Add the following paragraph to Housing Trends:

Proposed Amendments to the Wales Comprehensive Plan

May 31, 2005

Household size in Wales has declined during the past two decades, from 3.25 in 1980 to 2.82 in 2000. It is estimated that in 2015, the household size in Wales will be about 2.6. Using this information and the population projection from the previous section of the plan, Wales will need 570 occupied housing units. Assuming a vacancy rate of 2%, a total year round housing stock of 580 units will be needed or an increase of 110 new units.

Delete the two paragraphs under Wildlife Habitat in Part 1 Inventory and replace them with the following:

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) has mapped two types of Significant Wildlife Habitat in Wales. Habitat for wading birds and waterfowl are located in many of the town’s wetland and shoreland areas. Although most of the wetlands have not been rated for wildlife habitat, the area adjacent to the northern most part of Sabattus Pond is habitat to the least bittern, a threatened species. These areas are shown on the Wildlife Habitat map.

IFW has also identified several deer wintering areas in Wales. While deer wintering areas are not stagnant, maintaining sufficient suitable habitat area is important. Substantial development near deer areas often leads to conflicts when deer searching for food damage landscape plants and gardens. Large mammals require significant blocks of undeveloped land to thrive.

All of the wading bird and waterfowl habitat and several of the identified deer yards are related to wetlands and streams. Riparian areas, those between open water or wetlands and upland areas, are extremely important for all types of wildlife and those along streams also provide travel corridors.

Add new strategies under Housing:

Cooperate with neighboring communities to develop a regional affordable housing analysis and plan. Consider applying for a Regional Challenge Grant from the State Planning Office to conduct the analysis.

Responsibility: Selectmen and Planning Board

The Planning Board will develop policies to expedite the approval process for affordable housing projects in the growth areas.

Responsibility: Planning Board

Amend Strategy 1 under Historic and Archaeological Resources to read as follows:

Amend the land use plan and subdivision ordinance to require applicants of projects that include work in areas previously identified as being potential archaeological sites, especially those that include work below the high water line of Sabattus Pond, to complete an archaeological survey prior to approval by the Planning Board and to minimize the impact of development on any historic or archaeological site.

Add a new strategy under Historic and Archaeological Resources:

Appoint a Committee to evaluate the towns historic buildings and list those that are worthy of preserving through ordinance provisions. The Committee will hold a public hearing and make recommendations for ordinance provisions.

Responsibility: Selectmen

Add a new strategy under Land Use

10. Review location of new housing starts for the past 3 years in early 2008. Develop new strategies to encourage growth to the growth areas if at least 60% of the housing starts are not in the growth areas.

Responsibility: Planning Board and Code Enforcement Officer

In Part III Land Use Plan, add mobile home parks to the list of allowable uses in the growth areas.

In Part III Land Use Plan, remove the following sentence from the Limited Rural Area description: “No development will occur above an elevation of 600 above mean sea level on Sabattus Mountain and above an elevation of 500 above mean sea level on Oak Hill.”