Growth Management

The major policy goal of the Town of Charlestown Comprehensive Plan 1991 was "To protect and encourage appropriate use of the town's natural and cultural resources, including groundwater and surface water (fresh water and salt water), a variety of wetland and upland habitats, the barrier beaches, historic villages, historic cemeteries, tribal artifacts and sites, and scenic views and corridors." The plan then goes on to state that controlling growth and making sure that it occurs in the right places are the best ways to achieve this goal.

This prompted Charlestown to begin growth management, which began in 1998 with the adoption of new zoning ordinances and subdivision regulations. Subsequent to the zoning and subdivision changes, Charlestown has completed three phases of growth management. Phase I of growth management was adopted in February, 2000. It created a cap on the number of building permits that could be issued each quarter. This cap is based on the number of seats that are available in the school system, and is intended to slow growth until infrastructure can be created to accommodate it.

Phase II of growth management was adopted in April, 2000. It involved the creation of an impact fee on all new development. This impact fee was again tied into capital improvements that need to be made to the school system as the number of children increases.

Phase III of growth management was adopted in May, 2000. It altered the zoning ordinances to require cluster development on all subdivisions over 6 lots, and mandated that 40% of the unconstrained land be left undeveloped.

Phase IV of growth management is currently in development, as of May, 2001. It will involve the creation of an openspace plan, and an openspace impact fee. The research presented on this web site is intended to aide in the creation of Phase IV of growth management.