HISTORIC RESOURCES

Introduction

A plan for the future without a look into the past is incomplete. Historic structures and sites which survive from earlier periods are the visual record of a town's history. Surviving fragments of history contribute to the individuality of each town, and lend a sense of continuity. Historic resources must be considered for what they are: but one part of our total environmental resources. Like many other sensitive resources, they are nonrenewable, capable of being preserved or vanishing with a single action, and contribute to the aesthetic quality of our town. Many of the concepts and tools discussed in this section are applicable to natural and aesthetic resources as well.

Today, Thetford's historic resources offer a mixture of impressions ranging from a preponderance of early 19th century frame, brick and stone residences to covered bridges crossing the Ompompanoosuc and imposing religious structures in the larger village centers. Thetford's access to two major rivers and the industrial potential afforded by them, along with the extensive impacts of Lake Fairlee and Thetford Academy are features which distinguish the Town, and its historic resources, from other communities. Individual village centers of Thetford Hill, Thetford Center, Post Mills, Rice's Mills, Union Village, East Thetford and North Thetford all retain distinct identities. There is a deepening historic awareness in Thetford, and a desire to respect and preserve our past.

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss existing legislation and tools available to help protect Thetford's cultural heritage. Significant local historic sites and resources are identified, with recommendations for their continued preservation. It is the responsibility of the community to plan a program of historical and cultural protection, based on local needs and desires. This chapter does not attempt to be a complete and comprehensive inventory of all local resources, but is intended as a departure point for the future. The present is but a chapter in an ongoing story.

Preservation Action To Date

A variety of individuals and groups have taken responsibility for local preservation and historical activities in recent years.

The Thetford Historical Society was organized in 1945 and currently has approximately 10085 members. The Historical Society collections, including photographs, manuscripts, books and other memorabilia, are housed in the Bicentennial Building in Thetford Hill, constructed in 1975 with some climate-control provisions. Manned by volunteers, theThe Historic Society offers a library cataloged with the State Historical Society and cataloging for manuscripts, letters, ledgers, and photographs, as well as books. Material is encased in acid free folders, boxes, cardboard, or photograph slips. Both genealogical files and subject files are growing. Townspeople and families from all over the country help to keep the files current, and more such contributions are sought. The Society library maintains regular hours during the summer months and is open by appointment the remainder of the year. The Society holds four meetings a year, including an annual meeting in August. In addition to the library, the Society owns the Charles and Fannie Hughes Historical Barn on Route 113 in Thetford Hill which is open one weekend in August to the public and in the early fall to elementary school classes. An outbuilding constructed on the Barn property in 1985 will expand the display and storage capabilities of the Barn. In the summer, the Society also prepares exhibits for a museum opening.For two summer weekends, the Society also prepares exhibits for the "Romp on the Pomp", a celebration of National Rivers Month organized by the Friends of the Ompompanoosuc, the Thetford Hill fair, and for a museum opening. Students at both the Elementary School and Thetford Academy are introduced to the collections in the museum and the library. Ongoing activities include collecting and processing manuscripts, answering genealogical questions, and receiving and displaying objects related to Thetford history. The Society also acts as repository for material from a number of local organizations.

An appendix to this plan is a partial listing of books on Thetford's history.

In 1979 the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation surveyed approximately 110 buildings and two districts in Thetford significant for their historic and architectural associations. The Latham House in North Thetford has been photographed by the Historic American Buildings Survey. Within the Town, the Thetford Center Covered Bridge, Union Village Covered Bridge, Peabody Library, Post Mills Church, Thetford Center Historic District (57 structures), and Thetford Hill Historic District(comprised of 35 structures) are already listed on the National Register of Historic Places with a nominations currently pending for the Post Mills Church and the Thetford Center Historic District. Many other structures are clearly also eligible.

Tools For The Preservation and Enhancement of Historic Sites and Areas

To date, the continued appreciation and protection of Thetford's historic resources has been accomplished largely by the actions of individual owners, as well as groups such as the Thetford Hill Improvement Society and the Thetford Historical Society. There seems to be almost community-wide respect for the Town's historic assets. Uniformly high standards of upkeep and maintenance are evident in most of the historic structures within the Town. Currently, the Town controls development through subdivision and zoning. However, zoning alone is rarely successful in protecting important historic resources. It is the private sector which must provide the fuel and support necessary to ensure that the Town's cultural resources remain an integral part of everyday life. It is a broad-based partnership between different levels of support which must be sought for effective historic preservation.

To insureensure that Thetford is able to retain its historic assets in the future, the various vehicles for preservation available at the private, local and federal levels are discussed below and should be considered.

Private Citizens and Organizations. Much of the responsibility for historic preservation is undertaken by private individuals or groups. According to 1980 census figures, 41.3 percent of Thetford's housing units were built prior to 1940 (as compared to 45.1 percent in the Upper Valley - Lake Sunapee region and 46.9 percent statewide). Considering the Town's high proportion of older housing units, pride in ownership and regular maintenance alone can be responsible for remarkable results. Unfortunately, improvement work undertaken with good intentions can often result in techniques or materials inconsistent or insensitive to an older building. As a result, the integrity of the building is compromised and work done may actually damage the building it was intended to preserve, often proving more expensive than the proper treatment. A wealth of specialized information covering topics sensitive to the needs of older buildings including the pros and cons of vinyl and aluminum siding, stripping paints, window replacement and repointing brick is available from the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission office.

Historic Resources Survey. Preservation through documentation is perhaps the most basic, essential and noncontroversial of preservation strategies. There are several advantages in undertaking an historic resources survey. In addition to providing a permanent written and photographic record of a Town's architecture, a good inventory is the foundation for other preservation tools and can be used to establish design control districts or to prepare nominations for the listing of historic structures in the National Register of Historic Places. Data gathered in a survey may encourage a greater appreciation of the built environment by local citizens. Historic resource assessments are also necessary for accomplishing environmental reviews required in projects receiving Federal funding. As the beginning of a comprehensive historic preservation strategy, information gathered should act as a firm base for future decision-making, by identifying buildings suitable for and worthy of rehabilitation. Since the late 1960's the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation has conducted the State Historic Sites and Structures Survey on a systematic town-by-town basis. The survey is mandated by State and Federal law. About 90 percent of the State has been inventoried, and the survey contains information on more than 20,000 of the State's historic resources. In 1979 the Division prepared a survey of over 100 individual structures and two districts in Thetford which were felt to have historical and architectural significance. A booklet describing a few significant local structures, taken from the 1987 Town Plan, is available at the Town Offices.

National Register of Historic Places. The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation's cultural resources worthy of preservation. Established by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and administered by the National Park Service within the Department of the Interior, the Register lists properties of local, State and/or national significance in the areas of American history, architecture, archeology, engineering and culture. Resources may be nominated individually, or in groups, as districts, or multiple resource areas and must generally be older than 50 years.

Properties in Vermont are nominated to the National Register by the Division for Historic Preservation. Property owners or Town officials request that a potential property or district be reviewed for National Register eligibility. It is the State Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, a board appointed by the Governor and composed of private citizens with expertise in preservation-related areas, that makes this determination. Matching grants are awarded on a competitive basis by the Division for the hiring of an architectural historian to prepare eligible district nominations. For individual properties, the owner must generally hire the architectural historian. Following review at the State level for the nomination, detailed and carefully researched National Register forms, maps and photographs are sent on to Washington, D.C., for final review, approval and listing.

The benefits of National Register listing include:

1)Recognition of local, State or national significance, often stimulating appreciation of local resources and encouraging pride in ownership;

2)Provision for review and amelioration of effects which any Federally funded, licensed or assisted project might have on the property;

Once nominated, a National Register District must have the approval of a majority of property owners, with each owner having a single vote regardless of the number of eligible properties he may own and regardless of whether the property contributes to the district's significance. For a single privately owned property with one owner, the property will not be listed if the owner objects. Listing in the National Register does not interfere with a property owner's right to alter, manage, dispose of or even demolish his property unless for some reason Federal funds are involved. Nor does National Register listing require that an owner open his property to the public. Within Thetford, the Thetford Center Covered Bridge, the Union Village Covered Bridge, Peabody Library, the Post Mills Church, Thetford Center Historic District, and the 35-structure Thetford Hill Historic District are currently listed on the National Register with listing pending for a the Post Mills Church and the Thetford Center Historic District.

National Register listing can be an important tool for identifying and planning the future of significant resources. Listing can act as a catalyst to change public perception and improve an area's image, but cannot in itself prevent major detrimental alterations or even demolition. It remains an important psychological first step toward historic awareness, respect and protection.

Local Historic Districts, Design Control Districts, & Transferable Development Rights. In Vermont, as authorized by the "Vermont Townscape Preservation Act" of 1985 any municipality may adopt zoning regulations including provisions for the establishment of design control districts, historic districts and landmarks (individual structures worthy of preservation). These mechanisms are currently the most comprehensive preservation tools available to local governments to protect historic resources.

The enabling legislation empowers the planning commission to establish design control and historic districts following preparation of a report describing the particular planning and design problems of the district and setting forth a plan for the areas. A design control district can be created for any area containing structures of historical and architectural merit. In the absence of specific historic district legislation prior to 1985, several Vermont communities, including Montpelier, Woodstock, Manchester, and Hartland, applied the design control district concept to protect areas of historical significance. A design review board may be appointed by the legislative body of the municipality to advise the planning commission. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of such a board is often diminished by its strict advisory role in the respect to the planning commission.

As in design control districts, within an historic district no structure may be rehabilitated, substantially altered, restored, moved, demolished or changed and no new structure within an historic district may be erected, without the approval of the plans by the planning commission. According to the enabling legislation, historic districts "shall include distinctive design of historic or architectural significance and may include distinctive design or landscape characteristics, areas and structures with a particular relationship to the historic and cultural values of the surrounding area, and structures whose exterior architectural features bear a significant relationship to the remainder of the structures or to the surrounding area". (24 V.S.A. & 4407 (16). Because, in the Vermont legislation there is no provision for the creation of a specific historic district commission comprised of members with a demonstrated interest and ability to understand the complexities of historic preservation, the planning commission dealing with historic districts should be encouraged to seek outside advice from specialists when they deem it necessary. A local historic district has been created on Thetford Hill to protect the architectural integrity of the village. The boundaries of this district coincide with those of the National Register Historic District. Proposals to build new structures or modify the exterior of or demolish an existing structure within the district are reviewed by the Thetford Historic Preservation Committee. Guidelines for the review are set forth in the Zoning Ordinance.

An important concept also included in the historic district legislation is the transfer of development rights. This concept addresses the importance of maintaining certain areas important to a community's character, such as open space, despite the fact that existing structures and lands often have a development potential far beyond their current use. In response, owners of land may sell their right to develop open space or residential parcels to others wishing to develop land in other more appropriate sections of the community. By purchasing the development rights, a developer is allowed to construct a development at a higher density than would be possible if he did not possess these transferable development rights. The result is higher density in a "receiving area" and lower density in the area from which the development rights were sold. Although the concept is complex and one which has not yet been used in Vermont, it holds much promise for the preservation of cultural resources and open space.

Other Preservation Tools

Revolving Funds. Revolving funds are self-replenishing loan pools. The money in the pools is composed mostly of donations and is used to restore buildings. The fund revolves when the restored building is sold. With a revolving fund, a nonprofit organization can either acquire a deteriorating building, restore it and then sell it or make low interest loans available to those who need to restore their historic buildings.

The first building restored by a revolving fund should be a highly visible one, so that donors can see their money at work. A building should be endangered, well worth saving and have a high resale potential before it should be considered eligible for a revolving fund. Besides donations, an organization administering a revolving fund can solicit sources of revenue from private foundations, and government subsidies such as Community Development Block Grants.

Scenic Road Designations. Vermont's country roads constitute an important statewide resource. To prevent the elimination of scenic roads, the Vermont Legislature in 1977 enacted a bill "to preserve through planning the scenic quality of Vermont's rural landscape," with a goal of combining both aesthetic and functional concerns. Through this law Town and State officials are given the authority to designate specific routes as scenic roads in order to protect their character; a character which often derives from historic structures as well as stonewalls, forests, mountains, pastures and other natural features.

The responsibility for a scenic roads program rests primarily on local citizens and their officials. After volunteers conduct a survey of scenic features on the Town's roads, they recommend to the selectmen which, if any, of these roads should be officially designated as scenic. The selectmen then hold a public hearing and make the designations as described in 19 V.S.A. 1019. Roads designated as scenic must be managed according to standards set by the State Transportation Board. These standards will help towns reconstruct and maintain their roads in a way that will preserve scenic quality without reducing the level of service or safety. Only State or Town owned roads may be officially designated.

Designation of scenic roads enables a town to preserve the rural environs around its historic structures. A scenic road designation also stimulates pride in, and respect for, the existing landscape. This is an especially important tool for Thetford's rural areas, where the bond between architecture and landscape is inseparable. Currently, only Academy Road is designated as a town scenic road, and there are no State designated scenic roads in the Town of Thetfordthere are no local or State designated scenic roads in the Town of Thetford. Route 5 is being considered for State Scenic Byway designation as part of the Connecticut River Cultural and Scenic Byway. However, as described later in this chapter in the scenic resources section, the Conservation Commission is working on ahas conducted a partial scenic road inventory.

Easements. Across the country, preservation easements have proven to be an effective tool for protecting significant historic properties. An easement is a property right that can be bought or sold through a legal agreement between a property owner and an organization eligible to hold easements. In Vermont, the Preservation Trust, Division for Historic Preservation, and local organizations are all eligible to receive easement donations. Property owners have found that easements provide them with two important benefits. First, the character of a property is protected in perpetuity. In addition, the donation of an easement may make the owner eligible for certain tax advantages. If the property is listed in the National Register, in return for giving an easement, a property owner is eligible under the Tax Treatment and Extension Act of 1980 to make a deduction from his taxes. If the easement is considered a lifetime gift then the property owner could receive a deduction for up to 50 percent of his adjusted gross income. Donation of an easement may also reduce estate and local property taxes.

Costs of such a program may be significantly lower than buying properties outright to protect these valuable resources, particularly when easements can be acquired by donation. Significant historic resources remain in private hands but are protected from inappropriate alteration as the organization holding the easement is given the right to review any proposed changes to the structure.

Two major types of preservation easements have been employed in the past. First of all the property owner could donate an exterior facade easement. This could include air rights, exterior maintenance, alterations, etc. The second type of preservation easement is rarely used for it is difficult to enforce and also to acquire. An interior easement can restrict all or part of the interior. The facade of and open fields surrounding the Asa Burton homestead are protected by a conservation easement held by the Upper Valley Land Trust, Inc.

On a single village street, it is important to maintain open space between buildings to provide country vistas. The pleasant open vistas viewed from the Thetford Center Covered Bridge are a good example.

In rural areas, conservation easements can play a vital role in preserving the lands around historic sites. Typically, a conservation easement can be donated to protect open spaces, scenic areas, waterways, wildlife and farmland. Examples are given later in this chapter, in the section on Agricultural Soils.

Land trusts with both historic preservation and conservation interests are instrumental in safeguarding both natural and architectural features. Harrisville, New Hampshire, is justan example of one rural community which has established a program to protect both settings and buildings. If properly administered, easements are a superior method of conserving and protecting land, water and historic resources because they are permanent and therefore last longer than zoning or locally designated historic districts.

Covenants. A covenant is a contractual agreement whereby the owner agrees to maintain the historic and architectural character of his home. A covenant can either be in the form of an affirmative provision or a negative provision. An affirmative provision requires the owner of an historic structure to provide for certain upkeep of the exterior appearance of his home. A negative provision, or a restrictive covenant, contracts the owner to abstain from changes to his historic building that would alter its historic or architectural integrity. The right to enforce a covenant is normally granted to a preservation agency. The general difference between easements and covenants is that easements are considered to be an interest in real estate, whereas covenants are only a contractual obligation. Under certain circumstances, however, covenants become binding upon future owners as well, thus blurring the difference between the two.

Limited grants are sometimes available from the Department of Historic Preservation, 109 State Street, Pavillion Building, National Life Building, Drawer 20, Montpelier, VT 05620-0501.

Technical assistance and small grants for project organization may also be available from the Preservation Trust of Vermont, PO Box 177, Windsor House, Windsor. Foundation funding should also be explored for worthy projects.

Potential Archeological Areas

Areas with proximity to water, such as the Connecticut and Ompompanoosuc Rivers and smaller brooks in the case of Thetford, logically hold great potential for prehistoric and historic archeological areas. Historically these water bodies were lined with mills seeking to harness their water power. Throughout town, cellarholes bear silent witness to early settlers, their houses abandoned as the families moved downhill or in other cases were destroyed by fire. Investigation of these areas as well as the dock sites which once lined the bank of the Connecticut River and prehistoric sites could yield much useful information relating to the lifestyles of Thetford's early settlers. The record of these ancient times is fragile and no doubt much has already been lost through vandalism, builders, farmers, road construction, and the inherent acidic nature of waterfront soils. Since this report clearly deals primarily with the Town's architecture, investigation by qualified archeologists is necessary to determine the actual potential of these areas. No comprehensive survey of Thetford's archeological resources has been prepared thus far. For more information contact the State Archeologist at the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation.

NATURAL RESOURCES

Introduction

An understanding of the Town's natural resources is basic to the formulation of a plan to guide Thetford's future growth and development. Thetford's natural resources include its forests, surface and groundwater, clean air, wildlife, hills, minerals and soils.:

• forests€ surface and groundwater
  
• clean air€ wildlife and vegetation
  
• hills€ minerals
  
• soils

Development in Thetford has shown that some areas are naturally better suited for a particular use than others. If Thetford is to protect its natural resources and provide a high quality of life for its citizens, the capability of Thetford's natural resources to accommodate development must be respected. The recommendations in this plan are based on the premise that Thetford's natural heritage should be preserved and future development of the Town be guided by the ability of the land to support it. This chapter identifies and describes Thetford's natural resources. Characteristics of the land which favor and limit development are distinguished. Thetford's critical natural resources, those which must be protected from development, or which hinder development, are discussed.

We divide this section into discussions of:

• Setting and Topography
  
• Slope
  
• Soils and Farmland
  
• Water Resources
  
• Wildlife and Vegetation
  
• Forest Resources

  Setting and Topography

Topography is a way of describing the landform of an area. It is usually expressed as elevation or height above sea level. Thetford's major topographic features are its hills:

Potato Hill (High Peak; 1,703')

Center Hill (shoulder, 1,520')

Mount Tug(shoulder, 1,511')

Houghton Hill (1,472')

Ely Mountain (1,468')

Preston Hill (1,426')

Child's Hill (1,320')

Center Hill (arm, 1,300')

Gove Hill(1,280')

The Glebe (1,120')

East Thetford (408')

North Thetford (410')

Union Village (427')

Rice's Mills(598')

Thetford Center (605')

Post Mills(695')

Thetford Hill (939')

Slope refers to the steepness of land and measures the change in elevation in an area. It is expressed as a percent, so that a 10 percent slope means there is a 10 foot change in elevation for every 100 feet in horizontal distance. Slope is a characteristic of land that influences the feasibility of land use and the economics of site development. Steep slopes (greater than 15%) present severe limitations to building development and, if developed, are likely to cause environmental problems. Site preparation, road maintenance, snow removal, provision of safety services and utility construction and service are more difficult and costly in steep areas.

On steep slopes, soils are usually shallower, the volume and velocity of surface water runoff is higher and the erosion potential is greater than on flatter areas. Consequences of erosion are loss of soil, resulting in sedimentation of surface waters and in the loss of the productive capacity of the land.

Areas with slopes greater than 15 percent are difficult to develop in an environmentally sound and cost-efficient way. Development on slopes greater than 15% should be undertaken with great care to minimize erosion. Land with slopes greater than 25 percent should be left as open space on account of erosion potential and difficulty for development.

Since steepness may preclude the use of large farm equipment, suitable land uses in steep areas are forestry, recreation, wildlife habitat, pasture and farming using small equipment and soil conservation practices to prevent erosion.

Topographic conditions in Thetford are expressed in five slope percentage categories, A: 0-3%; B: 3-8%; C: 8-15%; D: 15-25%; and E: greater than 25%. The Soil Conservation Service has prepared a soil survey which denotes each slope category throughout the Town.

Flat land: slopes of 0-3%. Flat land is, for the most part, located along the Connecticut River floodplain and the Post Mills portion of the Town. Flat lands along rivers are often associated with flood hazard areas; in other areas they indicate land that is likely to have a seasonally high water table. Thetford's best agricultural land is included in this slope classification.

In flat areas, water runoff can be a persistent problem. In areas outside of river floodplains, this condition can be corrected by grading and site drainage.

Rolling land: slopes of 3-8%. Rolling land is generally suitable for building development, providing adequate runoff capability and good building sites. Rolling land occurs irregularly in Thetford and can be found throughout the Connecticut River and smaller valleys adjacent to flat bottomland, in the Stevens District, Thetford Hill, Thetford Center and Post Mills.

Moderately steep hillside land: slopes of 8-15%. Moderately steep hillside land has many of the same assets for building development as the preceding category. However, the probability of erosion is greater; land in the upper range of slope percentage in this category can be severely eroded through improper site development and through extensive, or poorly timed removal of vegetation.

Erosion problems can generally be overcome by careful planning and good engineering. Prompt revegetation, minimizing the cut into the slope for foundation and driveway construction, and moving earth only during the dry portions of the year are practices which can reduce the erosion problems.

Road construction in areas with slopes of 8-15 percent may limit the development potential of these areas. Roads must be sited and designed to minimize erosion. Roads or driveways with greater than eight percent slope may be difficult to negotiate in winter months; grades of 12 percent require intensive sanding and plowing during severe winter weather and may hinder efficient delivery of safety services such as police and fire.

Areas of 8-15 percent slope occur frequently in Thetford along the lower flanks of most hillsides.

Steep hillside land: slopes of 15-25%. Although on any slope greater than 15 percent, excessive erosion and soil instability may be a problem, it is often economically and environmentally practical to use erosion control techniques during and after site development to minimize the risks of these problems. Extreme care must be used during construction so that as little existing vegetation as possible is disturbed during site development.

Road construction through areas of 15 to 25 percent in slope will be very difficult and expensive. Traversed (switch-back) road construction is normally required. Steep hillsides are found all over Town.

Very steep hillside land: slopes greater than 25%. Very steep hillside land should not be considered for either building or road construction. The potential in these areas for severe soil erosion and damage to watershed quality is very great. Construction in these areas should not be permitted. Very steep hillsides are located throughout Town but are particularly associated with Potato Hill, Houghton Hill, Child's Hill and along the east side of the Ompompanoosuc River Valley.

Soils and Farmland

Soils are the product of a parent material (rock), topography, climate, biotic forces and time. Soils are an important natural resource, since it is soil properties, such as depth, permeability, wetness, slope and susceptibility to erosion that define the land's capability to support development.

The history of Thetford's soil began 500 million years ago when New England lay under the Atlantic Ocean. Marine sediments, mud, sand and gravel, were deposited on the floor of the ancient ocean. Over time, the pressure from the upper layers heated the lower and the sediments were converted into sedimentary rocks, shale, sandstone and conglomerate. Volcanic lava eruptions deposited igneous rocks. Crustal uplift and metamorphic activity were followed by erosion and another period of submersion.

Around 350 million years ago, heat and pressure created during a long period of mountain building metamorphosed both older and newer sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Magma intrusions cooled within these old rocks. A second crustal uplifting permanently elevated New England above sea level. Mountains lined the edges of the European and North American continents following the collision of the two land masses. The White and Green Mountains and Connecticut and Hudson River Valleys follow the north/south orientation of crumpled North American shoreline.

Approximately 20,000 years ago, Thetford was covered by a continental glacier which left a legacy of glacial till, clays and boulders. As the glacier receded, meltwater held behind till dams created Lake Hitchcock, stretching from Connecticut to the Upper Valley. The width of the Lake varied from nearly 10 miles at its toe to the south to about a mile in the Upper Valley. Varved clays and silt were deposited on the lake bottom. Streams running under and from the glacier left gravel ridges and sand deposits. The effects of climate and biotic activity have contributed to soil building and erosion over time, leaving the soils present in Thetford today.

Six soil associations are prevalent in Thetford. Each of the soil associations have differing suitability for development as they may apply to farmland and woodland use, septic system operation, and road construction. The reader is referred to the Soils of Orange County published by the Soil Conservation Service for detailed descriptions , characteristics, and locations of these soil associations in Thetford. Map V-1, Soil Associations shows the general locations of these soils. The prevalent associations are as follows:and their viability for typical uses are shown in the table below, from the Orange County Soil Survey.

Hadley-Winooski-Limerick associations

Belgrade-Hartland association

Merrimac-Agawam-Windsor-Winooski association

Vershire-Glover-Buckland association

Tunbridge-Woodstock-Colrain-Buckland association

Tunbridge-Woodstock-Buckland association

Thetford Soil Associations
Thetford, Vermont(Orange County Soil Survey)

Shallow-to-bedrock Soils. Shallow-to-bedrock soils, where bedrock is within two feet of the ground surface, are found throughout the Town. Many are associated with upland and steep slope areas. Development where there is a thin soil layer may present both economic and environmental problems. Since the water table is usually high in these soils, septic system and building development is difficult and often not practical. Groundwater contamination and erosion are the major environmental risks associated with development on shallow-to-bedrock soils. Forestry, pasture and recreation are appropriate uses for land with shallow-to-bedrock soils.

Agricultural Soils. Thetford has been generously endowed with soils that have the potential for agricultural use. Soils in Vermont have been classified into four categories with respect to their potential for agriculture. The soils in the "highest" and "good" categories qualify as prime agricultural soils as defined in Act 250. The classification depends on the limitations and capabilities of the soils, the risk of damage when they are used, and the way they respond to management when they are used for common field crops and pasture plants.

Agricultural soils in Vermont are rated by the Agency of Natural Resources. The best are those in the "highest" and "good" categories based on their physical and chemical characteristics. Size, location, accessibility and current land use are not considered in the ratings. The ANR listing is a starting point in the process of determining if a specific area is primary agricultural soil according to Act 250. Onsite review is needed to determine if the potential of the soil can be achieved and if it is feasible to use the soil for agriculture.

Highest potential soils have the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, and fiber. It has the soil quality, growing season, and moisture supply needed to economically produce sustained high yields of crops when treated and managed according to acceptable farming methods. In general, these soils have an adequate and dependable water supply from precipitation, a favorable temperature and growing season, acceptable acidity or alkalinity, and few or no surface stones. They are permeable to water and air. They are not excessively erodible, do not flood frequently, or are protected from flooding.

To qualify for the "highest" potential category, a soil must meet all of a number of technical conditions established by the Agency. Soils which are subject to one or more technical limitations may be classified as "good". Details regarding these conditions may be obtained from the Agency.

For the purposes of administration of the Federal Farmland Protection Policy Act and other federal policies, good potential soils are designated as "Farmlands of Statewide Importance."

Characteristics such as slope, depth to bedrock and seasonal high groundwater table of land that contribute positively to its potential for farming also factor positively into the land's development potential. Loss of farmland to uses that destroy the land's usefulness for growing crops in the future is a great concern. Every year, more farmland is converted to uses which preclude its use as farmland in the future.

Preservation of farmland is more than a romantic notion. Land with a high or good potential for agricultural uses is a natural resource which is being depleted and cannot be replaced. Our present food production system functions in a way that it is now more cost-effective to rely on land out of the region. However, economies change, often rapidly, as was experienced during the oil embargo in 1973. Productive land is certain to be more highly valued because of this characteristic in the future. It would be unwise and unfair for our generation to make future generations in Thetford dependent on food and fiber produced elsewhere due to the lack of tillable, productive land.

Farmland protection strategies are discussed in Chapter II, Land Use Plan. Further information is available in the Vermont Department of Agriculture publication "Sustaining Agriculture: A Handbook for Local Action."

Before implementing these strategies, it may be helpful for the Town to survey its farmland. While a quantitative strategy for land evaluation has ben developed by the Soil Conservation service, it is not clear that this is the best technique for our town to evaluate land. In addition to soil quality, sufficient area, proximity to other preserved land, and visibility from key scenic viewpoints and roads may contribute to preservation value. Whatever the method, it would be valuable for the Town to have a means of identifying critical agricultural land. This allows us to focus our preservation efforts appropriately. An agricultural zoning overlay is recommended in Chapter II; however, this is but one way to encourage farmland preservation.it is important that the Town assign values to its farmland to focus its protection efforts in a reasonable way. The Soil Conservation Service has developed a land evaluation and site assessment system (LESA) to aid towns in developing policies and programs concerning agricultural land. LESA considers the soil potential to produce an agricultural crop and nonsoil factors such as size of a parcel of land, access, availability of public services, agricultural infrastructure and investment in agriculture.

The Planning Commission is in the process of performing a LESA study in Thetford, which also incorporates a ranking of the Town's forest resources. The results of this study will provide a database to discriminate between development proposals on forestry or farmland parcels.

Farmland resources can also be preserved by the use of conservation easements which legally limit the development potential of designated parcels. The State of Vermont encourages this process by the funding of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Trust Fund from which moneys are awarded to community or private land trust organizations to enable purchase of development rights from eligible farmland owners. Several parcels in Thetford have already been protected in this manner, namely the Perrin Farm, Chiott Farm and the LaMountain Farm. The Thetford Conservation Commission is able to facilitate such projects for interested landowners.including currently operating farms such as the LaMountain, Palmer and Stone farms, and the land around Childs Pond, and also former farms now preserved as open land, such as the Perrin and Asa Burton homesteads. Currently, there are at least 14 parcels under conservation easement, covering a total area of 600 acres. Easements are primarily held by the Upper Valley Land Trust, though the earliest easement is held by the Town of Thetford. The Thetford Conservation Commission is able to facilitate such projects for interested landowners.

Water Resources

Thetford's water resources include its aquifers, surface waters and wetlands. With reports of water shortages and aquifer contamination across the State, Vermont towns are becoming increasingly concerned about their water resources. Thetford needs to become more protective to insure continued potability of its groundwater and continued use of its surface waters by people and wildlife.

All of Thetford's residents, except for those who take water from Lake Fairlee, Norford Lake or ponds in Town, rely on groundwater for drinking. According to the 1980 U.S. Census, 102 households take water from a source other than a community water system or private well. Yet, while over 700 households tap groundwater, very little is known about aquifers in Town. An aquifer is simply a water-bearing geologic formation. Water moves into and out of an aquifer. If water is pumped from an aquifer more quickly than it is recharged, residents may experience a dry well. Sand and gravel deposits usually contain a lot of water and are therefore high-yielding aquifers, but many good wells have been sunk in bedrock where water collects in rock fractures and is tapped.

As shown on Map V-2, Thetford has four State-designated Aquifer Protection Areas (APA). APAs have been delineated across the State for all municipal water systems that serve 10 or more connections, 25 or more people for more than 60 days per year. The APAs in Thetford comprise 377 acres, the drainage area for the springs and unconsolidated material from which Thetford's four community water systems draw water. In addition, a private water supply system established by the Upper Valley Regional Landfill Corporation (UVRLC) supplies water to properties in the vicinity of the landfill where household wells have become polluted. ANR has determined that this private water supply system established in 1988 is now threatened by the UVRLC pollution plume and must be replaced.

MAP V- 2

Table V- 1 summarizes information about these sources of water.

TABLE V- 1

Community Water Sources and Potential Threats to Water Quality

Popu- Source No. % No. No.
lation of Acres % Agric.Unsewered Miles Served Water in APA Forest Land Bldgs. Road

North Thetford bedrock
Union Water Co 60 spring 67 100 - 3 .5

North Thetford
Water Co 30 spring 90 20 50 2 .7

North Thetford
composite 146

Thetford Water spring
Cooperative 100 (4 acres) 153 100 - 2 .6

East Thetford
Water Co 40 spring 78 80 5 4 .4

Total 230 377 300 49 11 2.2
acres acres buildings miles

Source: Aquifer Protection Study, 1983, Agency for Environmental Conservation.

Thetford's health bylaw provides for monitoring of the design and installation of septic systems all over Town and works to protect Thetford's groundwater from septic effluent. The Town should also adopt regulations to restrict activities which present contamination risks to the water in the APAs and other areas of dense settlement where residents rely on private wells and systems. An aquifer protection overlay zone should be created and adopted as part of the Zoning Ordinance. Examples of protective measures which should be incorporated are:

-Prohibit home occupations which use or store hazardous materials (e.g., auto repair, furniture refinishing);

-AllowFor small parcels, as well as those covered by state regulations (in excess of 40 acres), allow clear cutting of timber only if a strict erosion control program is followed to insureensure recharge by preventing runoff;

-Prohibit intensive uses which generate large amounts of sewage effluent to be disposed of within the APA;

-Prohibit commercial and industrial activities which use or store hazardous materials (e.g., junkyards, auto service and repair, landfill).

Underground fuel storage tanks have been identified as major threats to water quality. Studies have shown that the average tank will develop leaks within 15 years. The State has adopted regulations to monitor and test tanks with a capacity of 1,100 gallons or greater. These tanks must be registered with the Town Clerk. Any tank not in use must be removed within one year of its discontinuance. Responsibility for tank closure lies with the person who owned the tank prior to closure. The rigid set of State standards make tank replacement more economical than maintenance and testing of a substandard tank.

Since most residential, farm and small non commercial fuel and motor fuel storage tanks are smaller than 1,100 gallons, the Town should adopt complementary regulations which would require installation of high quality tanks and require monitoring and testing of both existing and new tanks for other potentially toxic substances.

Thetford's ponds, brooks, streams and the Connecticut River are another type of water resource: surface water. Historically, surface water, being easily accessible, was used for domestic purposes, to water farm animals and for waste disposal. Today, surface waters are best appreciated for their recreation and scenic value. They are important for firefighting and wildlife.

Lake Fairlee straddles three town lines and is Thetford's largest water body. Covering 427 acres, the Lake collects water from a watershed of 22 square miles and is 51 feet at its deepest point. The Lake drains into the East Branch of the Ompompanoosuc River. The watershed of the Lake is predominantly forested with some open pasture. The shoreline is moderately developed with residences and summer youth camps.

The water quality of Lake Fairlee is excellent. The Lake supports good vegetative and fish production and is used extensively for watersports during the summer months. Town officials and residents of Thetford, Fairlee and West Fairlee need look only as far as Lake Morey to realize the value of Lake Fairlee's water quality for recreation, fishing and tourism. All three towns should promote the maintenance of Lake Fairlee's water quality by restricting development which would have adverse impacts on the Lake's water. Special attention should be given to the problem of older septic systems which contribute to the degradation of the water quality. Additionally, protective measures are required to prevent the introduction of the Asian Milfoil which represents a major threat to the lake. Consideration should be given to protection of the aesthetic quality of the lake through limitations in high speed watercraft such as jet-skis.

Forsythe Pond, Child's Pond, Lake Abenaki, (Mud Pond) and Norford Lake are the Town's other major water bodies. Limited development has occurred on Lake Abenaki and Norford Lake. As with Lake Fairlee, the Town should restrict development which jeopardizes the water quality of these ponds and lakes.

Thetford's streams and brooks drain two major watersheds. Ultimately, all Thetford's surface water flows into the Connecticut River. Table V- 2V-1 lists Thetford's named streams and brooks and other water resources by watershed.

TABLE V- 2V-1

Thetford's Water Resources by Watershed

Connecticut River Watershed Ompompanoosuc River Watershed

Roaring Brook Norford Lake
Gun Brook Avery Brook
Child's Pond
Conant Swamp East Branch West Branch
Zebedee Brook Barker Brook Fulton Brook
Lake Abenaki Abbott Brook
Forsythe Pond Lord Brook
Lake Fairlee
Gillette Swamp

The Connecticut River is Thetford's most underutilized natural resource. Since the river water quality has markedly improved due to the installation of sewage treatment plants upriver and more careful use of the riverbank, Thetford has a clean, virtually untapped recreation resource along its entire eastern border. Road salts, erosion, agricultural runoff and failed septic systems still pose pollution threats to the River. Efforts should be made to control these sources of contamination. Thetford should continue its participation in the bi-state program to maintain the Connecticut River water quality and to properly manage the riverfront. For example, this plan encourages the adoption of the following comprehensive shoreland protection act:

With the understanding that these measures are to affect the corridor in both New Hampshire and Vermont and the water quality of both the river and its tributaries, the Subcommittee recommends that all the municipalities within the segment adopt the following provisions:

1.Within 250 feet of the riverbank, prohibit the establishment or expansion of salt storage yards, auto junk yards, and solid waste and hazardous waste facilities.

2.Considering the environmental impact to the river, the application of fertilizers should be used with great caution within 250 feet of the river.

3.Within 250 feet of the river, minimal lot size in areas dependent on septic systems should be determined by soil types.

4.Setback requirements of all leaching portions of new septic systems should be determined by soil characteristics but with a minimum setback of 75 feet and the greater setback of 125 feet where more porous soils occur.

5.New Hampshire's Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act has set 50 feet as a minimum setback from the water body for all non-water dependent buildings. The Subcommittee recommends that communities set such setbacks according to their soil conditions. The historic record of soil loss into the river should also be considered.

6.Natural wooded riverbanks are important for the health of the river and, where they exist, a 150 foot buffer should be protected from clear cutting. Stumps and their root systems should be left intact within 50 feet of the shoreline. If it is necessary to remove vegetation of any size in these buffer areas, the Subcommittee recommends that landowners seek professional expertise in order to lessen any impact on the river.

[Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan, Volume 1, Riverwide Overview, Upper Connecticut River in New Hampshire and Vermont, Connecticut River Joint Commission, May 1977, p. 76]

As protection against pollution and sedimentation, buffer zones should be required between all development and wetlands and surface water. The distance of the setback should vary depending upon the type of development and site characteristics. As listed on the National Wetlands Inventory and shown on Map V-4, thereThere are twenty-seven major wetlands in Thetford whose functions have been classified and which are protected by the provisions of the Vermont Wetlands Protection Act. Any development within 125 feet of a wetland or surface water would be evaluated by the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife and/or Water Resources to determine a reasonable setback which protects wildlife habitat and water quality. The Planning Commission should direct its efforts toward promoting the preservation of these buffers, and where possible,

MAP V-3

Significant Habitat
Thetford Vermont
1988

MAP V-4

Wetlands
As Shown on the National Wetlands Inventory
Thetford, Vermont use the buffers to create greenways to protect these water resources, create and preserve wildlife habitat and provide recreational opportunities. Since roadways are often laid out along streambeds, the Town should make an effort to control activities related to road construction and maintenance that jeopardize the quality of its water resources. These activities include salting, sanding, bridge repair and culvert cleaning.

The Thetford Conservation Commission should continue its wetlands program focussed on the smaller unclassified wetlands in Town, involving preparation of inventories of flora and fauna and identification of the functions served by those wetlands.

In addition to protecting against new sources of water pollution, Thetford has a stake in the control and remediation of existing sources such as the pollution plume from the UVRLC landfill discussed above, and pollution of the West Branch of the Ompompanoosuc from the Elizabeth mines in Strafford (closed in 1958 and left unreclaimed). Sulfuric acid formed in the Elizabeth mine tailings dissolves toxic metals; these metals are carried down Copperas Brook and dumped into the West Branch. The following excerpt is from the Elizabeth Mine Study Group, a largely volunteer effort by local citizens, which is working to restore the environmental health of the mine area (reproduced here by permission).

In 1996, the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission and the Connecticut River Joint Commission declared the Elizabeth Mine one of the top pollution "hot spots" in the Connecticut River Watershed. The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Water Quality Division considers the Elizabeth Mine the state's worst non-point source water pollution problem. Some of the significant impacts from the mine include:

€highly acidic leachate (pH 2.5 to 3.3) entering Copperas Brook (cider vinegar is pH 2.3)

€one study estimated that about one ton of dissolved metals a day on average are carried away from the mine and tailing piles by surface runoff into Copperas Brook and the West Branch of the Ompompanoosuc River (80% iron, 20% aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc)

€Copperas Brook is uninhabitable to fish

€70% reduction in forage fish in the West Branch of the Ompompanoosuc

€increased copper levels in West Branch sediments by Copperas Brook in flow (105 ppm below vs. 6 ppm above - an increase of 17.5 times)

Building construction in areas endangered by seasonal flooding should not be permitted except under stringent controls. The Flood Hazard Bylaw, adopted by the Town in July 1978, restricts development in the flood hazard area. Continued enforcement of these regulations is essential to enable the property owners in the flood hazard area to qualify for subsidized flood insurance.

Wildlife and Vegetation

Thetford's forests, fields, marshes, streams, riverbanks and ponds are home to a variety of species of wildlife and vegetation. Every development in Town results in the loss or change of some habitat. While no single development will decimate Thetford's wildlife and vegetation, the cumulative effect of many small decisions might over time. The Town should adopt policies which will prevent this from occurring. Nearly all open space provides habitat for game and non-game species. There are, however, some areas in Thetford which provide critical habitat that must remain intact. These areas include wetlands, deer winter yards, and edge (the transition zone between two cover types, such as field and forest). Development or logging in or adjacent to these areas must consider wildlife implications during the planning process.

At some stage a point is reached where a species cannot use seemingly adequate habitat because of adjacent development. While certain strategies may lessen the impact on habitat, planners and developers should keep in mind that almost every development will affect the ecological balance. Agriculture and forest practices generally have minimal (or even positive) effects on most native species. The following discussion of white tailed deer winter range considerations when planning human development was written by the Agency of Environmental Conservation.

Wintering areas are an important habitat requirement for deer during the critical winter months when snow depth and climate are limiting factors to survival. Typically these areas consist of mature softwood stands, at low elevations or along stream beds, which provide cover and limit snow depths. Southerly facing slopes are also beneficial due to good sun exposure and may be utilized even in areas of limited softwood cover. More specific factors such as percent canopy closure, species of softwoods, and stand age also figure into the quality of the winter area.

Housing developments and excessive logging have detrimental effects on deer wintering areas. If an area proposed for development encompasses a deer yard, utilizing certain planning strategies may lessen the impact on the area. Should the entire area proposed be winter cover, clustering of house lots is a planning consideration. This may minimize negative impacts by reducing area consumed and maintaining a larger continuous area of cover for utilization by deer than if house lots were scattered. When a proposed area is not entirely winter cover, development outside of the softwood cover, or utilized area, is recommended. Planning developments outside of softwood cover that has the potential as a future deer wintering area is also a consideration. It is important to note that attempts to negate the impact of human development on winter deer range do not always accommodate the needs of the deer. As always a wildlife biologist from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department should be consulted before implementing any proposed plans.

The series of overlay maps prepared by the Conservation Commission should continue to be used in evaluating the impact on wildlife of development proposals presented to the Planning Commission. Ultimately, the Town should seek to utilize a GIS (geographic information system) computer representation of this, and other, relevant information.

The Planning Commission should consider ways to further accommodate wildlife by providing some protection under the Zoning Ordinance.

Forest Resources

Over 75 percent of the Town of Thetford is in forest use, with most of this land held in small, privately owned tracts of less than 200 acres. Nearly all of Thetford's forest land is capable of growing repeated forest crops. Along with this economic potential, Thetford's forests provide additional benefits: high quality water, oxygen, wildlife habitat, recreation opportunities and aesthetic appeal. Planning for the conservation of Thetford's forests should be considered a priority.

To conserve this natural resource it is recommended that the Town continue to adopt policies which give due considerations to the economic, biotic and social communities associated with forests and to the rights of landowners. The State Department of Environmental Conservation has developed draft guidelines for forest planning and management. The Planning Commission should review these guidelines and consider adapting them to the present zoning regulations. In addition, the Planning Commission should give priority to the completion of the FLESA (Forest Land Evaluation and Site Assessment)a forestland study.

SCENIC RESOURCES

One of Thetford's most important assets is the way the Town looks. Its varied terrain and traditional settlement pattern are of high visual quality. Individual landscape elements as well as the overall pattern of structures, open space and vegetation contribute significantly to the quality of life.Landscape quality is an elusive but important consideration in land use decision-making. There are several benefits to be derived from identifying, retaining and improving key elements of the Town's visual quality:

-Retaining a high quality landscape encourages community pride. Thetford's desire for thoughtful use of its land is closely linked to the high quality in the Town's landscape;

-When seeking to attract development that will enhance the Town's tax base, a community that has retained a high quality landscape will have an advantage over a Town that has not chosen to do so;

-The development of tourism and tourist related services in a community having an attractive landscape is often possible if the community preserves its landscape.

Entranceways, the sequence of views as one arrives into, or departs from, Thetford's village areas are critically important to the visual quality of the Town. Entranceways are where first impressions about a place are formed and are often the visual character nonresidents associate with the Town. The views from Thetford's heavily used village and recreation areas directly impact the experience of those places. Views to the wooded hillsides and natural skyline add to the historic character of Thetford's villages and the rural character of the roads in Town.

The Town and State Scenic Roads program is detailed in the Historical Resources section of this chapter. The Thetford Conservation Commission has developed a program for inventorying the scenic road resources in Town, and, as of 1992, has completed studies of over 40 miles of town and state roads. Out of this effort, Academy Road has been designated as a Town Scenic Road, particularly because of its panoramic views looking East and the significant amount of open farmland. Priority should be given to completion of this study and to the selection for designation of those roads which qualify for Scenic Road status. Once awarded, this status guides the nature of improvements to roads which impact their scenic characteristics. This inventory procedure should also be extended to other scenic points in Town.

In contrast to town and state scenic roads, are the National Scenic Byways; Thetford should consider carefully the possible negative ramifications before supporting the Byway proposed along the Connecticut River; it is possible that such a designation could lead to traffic problems, heavy RV use of Route 5, and increased attractiveness to strip development (fast food chains, convenience stores, and other through motorist services). The net result could be a serious degradation of the very scenic nature we so value.

Thetford should actively protect its aesthetic heritage and its most important views. Landscapes which take centuries to develop can be changed in an afternoon. Thetford's visual quality contributes greatly to the quality of life in Town. Conventional land use regulations cannot alone control the threats to the scenic resources of the Region. Efforts should be made outside the regulatory arena to protect the most important views and structures. Regulations should however be structured to ensure measures are implemented to mitigate adverse impacts of development on Thetford's aesthetic heritage. One approach has been to adopt an design control district on Thetford Hill. Other measures, described below, could involve siting, buffers, and/or architectural review, rather than outright denial of the a development proposal.

Design Considerations

Given the importance of scenic resources in the Town for environmental, quality of life and economic reasons, the Planning Commission should be an advocate for review of development to determine the impact on visual resources and for use of techniques to mitigate any adverse impact on statewide, regional or local scenic resources. When involved in local or Act 250 reviews the design considerations They are felt to be a constructive response to the issue of development in scenic areas.It is recommended that the design considerations developed by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Design Issues Study Committee in 1990 be used in evaluating local development proposals; this document suggests constructive responses to the issue of development in scenic areas. A copy of these design considerations is available at the Town Offices.

Ridgeline Development Controls and Communication Towers

The hills of Thetford are a key element to the aesthetic environment for much of Thetford, and their unbroken ridgelines are of extremely high value to the Town. Views from key locations are important; such locations include each of the villages, the rivers, designated scenic roads, and perhaps even the interstate. For this reason, the Town should be involved in a proactive manner in protecting our most valuable hills from visible development, including tall structures such as communications towers. Where necessary, we would like to help find potential tower locations with small visual impact. We hope to be able to open a dialog with communications companies early in their planning process in order that we both direct our efforts into finding the most mutually satisfactory solutions rather than engaging in litigation. The Town of Cabot has apparently developed a model tower ordinance.

Towers are not the only threat to our ridgeline resources; the detailed siting of any other development such as housing is also critical. To the extent possible, the Town Planning Commission and Zoning Board should discourage ridgeline development, and take an active role in site determinations where such development is to proceed. Possible ridgeline zoning should be considered. The Town currently has placed a moratorium on development of communication towers and is working on amendments to its land use controls to properly site and review telecommunications facilities.

Minimization of Outdoor Light Pollution

Dark clear skies and bright stars are a resource that contributes strongly to the rural beauty of our town. The increasing use of outdoor lighting such as security lighting by private residences, institutions, and businesses contributes to a light pollution condition. This may indirectly degrade the night sky over large regions of our town by creating an overall light haze. It may also be invasive and offensive to neighbors in direct line of sight. Improperly shielded ridgeline lighting has the potential to be particularly damaging to the night viewscape. The impact of outdoor lighting can be reduced through the use of proper shielding and screening (making sure the light is directed downward where it is needed and not up at the sky or into other residences), as well as through reduced intensity where possible use only where truly necessary. Providing educational material to property owners would be valuable in many situations. In addition, it is recommended that the Town adopt an offensive lighting ordinance. Present code addresses only sign illumination (sections 523/524).

Competing, Aesthetic, Safety and Expedience Issues

Many groups have a role in our aesthetic resources. Segmentation of responsibilities is natural, but sometimes counter productive; it would be easy for only the Town Conservation Commission to deal with resources which are primarily scenic, only the road crew to consider transportation resources, only the Historic Preservation Committee to consider historic aesthetics. However, it is important that we understand how closely our resources are interrelated. Whereas preservation of a fenceline may be the highest priority of the historic committee, resulting view obstruction may seem dangerous to the road crew. While widening or paving a rural road may seem expedient to highway workers, it could seriously degrade the scenic quality and also cause an increase in traffic speed, making it less pedestrian friendly. In a village center, rather than enforcing minimum setbacks and making wide road shoulders for safety (common planning commission and road crew strategies in other towns), we might instead consider narrow roads with sidewalks and houses close to them; this is known to cause a natural slowing of traffic. Removing triangle intersections at the end of roads may make plowing easier, but it is just such features that give our town character. It is the overall aesthetic feeling of the Town, not just the feeling of designated scenic roads, that is important here. The Conservation Commission, Planning Commission, Zoning Board, Select Board, Town road crew, state road crews, and powerline crews could all benefit from an awareness of the tradeoffs inherent in these competing issues. Where possible, mechanisms for communication between these groups should also be enhanced.

All transportation projects in Thetford should be designed to minimize negative impacts on natural resources, historic, scenic or other community values, while also providing reasonable roadway widths, grades, sight distances, etc. Roadway improvements often contribute positively to the local, regional and statewide economy. In 1997, the Vermont State Standards for the Design of Transportation Construction, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation on Freeways, Roads and Streets were developed. The Standards are flexible and allow and encourage creative methods which minimize impacts on important resources. Transportation projects should minimize environmental impacts and maximize the public benefit of transportation improvement investments.

Aesthetics of Business Districts

It would be unfortunate to work exclusively on the aesthetic quality of our historic, natural and rural resources and not also plan for the aesthetic development of our business districts. Features which slow traffic and give a village character are aesthetic assets. Concentration of businesses in a village is good and shared driveways are recommended.

GOALS, POLICIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Historic Resources

1.The Town should continue to encourage the protection, enhancement and renovation of significant architectural and historic resources using the various mechanisms available to them, described in this chapter.

2.Historical interest should be provided in a variety of ways, including:

- Photographs and murals in public and commercial buildings;

- Markers at key historic structures;

- Brochures describing Town history;

- Tours of historic structures and sites;

- Introduction of a local history course into the school curriculum;

- Continuation of an oral history project;

- Walking tour of Common possibly with audio-cassette guide; and

3.Historic structures and areas should be considered for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, in particular, the childhood home of Henry Wells (of Wells Fargo) off Miller Pond Road; the Asa Burton House off Route 113; and the old Clay Barn on Clay Road.

4.Utilization of easements, both preservation and rural conservation, should be explored.

5.Establishment of design control districts, like that in Thetford Hill, should be explored for Thetford Center and Post Mills .

6.Copies of literature from the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation and the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission regarding appropriate rehabilitation techniques should be placed on file in the town office to encourage the renovation of older homes and buildings.

7.Designation of scenic roads should be encouraged.

8.7.Historic documents should continue to be kept in a secure and fireproof location.

9.8.Early handwritten records should be reproduced (transcribed, never photocopied) and copies kept in more than one location.

Natural Resources

1.Promote conservation and preservation of Thetford's natural heritage including its wooded hilltops, aquifers, streams, brooks, lakes and ponds, wetlands, agricultural soils, forest resources, wildlife and scenic resources.

2.Allow development only if the development is sensitive to and considerate of Thetford's natural resources.

3.Development in Town should be guided by the land's ability to support it.

4.Building construction should not occur in flood prone areas.

5.Uses which pose potential for water contamination should not be permitted to locate in flood hazard areas.

5.6.Priority should be given to completion of the FLESA/LESAa study of farm and forest land values in Thetford.

6.7.Thetford's important agricultural lands should be protected from development that would destroy their usefulness for growing crops in the future. An overlay zone should be adopted to protect agricultural lands.

7.8.Because of Thetford's dependence on clean groundwater, uses which present a significant risk to groundwater quality should not be permitted anywhere in Town.

8.9.An in-depth study of Thetford's aquifers should be undertaken to identify recharge areas, aquifers and subsurface movement of water. A proposal for funding such a study in the Post Mills region is being prepared by an action group of the Conservation Commission.

9.Uses which present threats to the quality of Thetford's groundwater should not be allowed in aquifer recharge areas.

10.Areas of high water yield near existing settlements should be land banked for use should individual wells no longer be suitable sources of drinking water. Protection zones should be established to preserve these resources.

11.Local ordinances which require monitoring and testing of above and below ground storage tanks for hazardous materials and which set standards for the installation of new tanks should be adopted to protect Thetford's groundwater from contamination resulting from leaky tanks. Residents should be informed of these issues.

12.Efforts should be made to prevent contamination of Thetford's water resources by road salt, erosion, agricultural runoff and failed septic systems.

13.A water resources protection overlay zone should be created and adopted as part of the Zoning Ordinance.

14.Prior to the granting of a conditional use, an applicant proposing a use, which may present a threat to water quality, should be required to submit plans for the protection of the groundwater. Implementation of approved plans should be a condition of the approval.

15.The use of road salt should be minimized to prevent contamination of Thetford's ground and surface waters.

16.Any development proposed within 125 feet of a wetland or surface water should be evaluated by the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife and/or Water Resources to determine a reasonable setback which protects habitat and water quality.

17.To control the total amount of septic effluent being introduced in aquifer areas, density should be governed by the standard of no more than 350 gallons per day of effluent per acre.

18.Lot coverage by buildings should not exceed 20% in order to assure continued water recharge and to minimize drainage problems on abutting lands.

19.Review of proposed areas for excavation should ensure that pits are finished safely and revegetated and that excavation does not jeopardize water quality.

20.Slopes greater than 25 percent should be left as open spaceundeveloped because of high erosion potential and difficulty for development. Slope considerations should be added to the Zoning Ordinance (PRIORITY)

21.The Conservation Commission should review the State's guidelines for forest planning and management and adapt them for amendment to the Zoning Ordinance.

22.The Conservation Commission should continue to assemble additional information about Thetford's wildlifeplant and wildlife resources to be used in development reviews.

23.Rare plants and animals should be insulated from disruptive land uses.

24.The Zoning Ordinance should be amended to protect Thetford's wildlife and preserve its deer yards.

25.The Selectmen, Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Adjustment and Highway Department should consult with the Conservation Commission whenever a decision is being made that might significantly affect an important natural resource.

26.The Town should promote the use of conservation easements to protect natural resources and open space. A database of properties subject to such easements should be maintained by the Town Zoning Administrator. (PRIORITY)

27.The Town should makeincrease its annual appropriations to the conservation fund to purchase development rights to protect itsassist in the protection of its most significant natural resources and to preserve open space around each of the village areas.

28.Thetford should participate in the effort to properly manage the Connecticut River.

29.Guidelines should be made available to promote optimal siting of new structures, i.e. energy efficiency, visual buffers, architectural design, etc. A booklet of such recommendations should be made available by the Planning Commission through the Town Office, and local builders and architects. (HIGH PRIORITY)

30.Consideration should be given to protection of the aesthetic quality of Lake Fairlee through limitations in high speed watercraft such as jet-skis.

Scenic Resources

1.Priority should be given to completing the inventory and analysis of Thetford's visual resources.

2.Visual impact should be considered in subdivision review; developers should work to minimize adverse impact.

3.Vegetation and topography should be used to create visual buffers between roadways and new development.

4.Performance standards should be adopted to protect critical views.

5.4.The design considerations developed by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) Design Issues Study Committee in 1990 should be used in evaluating local development proposals.

5.The Conservation Commission should be consulted in development matters of aesthetic and environmental impact.

6.Planning and new zoning ordinances are needed to address the visual impact of communication towers and any other development which may threaten our ridgelines and viewscapes. (HIGHEST PRIORITY)

7.The road crew should be explicitly charged with, and continue to take increasing pride in, maintaining not only access and safe roads, but also aesthetic quality. Aesthetic maintenance and improvement should be a part of their mission statement and a part of their reports. When possible, Thetford should also be proactive in requesting this of state road crews and power line crews as well (particularly but not exclusively for Town scenic roads). (PRIORITY)

8.Consideration should be given to the impact of excessive outdoor lighting on the overall aesthetic quality of the community. Additions to the zoning ordinance may be in order. (PRIORITY)

9.Designation and protection of Town scenic roads should be encouraged; Academy Road has been so designated. In contrast, there may be disadvantages to the designation of National Scenic Byways in our town due to the potential increase in through traffic and strip development. (PRIORITY)

10.Further planning is required in our business districts, particularly to encourage a village feel to the center and to avoid strip development along Routes 5 and 113. (PRIORITY)

A Bibliography of Some Useful Material

Town of Thetford Zoning Ordinance

Thetford Historical Society Publications and collaborations, most of which are for sale at the Historical Society, Latham Library, and the Town Hall:
Charles Latham, Map of Thetford, Vermont, 1858-1960, 1961.

Charles Latham, A Short History of Thetford, Vermont, 1761-1870, 1972, reprinted 1976,

A.E. Lupien and V.H. Malmstrom, Thetford, Vermont: A Land Use History 1768-1981, Geography 21 Class Report, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH (Summer 1981).

Soil Survey of Orange County, Vermont, United States Department of Agriculture (June 1978).

Local Planning and Zoning Options for Wetland Protection, Brian P. Hehir, Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, revised and published by Cathy Kashanski, Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation, Water Quality Division (1994). (802) 241-3770

Model tower ordinance information (based on Cabot, VT) is available from Karen Horn, VT League of Cities and Towns.

Elizabeth Thompson, Natural Communities of Vermont Uplands and Wetlands, Nongame and Natural Heritage Program, Department of Fish and Wildlife, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Waterbury, VT (May 1996).

Sustaining Agriculture: A Handbook for Local Action. Supplement to the Planning Manual for Vermont Municipalities. Vermont Department of Agriculture, Food and Markets, 116 State Street, Drawer 20, Montpelier, VT 05062-2901 (April 1994).

Elizabeth Mine Study Group information is available from Bob Walker, Thetford (Robert J. Walker@valley.net).

Randall Arendt, Rural by Design: Maintaining Small Town Character, cosponsored by Lincoln Land Institute of Land Policy, Environmental Law Foundation, Center for Rural Massachusetts. Planners Press, Chicago, American Planning Association (1994).

Sharon F. Francis and Adair D. Mulligan, Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan, Volume I: Riverwide Overview, and Volume IV: Upper Valley Region, Connecticut River Joint Commissions, Charlestown, NH (May 1997).

J. Christopher Lang and Kate Stout, Building with Nantucket in Mind: Guidelines for Protecting the Historic Architecture and Landscape of Nantucket Island, Nantucket Historic District/Paraclete Press (1992). [Example of publicity in historic district planning]

State of Vermont, Agency of Transportation, Vermont State Standards for the Design of Transportation Construction, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation on Freeways, Roads and Streets, July 1997.