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STRATFORD 2020 A Vision and Land Use Plan
[photos omitted for downloadable version]
for Stratford, New Hampshire
December 29, 2007
DRAFT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
The Stratford Master Plan Committee is gathering comments on this first draft of the town's new master plan. This plan focuses on the two elements required by the state vision and land use. The master plan is an important policy document it is intended to guide the choices and decisions of the town and its staff and volunteer boards over the coming years. It should be based on the needs and concerns of a majority of the town's residents. Please help us by reviewing this draft and filling out the comment sheet on the next page (reverse side of this cover page if double-sided). Comments on Draft Stratford 2020 A Vision and Land Use Plan for Stratford, New Hampshire:
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The Stratford Master Plan Committee will be meeting at 6:00 PM on Tuesday January 22, 2007 at Fuller Town Hall to discuss the comments received on this draft plan. Please provide your comments by dropping them off with Patty Summers at the town office, or at Big Rock Campground Store, or with anyone on the Master Plan Committee, or join the Committee on the 22nd to discuss your thoughts in person.
Thank you for your input! Stratford 2020 A Vision and Land Use Plan for Stratford, New Hampshire
Developed by the Stratford Master Plan Committee:
with assistance from North Country Council, Inc.
DRAFT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
December 29, 2007
Photo Credits: Stephen D. Allen Sr. Contents Page
1. The Stratford Community [to be inserted in final document] 1.1 Stratford History 1.2 The Economic Base 1.3 The Population 1.4 Incomes 1.5 Housing 2. Planning for the Future 2.1 The Process
3.1 Forest 3.2 Agriculture 3.3 Residential 3.4 Commercial, Industrial and Services 3.5 Excavations 3.6 Regulation of Land Use 4. The Infrastructure 4.1 Transportation 4.2 School 4.3 Town Buildings 4.4 Water and Sewer 4.5 Solid Waste 4.6 Cemeteries 4.7 Recreation 4.8 Utilities 4.9 Medical 4.10 Social 5. The Tax Base 6. The Plan 6.1 Future Land Use 6.2 Stratford's Role in the Region 6.3 Goals, Objectives, Policies and Recommendations 7. Implementation of the Plan
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1. The Stratford Community
1.1 Stratford History The town's history is best summarized by this excerpt from Patty Summers' "A Brief History of Stratford" (April 12, 2006):
The railroad is also a key piece of the town's heritage. At one time pulp was hauled by drays to the station and loaded on cars on the siding. The railroad served the large plywood mill once located in town. In addition to transporting goods and passengers, the railroad was also an important link in communications, used by both mail and telegraph.
Those wishing to learn more about Stratford's history are fortunate to have Jeannette R. Thompson's "History of the Town of Stratford New Hampshire 1773-1925" available at the local libraries.
1.2 The Economic Base The wood products industry has continued to play a prominent role in Stratford's economy. In the 1950s and 1960s Stratford Plywood Mill was the cornerstone of the vibrant community. In the mid-1960s when Brown Co. purchased the mill, between 400 and 600 people were employed there. In 1970 the mill was again sold, and closed soon after in 1972. The mill has since been used by a number of businesses, but none with sustained employment in significant numbers. Currently, only a portion of the building is being used. Although there are a number of jobs in town 237 people reported Stratford as their place of employment in the 2000 U.S. Census - there is currently no large private business employer in Stratford. The school and town are the largest employers, and many of the jobs are part-time. Businesses typically employ 1 to 4 individuals.
Area jobs have been affected by regional and national economic forces. In early 2006, as part of major shareholder International Paper's restructuring, Groveton Paper Board just south of Stratford closed laying off its 108 employees. It was estimated that 300 area jobs were impacted when logging and trucking were taken into account. The closing was due to a combination of manufacturing shifting overseas and the high energy and transportation costs in northern New England.
The area's remaining large mill, Wausau Paper, announced its plans to close its Groveton mill by the end of 2007. This will mean that 303 people will be laid off, and again, will have far-reaching impacts in the area's forest products-related economy.
Even in recent years, prior to these two mill closures, Stratford itself was the place of employment for the highest number of employed Stratford residents. The 2000 U.S. Census reported 77 of 392 employed Stratford residents working in Stratford. Groveton was next in importance with 67 Stratford residents employed there. Fifty-eight Stratford residents commuted further south to Lancaster, and 58 drove north to Colebrook. Fifty-seven worked in other New Hampshire communities such as Berlin, Stewartstown, Dixville, or other towns. Sixty-four residents worked on the other side of the Connecticut River in Vermont, and 11 individuals working in other states called Stratford home.
For data reporting and analysis purposes, Stratford is considered to be part of the Littleton labor market area, along with Northumberland and Lancaster. However, the town's economic statistics are more closely aligned with that of the Colebrook area. The most recent available unemployment rate for Stratford, September 2007, was 4.4%, compared with 3.5% in Coos County as a whole and 3.2% statewide. This was an improvement over Stratford's rate of 5.3% in 2006, but the figure is expected to be higher in 2008 after the Wausau mill closure.
When using unemployment statistics, it is important to keep in mind that these figures underestimate the available labor force in an area as they reflect only those individuals eligible to collect unemployment benefits. The figures do not include those whose unemployment benefits have expired or who were not eligible to collect benefits, those working at jobs that pay well below a livable wage or working two jobs to make ends meet, or those bearing the high costs of a long commute without public transit.
Existing and future Stratford businesses benefit not only from Stratford's workforce, but also from easy access to the community from Colebrook, Groveton, Lancaster, and Berlin. In 2000, the U.S. Census reported that of 237 people employed in Stratford almost a third (77) were Stratford residents, but nearly that number, 67, commuted to work from Lancaster.
1.3 The Population Since the late 1800s Stratford's population has experienced small increases and decreases depending on national, regional and local economic trends. The highest population reported by the U.S. Census was 1,128 in 1890; the lowest was 794 in 1920. In recent times, the town dropped from a peak of 1,029 in 1960 to 927 in 1990, then showed a small increase to 942 in the 2000 U.S. Census. NH Office of Energy and Planning estimates indicate this upward trend may continue the OEP estimate for 2005 was 1,002. NH OEP records, as reported by the town, indicate that permits were issued for 29 more housing units than were lost to fire or demolition. Growth will, however, continue to be influenced by regional trends.
While the total population has remained relatively stable, the make-up of that population has not. Like many areas, Stratford has seen a decrease in the school-age population and an increase in those over 65. In the North Country this is both because of the aging baby boomers, and because of the loss of jobs in the area and increasing popularity with retirees. In 1980 the school age population (age 5-17) in town was 257 (26%), in 1990 201 (22%), and in 2000 174 (18%). County-wide, the average school age population in 2000 was also 18%. The population of those under 5 in Stratford fell from 99 (10%) in 1980, to 68 (7%) in 1990, to 50 (5%) in 2000. Again, 5% was the average for Coos County. During the same period, the population 65 and over in Stratford grew from 85 (9%) in 1980 to 120 (13%) in 2000. This was less than the county-wide average of 18% in 2000.
Each of these population changes has special implications for the services needed and financial impacts of those needs. The decreasing school-age population has severely impacted the financial situation of the town as state aid for education is disbursed on a per pupil basis while many school costs remain the same despite falling enrollments. At the same time, the elderly require more assistance with health care, transportation, meals and other services.
1.4 Incomes The 2000 U.S. Census reported that in 1999 Stratford residents had the next to lowest median household income in the state ($28,594) and the next to lowest per capita income ($13,784). At that time, 14.33% of the town's population was below the poverty level compared with 9.98% county-wide.
1.5 Housing Stratford's housing supply grew substantially from 1990 to 2000, from 479 units in 1990 to 540 in 2000. The number of vacant units reported by the Census remained steady, 146 units in 1990 and 143 in 2000, as did the number of those that are seasonal homes, 108 in 1990 and 107 in 2000. The increase in the number of units was seen in both owner-occupied dwelling units and rental units. In 1990, there were 226 owner-occupied units reported by the Census and 107 rental units. In 2000, these figures had increased to 269 owner-occupied units and 128 rental units.
North Country Council conducted a housing needs assessment in 2004 to assist member communities in complying with RSA 674:2. III.l by including this information in local master plans (North Country Region Housing Needs Assessment, December 1, 2004). Housing trends and needs of the North Country region were assessed by subregions. Stratford was studied as part of the former Lancaster Labor Market Area (LMA), which also included Jefferson, Lancaster, Northumberland, and Stark. (The Lancaster LMA has since been combined into the Littleton NH-VT LMA.) The information in the following paragraphs is based on this Housing Needs Assessment and U.S. Census data.
From 1990 to 2002, the number of housing units in the Lancaster area increased by 7% (from 3,963 to 4,118). This figure was just slightly lower than the rate for the North Country region as a whole (8%). During the same period, the Colebrook LMA grew by 16% and the Berlin area saw virtually no growth. Stratford's 66 unit increase (479 to 545) gave it the highest percentage in the Lancaster LMA (14%).
Similar to the rest of the North Country region, most of the housing as well as housing growth in the Lancaster LMA has been in single-family units. The Lancaster LMA actually lost multifamily units and manufactured housing from 1990 - 2002. This trend is of concern because multifamily housing and manufactured housing tend to be among the more affordable housing options.
Although housing costs tend to be lower in the North Country than in much of the state (average purchase price was $110,000 in Lancaster LMA in 2003 vs. $214,400 statewide), purchase prices in the North Country increased by 57% between 1999 and 2003, following statewide trends (+66%). Rental units have followed similar trends. The average cost for a 2-bedroom unit in the North Country in 2004 was $609 per month, up 17% from 2000 figures. The statewide average was $978, up 29% from 2000.
Despite lower prices, the housing cost burden for North Country residents is not less than that for the rest of the state - incomes are also substantially lower. In 2002 the average weekly wage was $478 in the North Country compared with $696 statewide.
Housing costs have an especially burdensome effect on the elderly. In 1999 almost 42% of renter households age 65 and over in the Lancaster LMA were estimated to be paying more than 30% of their incomes on housing. This compared with 19.5% of renter households under 65. Thirty percent is the generally accepted level above which insufficient household funds are available for other basic necessities, such as food, clothing, medical care, day care and transportation. For homeowners the differential is smaller - about 26% for those over 65 compared with just over 16% for those under 65, presumably because mortgages tend to be paid off by then.
The future need for housing in Stratford is difficult to predict. It will be closely tied to the regional economy, which, in turn, is affected by the global economy. The North Country's ability to adapt with tomorrow's products and services, a modern telecommunications system, and a multimodal transportation system, along with maintenance of the high quality of life sought by professionals, retirees and vacationers, will be key.
2. Planning for the Future
2.1 The Process In 2006 the Stratford Planning Board embarked on this update to the 1992 Comprehensive Plan. Funds were included in the 2007 budget passed by Town Meeting to contract with North Country Council for professional planning assistance and a community attitude survey was conducted. The survey was distributed to the 631 voters and property owners. The response rate was 13% -- 53% of respondents were voters, 96% were property owners. About half of respondents own lots of less than 5 acres; however, 18 large landowners (50 or more acres) also responded. When asked to choose among a list of features that might cause one to find Stratford to be a desirable place to live, a majority chose:
Consistent with the above, a majority of respondents reported placing a high value on:
3.1 Forest Most of Stratford's land area is forested. Since the late 1980s, more than half of the land area (over 24,000 acres) in town has had future uses restricted by public acquisition or conservation easements, protecting this resource for recreation, the needs of the forest products industry, and other forest values. [See below and Map 1]
The largest conserved tract is the Nash Stream Forest, purchased in 1988 through a cooperative project of the State, U.S. Forest Service, Nature Conservancy and Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. Thirteen thousand acres of the Forest are in Stratford, with the remainder of the 39,601 acres in adjacent Columbia, Stark and Odell. The Forest was protected from development to ensure continued wood production and public access for recreation. A management plan was published in 1995 by NH Department of Resources and Economic Development, the lead agency in the Forest's management. The Plan was developed with the guidance of a gubernatorial-appointed Advisory Committee. Although the Committee represented a wide range of interests, local officials were not provided a seat on the Committee to advocate for the Town's interests. The Plan calls for more than half of the Forest to continue to be managed for timber, continued ability of those with camp lot leases to pass them along within their families, and continued public access for hunting, fishing, trapping and other recreation uses. Maintenance of the multi-use road/trail network was also provided for, including 37 miles of snowmobile trail.
The Management Plan called for a Citizen Advisory Committee to guide the management of the Forest on an ongoing basis. Each community has a seat on that Committee. In 2002 DRED issued Management Plan Updates and Revisions for the Nash Stream Forest, developed with the help of the Advisory Committee. The update reflected increased awareness of the importance of the area's tourist economy. The updated plan called for a pilot ATV trail project, which is now in place.
3.2 Agriculture Agricultural use has been mainly limited to the western side of town, including in the floodplain areas along the Connecticut River. This remains one of the best uses for the floodplains, as it minimizes the risk to life and property. In 2006, 1,060 acres of agricultural land in town were enrolled in the current use program, granting reduced property taxes to reduce development pressure. Agricultural enterprises add to the quality of life for residents and the marketability of the community to tourists, businesses, and those looking to buy or build a second home.
3.3 Residential Residential use is primarily clustered along US Route 3, either right on Route 3 or on smaller town and private roads off of it, on Bog Road, and in the two village areas known as "North Stratford" and "Stratford Hollow" (see Map 1). (The names "North Stratford" and "Stratford Hollow" are used throughout this document to denote the two more densely developed areas at either end of town. It should be noted that these are not village districts, or in any way separate communities within the Town of Stratford.) New residences are increasingly being built away from the main roads on private or public dirt roads.
Most new residences in recent years have tended to be second homes or retirement homes. In some cases, campers or trailers serve as camps or temporary homes.
Many of the subdivisions of the past have remained undeveloped. In most cases the lots have been sold; in a few cases they are still owned by the subdivider.
3.4 Commercial, Industrial and Services Small businesses are found scattered along Route 3 throughout town (see Map 1). Active industrial facilities include the railroad repair building built in 1996 and petroleum tank farm built in 2000, both to the north of town. In addition, a natural gas pipeline was constructed through town in 1999, becoming the largest taxpayer and substantially adding to the tax base.
The zoning ordinance does not regulate the location, setbacks or impacts of development on neighboring properties, or protect business uses from the results of incompatible uses next door. None of the businesses in town employ more than a handful of people.
3.5 Excavations The town has several small, active grandfathered excavations as follows:
Redimix US Route 3 north of town Cloutier Bog Road Marceau Town Line Road Marquis Reservoir Road
The town implements RSA 155-E, the state's requirements for permitting and reclaiming sand and gravel excavations.
3.6 Regulation of Land Use True to the independent Yankee spirit, the Stratford community has preferred minimal land use regulations. The Town's Land Use Ordinance, adopted in 1995, prohibits waste dump sites of any kind municipal, medical, hazardous, industrial or radioactive. All other uses are permitted so long as they do not "produce or emit excessive smoke, fumes, dust, odor, refuse material, noise, vibration, radiation, or the like condition, or that may disturb, or endanger the health, safety, peace, or enjoyment of the community..." State laws such as wetland, stormwater and septic regulations are relied upon for managing the impacts of development. In addition, state laws governing junk yards are administered by the Selectboard. Enforcement costs are an issue for Stratford, as is true for most small towns.
4. The Infrastructure
4.1 Transportation
Roads Stratford is fortunate to have as its transportation backbone US Route 3, connecting Quebec to the US Interstate highway system. Bog Road is a relatively well-maintained state and town road with the potential to connect large tracts of undeveloped land to the west of the Nash Stream Forest with US Route 3. Off of US Route 3 and Bog Road are several public and private roads serving scattered homes and camps. Logging roads also provide access to the forests for recreationists as well as logging. NH Department of Transportation data (2003) show the following public highway mileages for Stratford:
Class I Primary State Highways 11.463 miles Class II Secondary State Highways 4.55 miles Class V Town Roads 9.750 miles Class VI Other Unmaintained Public Ways 0.876 miles
Rail The St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad through Stratford is part of the former Grand Trunk Eastern. According to the NH Rail Plan it is a regionally significant connection between Portland/Auburn, Maine and Canada. This railroad transports bulk and container traffic via a connection with the Canadian National Railway near Montreal. The line was rehabilitated in 1996 from Shelburne to "North Stratford" using a state revolving loan fund. Plans are now being developed to further improve and upgrade the line.
The New Hampshire Central Railroad operates the state-owned North Stratford-Beecher Falls Line. Aggregate, wood products and bulk fuel are transported on this line. Seven miles of this line were rehabilitated in 1995 using state and private funds. The state has also repaired two bridges. New Hampshire Central owns a repair facility to the north of town.
Air Small commercial airports are located nearby in Berlin and Whitefield.
Special Needs There is no fixed route service for nondrivers in Stratford to access jobs or shopping and services in Colebrook or Lancaster. With advance notice, North Country Transit provides transportation for medical appointments and shopping in the area. Volunteer drivers for medical appointments out of the area are coordinated by Tri-County Community Action Program, Inc.
4.2 School The 2-story 36,000 square foot brick building located off US Route 3 in "North Stratford" houses grades K-12.The building was expanded in 1961. More recently, a multipurpose room was added. In addition, the emergency management office doubles as a music room. Needed renovations include handicap accessibility, including an elevator, and security.
Even with tuition students from Vermont, the school has been operating well below capacity for some time. Enrollments have declined from over 300 students in 1980 to about half that figure today. The enrollment figure of 152 in August 2007 included 12 kindergarten students, 92 students in grades 1 through 8, and 48 in high school. Thirty-seven of these were tuition students from Bloomfield, Brunswick and Maidstone.
4.3 Town Buildings
Town Hall Fuller Town Hall on US Route 3 in "North Stratford" was built in 1990 to replace the original town hall, which burned down. The Town Hall houses the planning board, police department, and sewer lab and office. It is also used for senior meals, various meetings, and elections, and is occasionally rented for other functions. The building is adequate at this time, but long-term plans might include more room for the police department and an elevator to facilitate handicap access between the two floors. In addition, inadequate parking continues to be an issue.
Town Office The town offices have been located in the fire station on Town Common Road in "North Stratford" since the original town hall burned down. One side of the 1975 building houses the town office and the Stratford Public Library. The other side continues to serve as the fire substation and is used for the storage of the ambulance, police cruiser, lawn maintenance equipment, and fire vehicles. The brick and block building has experienced some structural problems which will need to be addressed at some point. In addition, parking is very limited, and space for the town vault is inadequate.
Fire Department The main station is at "Stratford Hollow." (Also a substation at "North Stratford", see above.) The 1981 wood-frame building houses the frontline vehicles, including jaws of life. The town's second library, Laura Johnson Library, has also been housed in this building since having to move out of the private home it was originally located in. The roof was recently replaced.
The old fire station building, currently used by the Knights of Pythias, is in need of substantial work. It is currently used to house the town's sewer truck.
Highway Shed The current pole barn structure, used by the contracted road agent for storage of sand, salt, and equipment, is in the process of being updated and repaired. (The contracted road agent performs all highway department services.)
Railroad Station The Grand Trunk railroad station in "North Stratford" was purchased by the town in 1988. Renovations to the 1852 wood-frame building are underway using town and grant funds. Much has been accomplished the roof has been replaced, the building was raised up and a foundation put under it, wiring has been installed, the walls have been insulated and renovated, an outside deck has been installed, a bathroom has been installed and water and sewer piped to it. Planned uses after renovations are complete include a new location for the Stratford Public Library and a museum area celebrating the town's railroad heritage. A community meeting room with computers with internet access is also being explored. When completed, the project has the potential to serve as the centerpiece of the village area.
Grange Hall The Grange Hall, built in 1820, is the oldest town building. It is currently used in nonwinter months by the Grange. Grant funding for restoration/renovation should be explored.
4.4 Water and Sewer
Water The North Stratford Water Department serves approximately 300 people at 109 connections (DES, 2003). The system serves the millhouse and "North Stratford" village areas and includes wells, a 300,000 gallon storage tank and pumping station. The 1920 reservoir was abandoned in the 1990s. Although there is excess capacity, expansion of the system is deemed cost prohibitive due to the surrounding topography.
Sewer Sewer systems were built in 1985 to serve the millhouse and "North Stratford" village areas. The system includes 3 pump houses, a lagoon, sand filter and disinfection treatment system. The system was recently renovated to send effluent to the Connecticut River instead of Kimball Brook. The village district is designed to handle 56,000 gallons per day. The mill house district is designed to handle 24,000 gallons per day. Both have on occasion been over capacity. This has not been due to excess hook-ups but to a number of other factors including flooding of the system itself due to spring snowmelt, heavy rains and ice dams, leakage of stormwater into the system, and, in the past, flooding of basements with the water pumped into the system, and people leaving water running to keep pipes from freezing. The town has been working hard to address the last three issues, but the flooding of the system is a siting issue which can not be overcome.
4.5 Solid Waste The town has a recycling center/transfer station (quonset hut) that is considered to be adequate for current and future needs. The town contracts with a private hauler to bring the solid waste to the Berlin landfill. Disposal continues to be paid for with taxes rather than user fees. The town is a member of the Northeast Resource Recovery Association. This town property has the potential to serve additional town needs in the future, such as new town offices.
The former town landfill is tested and reports submitted to the state as required.
4.6 Cemeteries The town owns Baldwin Cemetery, Burnside Cemetery, Stratford Center Cemetery and Haynes Cemetery. Two private cemeteries in town are the Fairview Cemetery and Sacred Heart Cemetery. Several of these cemeteries have room for expansion. The existing land should be adequate for the next ten years.
4.7 Recreation Stratford is fortunate to have a wide variety of developed and undeveloped recreation areas. In addition to the opportunities provided by the Nash Stream Forest, residents and visitors enjoy a town-wide system of multipurpose trails. The North Country ATV Trail system is shared with the Stratford Nighthawks snowmobile club. Most of the 120 miles of trail are located on private lands. The entire trail system is maintained by volunteers. The trail system has enabled Stratford to host such events as dog sled races, a triathlon, and mountain bike race.
The town owns several recreation facilities:
There are also several town parks:
Several canoe and car-top boat launches provide access to the Connecticut River:
4.8 Utilities The town is served by PSNH and Verizon. In addition, homes in "North Stratford", along US Route 3, in "Stratford Hollow", and along a portion of Bog Road, are also served by cable television.
Cellular phone service and high speed internet access are a high priority for Stratford as for other unserved parts of the North Country. The town has been exploring a grant for high speed internet access.
4.9 Medical Ambulance service is provided primarily through a contract with Groveton. Stratford also has its own ambulance department staffed with volunteers, but it is difficult for volunteers to find adequate time to participate in the required training.
Residents' medical needs are served by a variety of facilities and programs. Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital 13 miles north of town in Colebrook provides emergency services and a walk-in clinic as well as home health services. Weeks Medical Center 13 miles south of town in Lancaster also provides home health and hospice services to those unable to pay. Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin also serves the area. Specialized care is provided to North Country residents by the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon.
In July 2007, a medical clinic, Clinic Sans Frontieres, was opened on Main Street in Stratford.
4.10 Social In addition to two churches and a variety of local organizations that enable residents to connect around shared interests and activities, there are several area agencies serving Stratford:
Northern Human Services is a mental health agency that provides emergency services, counseling, and drug and alcohol treatment and education.
Vershire Center provides vocational and social training and support to individuals with disabilities.
Tri-County Community Action Programs, Inc., assists low income, elderly and handicapped persons to solve problems and meet their physical and financial needs, including fuel assistance.
North Country Elder Programs provides a senior meals program at Fuller Town Hall and Meals on Wheels for those who are homebound.
5. The Tax Base
Despite a declining local economy, the assessed value in town has increased substantially over the last 15 years, from just under $16 million in 1992 to over $73 million today. One big increase in the tax base in 1998/99 was due to the construction of the natural gas pipeline through town. During this period, the expense of running the town and school have doubled with the cost of living total property taxes increased from $638,221 in 1992 to $1,293,425 in 2007. In addition to the introduction of the state school tax and addition of the gas pipeline to the tax base, tax rates have fluctuated a great deal with revaluations and spending.
The tax revenue from a small portion of the land in town must pay the bulk of the town's costs. This is due to the fact that a large area (over 24,000 acres) of the town is either publicly-owned or under conservation easement. The vast majority of the remainder (34,000 acres) is enrolled in the current use program, which means the town is only able to tax it at the value for forest management or agriculture rather than development potential.
6. The Plan
6.1 Future Land Use Future development patterns will continue to be heavily dependent on US Route 3. Denser residential and commercial development in and around existing village areas will serve to drive the economic health of these villages while providing walkable communities. Land to the north of Bog Road seems to have the best potential for the future growth of "Stratford Hollow," given the steep terrain to the south and floodplain areas to the west. In "North Stratford," denser residential and commercial development should be encouraged to the east both north and south of the existing village area. (See Maps 2 and 3.)
Encouraging and accommodating new businesses is a high priority of the town. One area identified with high potential for industrial uses is on both sides of US Route 3 in between "Stratford Hollow" and "North Stratford." (See Map 3.) A major employer or several smaller employers in this area would facilitate easy access for residents from all over Stratford.
For the developer seeking a large tract for a four-season residential recreation community, the large expanse of undeveloped forest adjacent to public lands in the Sugarloaf-Bog Brook area has high potential.
6.2 Stratford's Role in the Region The lack of a strong local economy leads to high school graduates leaving town to find jobs in other areas. The problem is circular, as this out-migration results in lack of a local workforce to attract businesses to town. To a large extent, the local economy is affected by forces beyond the town's control. For example, the closing of the mills in Groveton, which employed large numbers of Stratford residents, was influenced by the global economy, i.e. competition from other areas with cheaper labor, energy and transportation.
The tourist economy provides potential economic development opportunities for the town. Many visitors currently come for either snowmobiling or ATVing. Obviously visitation from snowmobilers varies year to year according to the weather, and to some extent, gas prices. The ATV market is dependent on continued development and maintenance of the regional trail system in addition to gas prices.
Higher end development is hampered by the lack of land use regulations and a faltering economy. Again, the problem is circular with a poor economy providing a lack of both incentive and funds for improvements.
Stratford's success in the future will be dependent upon the community's ability to take advantage of the opportunity to participate in and benefit from today's regional economic development initiatives. In response to area mill closings, North Country Council has been obtaining federal EDA funding to organize and administer a variety of economic develop planning and assistance initiatives in Coos County. Some of the activities with potential benefits for Stratford include:
Another federal EDA grant is enabling North Country Council to work together with the Northern Forest Center on the Northern Forest Sustainable Economy Initiative. This project focuses on planning strategic initiatives that will lead to a sustained improvement in the economy of the forested north country of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. The initiatives are being developed by a steering committee made up of leaders from all four states based on research being commissioned by NCC and the NFC.
As a result of local economic development initiatives in Colebrook and Groveton, as well as NCC involvement in master plan efforts in Stratford and Whitefield, work is underway to develop grant applications for a locally driven economic development planning effort from Whitefield to Colebrook. The foundation of the plan would be a corridor plan for US Route 3 as the economic backbone of the area.
6.3 Goals, Objectives, Policies and Recommendations
Goal
Objectives
Policies and Recommendations
Objective
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