Uncontrolled growth can lead to poorly planned, inappropriate development that neglects the importance of open space, increases traffic, crowds schools and drives up taxes.

For Exeter, the district's schools are the biggest limitations that necessitate growth limits. To see a graph depicting the current and potential enrolled students in the Exeter/West Greenwich school district, link here.

In order to offset future pressures on schools, land, water, and the town budget, it is important for Exeter to devise plans and regulations that would plan for growth in an orderly way.

Growth Management Options from Exeter's Comprehensive Plan 1994

New Zoning Districts- Open Space District, Planned Districts, Overlay districts related to environmental protection (Implemented, 2001)

Site Plan Review- In order to ensure proper site standards, environmental protection and soil erosion and drainage in new developments, Exeter's Planning Board uses the site plan review to examine nonresidential development, subdivision proposals, and all development proposals in Overlay districts. (Implemented, 2001)

Impact Fee Ordinance- This is a fee that would be required from all proposed developments in order to compensate the town for fiscal impacts of growth. Although this does not have a direct effect on controlling growth, it helps to absorb the fiscal impacts that growth has on the town. (Pending Approval, 2001)

Growth Rate Control Ordinance- Although, this would not limit the overall growth of the town as in the use of a growth cap, but would meter out growth at a rate that the town can sustain.

Cluster Development- "Conventional subdivision development does not provide the potential for the creation of open space corridors, the preservation of prime farmland or increased protection for sensitive natural features." (Exeter Comprehensive Plan 1994) Cluster developments are planned districts that can make more efficient use of open space.

Open Space Acquisition-In order to help the town acquire land for open space protection, the local tax assessment policy needs to properly reflect the fiscal impacts of different land uses to ensure the town proper revenue from property taxes. The establishment of a local land trust and the enactment of a municipal real estate transfer tax will also help open space acquisition efforts. (Implemented, 2001)