is to provide an area for controlled growth of new industry and the continuation of present industrial uses. The specific locations and intended boundaries of the Industrial Districts are more particularly described and set forth on the Land Use Plan Map.
Forest District, FD: FD districts have as their purpose the protection of wooded areas which have shallow soils, fragile and limited vegetation and which provide significant recharge to the ground and surface water supplies of the Town and region. These areas have no existing community facilities and there are no plans to provide any such service to these areas. Land uses compatible with the limitations of these areas, such as outdoor recreation activities, forestry and agricultural uses and hiking trails, which use does not create any erosion problems or harms any significant resources, such as unique vegetation, may be permitted in this district. A minimum lot size of 25 acres is recommended. Residential development may be permitted as a conditional use.
Flood Hazard District, FHD: Flood hazard areas and wetlands, which are unsuited for residential or other conventional development. These areas have no existing community facilities and there are no plans to provide any such service to these areas.
Agricultural and forestry uses should be permitted in all districts.
TRANSPORTATION
The Town of New Haven currently has the following transportation resources:
7.7 miles Federal Highway
7.2 miles State Highway
17.7 miles Class 2 Highways
31.8 miles Class 3 Highways
10-20 miles Class 4 Highways and trails
7.5 miles State-owned railroad bed with 2 sidings
It is the Town's policy to maintain all Town-owned Class 2 and 3 Highways on a year-round basis. Because the paving of gravel roads affects the Town's rural character and raises concerns of cost, safety and future maintenance, any new paving of existing gravel roads should be undertaken only after reasonable review of those concerns. New paving, in any case, should be preceded by upgrading of the roadbed to standards, which will match anticipated increases in weight, speed and traffic.
Due to the high cost of road maintenance, the Town actively discourages any expansion of the current network of Class 2 and 3 Town Highways. The Town also desires to limit new curb access to any Class 2 Town Highways to minimize the safety problems, which additional entries to these higher traffic roads may cause.
For Town planning purposes it is important to identify all Class 4 roads and trails. Once available, the information should be used to develop a Class 4 road policy and/or management plan.
Private roads and easements are often narrow, poorly laid out, poorly constructed and poorly maintained. These difficulties pose problems of access for emergency vehicles, which may threaten the safety of residents living on them. Therefore, the Town requires private roads accessing minor and major subdivisions to be up to State recommended standards for their projected traffic load. Current E-911 standards require naming and numbering of all Town Highways and private roads if they access more than two residences.
The Town supports the continued use of the existing rail system in town and recognizes the importance of both railbed and sidings in its operation. The Town encourages the State to ensure that all rail-highway junctures be maintained to limit their dangers, while retaining the current system of ground-level crossings.
The Town allows privately owned and maintained airstrips for individual, noncommercial use, where such use does not have an adverse impact on the surrounding land use.
UTILITIES AND FACILITIES
Typical of most rural Vermont towns, New Haven has a system of facilities to serve the Town's residents. Any increase in the need for Town facilities and services tends to raise property taxes and also decrease the viability of agriculture as a land use.
LAND
The Town's land holdings consist of 13 separate pieces of property, which, over the years, have been acquired either by design or default. Except for the Town Gravel Pit (located in the town of Bristol), all of these are located within the Town boundaries. The several parcels total approximately 27 acres and range in size from a 7.4 acre swamp lot in the Town Hill Swamp to a .2 acre gore lot off River Road. Of these lots, the following are currently used for a specific purpose:
Town Road Sheds/Fire Department off Main Street
Town Hall lot off North Street
Beeman School lot off North Street
Town Green lot corner of Main and South Streets
Town Beach lot off River Road
Town Gravel Pit off Stoney Hill in Bristol
King House off North Street
In addition, the Town has leased a piece of land across from the Town Sheds on Main Street and uses it as a site for the school septic system.
STRUCTURES
TOWN
The Town owns two major structures: the Town Hall and the Town Shed complex. The Town Hall, on North Street, houses Town offices and the school cafeteria on the ground floor and a combination gymnasium and meeting space on the second floor. The building underwent major renovations in 1999 and is well maintained.
The Town Sheds/Fire Department, off Main Street, consists of a large, fully-enclosed garage which is divided into separate spaces for the Road Department and the Fire Department, as well as a separate, three-sided, multi-bay shed to house additional road equipment and supplies. In 2004, in preparation for new Federal and state regulations affecting water quality, a large structure was constructed next to the shed to cover the salted sand pile.
In 2000, the Town purchased the “King” residence immediately north of the Town Hall for future use of the structure and/or land. Plans have evolved which would result in a community center on the site, housing town offices (which have far outgrown their space in the basement of the Town Hall), the community library and meeting space. Ongoing efforts to reuse the house, together with renovations to accommodate a new vault, the community library and other town facilities, should be encouraged.
SCHOOL
The Beeman Elementary School building is maintained by the town on property leased from the Beeman Trustees. This lease allows for the use of the school building on the property for as long as the Town uses it to house the school. The Town has shown continuing commitment to this building in past decades, with major expenditures for a new septic system and extensive renovations. Federal- and state-mandated space requirements for each child are increasing which may affect the school in the future.
As a member of the Addison Northeast Supervisory Union District, New Haven is served in the secondary grades (7-12) by the Mount Abraham Union High School. The Mount Abe building, located in Bristol, has expanded recently to accommodate the needs for space.
COMMUNITY LIBRARY
The Beeman School building on North Street has also housed the Community Library for several decades. Until recently it shared space with the school library. Because of school space needs, a new location for the community library is necessary. In order to keep town facilities concentrated in the village area, it is proposed that an addition to the Dana-King House/Community Center project provide for library space that can at times be used for some meetings.
CHURCHES
Within the Town of New Haven are four church buildings which serve three denominations. One Congregational Church is located south of the Village Green in the center of town, the other on a hilltop north of New Haven Mills, on East Street. The Mills church is used seasonally, for services and social events, in the summer months. A small building on Campground Road currently serves as the meeting place for the Church of Christ. In 1999, the new United Reform Church on Ethan Allen Highway north of the New Haven River was built.
RECREATION
The Town is served by a Recreation/Park Committee and a part-time Community Organizer who are responsible for scheduling the use of the Town Green and the Town Beach on River Road. The Town Green contains picnic tables, benches and a gazebo (with electric power). The Town Beach provides residents with river-front access, a rudimentary picnic area and a softball field.
The elementary school grounds and the area behind the Dana-King House include several play structures, an outdoor basketball court and a soccer/baseball field. These are often used by townspeople during non-school hours, and allow for the existence of a Town-sponsored Little League. The Town Hall is also host to many extra-curricular activities, including fundraising events for local organizations and informal basketball play.
In addition to these existing facilities, some Class 4 roads or trails could serve future activities such as snowmobiling, biking, hiking, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing. These byways are scattered throughout town and are generally oriented east-west.
PUBLIC UTILITES / SERVICES
As of 2005, the town provides no Town-owned utilities. Responsibility for septic disposal has always been the responsibility of individual landowners. In 1993, limited research was done on the feasibility of a Town sewage treatment plant; the plan was dropped due to a combination of high cost, lack of interest and feasibility when the school was no longer to be served by the proposed facility. The subject recurs occasionally when development plans are thwarted by poor soil permeability. Changes in State law to increase septic disposal options encourage review of Town zoning regulations which have, in part, relied on the State regulations as a limit to growth.
Most residences in town are serviced by private water supplies in the form of deep drilled wells. The Town owns a "Town Well" located at the junction of Main Street and Town Hill Road, which in recent years has been used primarily by the Fire department. Other “Public” water supplies in town include the School well and a well at the Congregational Church. In the late 1990s, the Town, State and Fire Department shared cost of installing "Dry Hydrants" at 4 locations used by the Fire Department for water supply (East Street, Main Street, Plank Road and Town Hill Road). The Fire Department intends to expand the number of these hydrants throughout Town when locations and funding make them feasible.
Town-provided services are limited to recycling, schools, road maintenance, library and support for emergency services. A loose contract exists between the Town and the New Haven Volunteer Fire Department, whereby the Town agrees to provide a pumper truck and maintain the fire station. An annual appropriation supports the department in exchange for fire protection services. New Haven First Response also receives an annual appropriation to defray its costs.
The Town provides for residents' solid waste disposal through association with the Addison County Solid Waste District. The district maintains a transfer station in Middlebury for the waste created by member towns. Transportation to the station is an individual responsibility, and most residents contract with one of several local trash-hauling companies. The Town itself provides a recycling, drop-off location for its residents and pays for this service.
New Haven is served by two electric companies and several telephone companies. A private generating facility is located at Beldens Falls on Otter Creek, which provides power for the New England power grid. (A second generating facility, at Huntington Falls on Otter Creek, is located within the Town of Weybridge.) In addition to these power facilities, several power transmission lines and substations are located within the Town.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
As mentioned in the Transportation portion of this Plan, the Town of New Haven is serviced by Vermont Railway on State-owned tracks. This service is limited to a single 7.5 mile line with 2 siding facilities, one at New Haven Junction and the other at the Pike Industries Plant on Campground Road. Public transportation is provided in the Town by Addison County Transit Resources (ACTR) which offers scheduled service between Middlebury, Bristol and Vergennes (the “Tri Town Bus” route) as well as ride sharing services and subsidized rides for the elderly and disabled and there is bus service to Burlington
NATURAL AND HISTORIC RESOURCES
WETLANDS
The environmental importance of wetlands is to provide filtration, flood control and wildlife habitat. These areas also contribute to the variety of New Haven's scenery. Therefore, the Town wishes to conserve and limit development of its wetlands. The Town also recognizes that spread of wetlands onto land currently under agricultural cultivation may not be in the best interest of farmers. It is therefore appropriate for farmers to maintain the use of existing fields in accordance with State and Federal regulations.
NATURAL AREAS
The Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife has identified six areas in New Haven that are considered "significant natural communities" and/or habitats of rare species. The portion of Battell Gorge has potential as an important ecological reserve, since the Middlebury Area Land Trust, Middlebury College and the University of Vermont already have significant holdings in the Gorge area. It is in the Town's long-term interest to ensure that all these areas are protected from development.
The Town recognizes the importance of natural ecosystems to the character and economy of the area and encourages the protection of wildlife habitats, particularly fisheries and deer yards. New Haven is fortunate to have fine streams on or within its borders, and it is the Town's policy to protect the quality of water in Otter Creek, the New Haven River and Little Otter Creek and to encourage efforts to improve that quality.
The New Haven River is especially valued as a recreational resource. A local conservation group, The New Haven River Watch, was founded in 1993 to monitor, restore and protect the New Haven River. This group was formed in cooperation with the sporting group The New Haven River Anglers and the River Watch Network. Several years of monitoring both E. Coli and total phosphorus at various dates and locations have given a wide range of results. The Town endorses the efforts of The New Haven River Watch to expand its monitoring and to work with local communities and residents to improve water quality.
The following is a brief summary of some of the summer monitoring from the River Road Bridge site:
E.Coli Counts (MPN/100ml) at River Road Bridge
*77 colonies/100 ml is the Vermont Water Quality Standard for Class B waters such as the New Haven River. Levels above the standard may pose health risks for recreational use such as swimming and wading. ** >O.l mg/l is likely to impact water quality.
Phosphorus (mg/L) at River Road Bridge
There are several deer wintering areas mapped by the State Fish and Wildlife Department. The largest is along the New Haven River between River Road and Munger Street. The next largest surrounds the wetland on the East Branch of Little Otter Creek between North Street and East Street. To maintain healthy deer populations, development should not occur within these areas.
A Town Conservation Commission should be established to organize and promote conservation activities such as identification and protection of natural plant and wildlife communities, support of the Town's recycling efforts and the ongoing work of The New Haven River Watch.
SCENIC
It is in New Haven's economic interest to maintain its scenic corridors, particularly along Ethan Allen Highway, Main Street and Otter Creek Highway. The quality of New Haven scenery results from generations of farming, and the best way to maintain this landscape is to encourage continued agricultural use of the land. Any development along these highways should be carefully planned to protect the views of open land and mountains so valued by residents and tourists alike. Siting driveways along existing hedgerows, for example, would facilitate future agricultural use of open areas and thus preserve landscape beauty.
HISTORIC SITES
The State Register of Historic Places presently lists the New Haven Village Historic District as well as 72 other sites in the Town. The Town encourages the preservation, renovation and restoration of existing structures and the maintenance of historic districts. The New Haven Historical Society (formed 1996) provides educational programs about the Town's past and works to conserve valuable reminders of our heritage.
EDUCATION
The Town of New Haven has a long history of supporting its public schools. The present location and structure of Beeman Elementary school dates from the era when all public education for New Haven residents was conducted within one centrally located building which contained Beeman Academy (9-12) and the New Haven Graded School. In the late 1960s New Haven became a member of the Mount Abraham Union High School District (grades 7-12). The Beeman building which had formerly housed 12 grades was then converted into a 1-6 grade facility. Major expansion has not since been necessary.
The Beeman School building has not been without its problems and expenses. The addition of kindergarten classes, the Community Library, increasing enrollment and changes in educational space standards have all resulted in tighter quarters within the building. In the late 1990s, townspeople met significant challenges including the addition of a new septic system located on leased land across from the Town Sheds, a complete interior renovation, new siding and storm windows. The building is in good condition to stand for many more years.
The school-age population changes somewhat as the Town evolves, as do the requirements for Beeman Elementary. Additions to the school structure itself may become necessary in the future in order to provide the required space per child.
The same patterns occur across the entire union district. Mount Abe Union High School has shown signs of cramped space and some additions to the high school have been made.
A change in migration patterns within New Haven and the union district has created planning uncertainties for school administrators. To project school-age population once was a matter of tracking births within a town and "growing" the children to school age. Parents of school-age families now move much more often, resulting in population "blips" when families move into or out of a district.
Transportation for the school is contracted through a private bussing company. Students throughout New Haven are bussed from home to Beeman Elementary School where busses are consolidated and high school students are transported on to Mount Abe in Bristol. In the afternoon the process is reversed.
In fall 2005 the Beeman Elementary School population consisted of 149 students, 12 full time faculty, 7 part time faculty and 15 support staff. From New Haven 137 students attended Mount Abe. An estimated 8 school-age children were home schooled.
Technical and vocational training is available to New Haven students at the Addison County Vocational Center in Middlebury.
Child care centers and pre-schools are mainly located in Bristol, Middlebury and Vergennes but New Haven should ensure the availability of local child care by being receptive to child care proposals as home occupations and or conditional uses for larger facilities. According to the Department of Children and Families, there are 13 registered child care providers and one licensed day–care center in New Haven.
Beeman Enrollment 1980-2006
DEVELOPMENT TRENDS
POPULATION/HOUSING
Addison County and Vermont statistics reveal that New Haven's new housing growth rate for 1990-2000 was 18.8%, the third highest in the county. Only the towns of Monkton (21.6%) and Addison (24.5%) had higher growth rates. In contrast, the county average for the period was 9.4% and the state average was 8.5%. New Haven gained 102 new homes in just 10 years. Population growth at the end of the 1900s was at 1.94%, significantly higher than the Addison County average of .89% or the state rate of .79%. A little more than half of the population growth was caused by in-migration, the rest by natural increase. New Haven is clearly a desirable place to live, and the population growth is expected to continue. With current trends, projections indicate that by 2015 the population could be between 2,150 and 2,350 people.
The number of housing units in New Haven in 2005 was 646, 98.1% of which were year-round. Of the year-round units, approximately 80% were owner-occupied. Mobile homes total 7.3% of the housing stock, or 47 units.
If the number of building permits for new houses continues at the 2000-2004 average of almost 17 per year, the 2000-2010 new housing rate will exceed that of the previous decade. These new homes have caused a demographic shift in the age of housing units. Prior to the 1990s, the majority of houses were built before 1940; now, the majority of the housing has been built since 1960.
In 1999, New Haven had the sixth highest average adjusted gross income in the county $28,831). The Town should consider further options for its lower income residents if current income trends continue. Housing and land prices have been increasing significantly. Although much of the demand for low income and elderly housing is currently being met in the areas surrounding New Haven, the town should support the Addison County Community Trust efforts to provide more affordable housing in New Haven and in the County as a whole. Zoning should be adjusted to comply with V.S.A. Title 24, Chapter 117 provisions that allow secondary dwellings / accessory apartments on the same lot. As a result of these changes, New Haven anticipates that some additional affordable housing could be added over the next few years.
By far the majority of wage earners (75%) currently work outside of town, with nearly 25% of those traveling to Chittenden County for employment. Despite its agricultural past, New Haven is becoming a "bedroom" community.
Below are some of New Haven's growth statistics: