The intricately detailed and varied landscape of northern New England is a result of its complex geologic history. Prominent hills and ridges of granite and other hard rocks remain from episodes of mountain building million of years ago. Scraping and rounding by advancing ice during the ice ages altered their profiles, and glacial melting left rocky rubble strewn throughout the lower elevations. The Upper Valley, in which Hanover lies, has been further shaped by the Connecticut River and its dozens of tributary streams. (For a more detailed description of Hanover's natural setting, see 'Natural Resources', Hanover Master Plan, 12/16/86, page XI-1-15.)

Three centuries of settlement and development have also left their mark on the local landscape. Farming, forestry, residences, businesses and Dartmouth College have all affected what we see around us today. Natural and cultural elements, singly or in combination, comprise our fund of scenic assets.

Hanover is bounded to the west by the Connecticut River, and to the east by the ridge and slopes of Moose Mountain. The Town of Lyme lies to the north, and the City of Lebanon to the south. Hanover's landscape is defined by a series of hillsides, ridgelines and valleys running roughly parallel to the Connecticut River.

Land use in the more rural areas is evolving from forest, wood lot, and low density agriculture to more intense suburban residential uses, with some light commerce and industry. Historically, Hanover Center and Etna were the residential centers of the town. In more recent years, the focus has shifted to the downtown Hanover/Dartmouth College area.

Hanover's Master Plan (1986) states that "the special quality that distinguishes Hanover from other communities in the region is the dual development of a college and a town comprised of both village centers and rural areas. Elaborate, architect-designed structures expressive of the tradition and wealth of one of the nation's first colleges coexist with the modest one and two-story frame dwellings of early settlers sporadically dotting the rolling landscape, corresponding to the original land grants. The planned community of the college contrasts sharply with the evolutionary development of the town itself, yet the two are intimately interwoven." ('Historic Resources', Hanover Master Plan, 12/16/86, p. X-1). The Master Plan also emphasizes that "Hanover's natural resources and open space lands contribute significantly to the character of the Town." ('Land Use', Hanover Master Plan, 12/16/86, p. XII-23).

1922 Hanover Improvement Society established

1957 Town report called "Hanover Plans Ahead"

1961 First town-wide zoning ordinance - contained non-specific idea of a greenbelt of open spaces to surround the urban core of the town "to provide recreation and breathing space".

1963 Hanover Conservation Council established

1966 Hanover Conservation Commission established, with fund to buy open space lands. Required by state law to keep "an index of all open space and natural, aesthetic or ecological areas within the...town..." (RSA 36-A)

1971 The 600-member Hanover Conservation Council raised $51,000 to purchase summit of Balch Hill, 14 acres of South Esker.

1973 First year of state-mandated Current Use Program (RSA 79-A)

1974 Majority of respondees (54%) to town survey identified need for protection of open space in Hanover

1975 First Master Plan - recommended extension of the greenbelt.

1975 Etna-Hanover Center Study Committee proposed the "Natural Areas Network" of conservation and recreation trails and un-maintained roads.

1979 Hanover's Greensboro Road Valley study cited significance of local landscape.

1984 57% of respondees to town survey wanted greater protection for town's open space lands.

1985 Upper Valley Land Trust established to "help people conserve land."

1994 90% of surveyed town residents identified "scenery" as a quality they most valued about Hanover. 84% identified "access to outdoor recreation" and "uncrowded living spaces". The majority cited "great need" or "some need" for increased protection of open space lands.

1995 Hanover Community Profile (Upper Valley 2001 and Beyond report) underscored the value of the landscape and open space.

1997 Scenic Locales Committee appointed to identify, prioritize and find protection methods for important locales in the local landscape

1998 Master Plan revision (draft) cites as its second goal the greenbelt as part of the open space protection program.

* Preservation of Scenic Areas and Viewsheds, Technical Bulletin #10, NH Office of State Planning (bold added)

1. to review the Master Plan to establish criteria for designating specific areas in Hanover as "scenic locales"...to develop specific criteria and attach specific weights to these criteria, which should result in a prioritized ranking system.


2. once complete, to inventory specific sites for consideration. Community input should be sought in developing a comprehensive list of sites.


3. to rank each site based on the criteria developed.


4. to establish guidelines for town utilization in considering acquisition, negotiating conservation easements, etc. for protecting these scenic locales.


5. to identify existing or potential new funding sources which could be developed and/or utilized to acquire prioritized locales as they become available.

The Scenic Locales Committee developed a two-track approach to its assignment. Committee members analyzed many examples of scenic studies from communities around the country, on the basis of which they worked out a matrix system for listing and ranking scenic sites in Hanover. Meanwhile, the committee also solicited community input through a survey mailed to 1200 randomly-selected households. Survey forms and maps upon which people could give additional information were placed at the Howe and Etna libraries, the Municipal Building, and at the 1998 Town Meeting. Tabulation of the public surveys indicated more than 200 locations distributed throughout town that are important to the public.

A combined list of the highest-ranking sites from the committee matrix, and the sites that were mentioned the most frequently in the public surveys, was evaluated according to the degree to which each site was deemed by the committee to be vulnerable to or threatened by development. The nine most vulnerable sites were placed on the High-Priority Action List.

The committee wrote a set of goals for Hanover's scenic protection, upon which it based a lengthy list of recommendations for preservation of the landscape as a whole, and for the specific sites on the High-Priority Action List.

A complete description of the process, evaluation criteria, and survey results of this study are contained in Appendices A and B of this report.

Hanover's commitment to protection of scenic resources can be defined by three sets of goals that outline a general approach, establish a vision for the landscape as a whole, and provide guidance for specific types of locales.

* That municipal government, in all its relevant functions, make specific and serious commitment to protection of scenic resources, particularly in high-priority, unique or threatened locations;

* That residents of Hanover support municipal government in its scenic preservation efforts;

* That landowners - private, institutional, and business - consider independent action to amplify municipal accomplishments through easements, donations and other means.

* Strive to preserve the interconnectedness of the visual landscape - its overall impression on viewers as they go about the business of living in Hanover.

* Ensure that, within the boundaries of Hanover, true choices of residential styles, from in-town to rural or remote, are possible and sustainable, both now and in the future.

* Adopt and enforce policies which minimize the impact on the landscape of new structures and changing land uses.

* Protect the specific sites and the little places that, collectively, create the outdooor "ambiance" of Hanover, and which go far towards defining "the character of the neighborhood" as discussed in the Master Plan.

HILLTOPS AND RIDGES

* Keep ridgelines and high hillsides visually "natural".


* Prevent new construction from dominating the natural landscape.

WATER BODIES

* Protect the natural appearance of shorelines and surrounding slopes.


* Provide more public access for boating, hiking, viewing.

ROADS

* Sustain the rural appearance of the landscape as seen from roads.

CULTURAL FEATURES

* Maintain sites and their visual context (a subset of "character of the neighborhood").


* Encourage agricultural pursuits.

NATURAL FEATURES AND OPEN SPACE

* Plan for and maintain an extensive, interconnected network of trails.

* Maintain open fields as part of a varied landscape.

* Maintain open fields to provide distant views of scenic vistas.


* Identify and protect large areas of wildlife habitat and wildlife corridors throughout the town.

* Maximize the visual quality of existing resources.

COMMUNITY GATEWAYS AND/OR LANDSCAPE TRANSITIONS


* Protect and enhance the visual attractiveness of the entrances to Hanover.

* Prevent compromise of landscape transitions.

* Prevent visual impact of commercialism on gateways, especially along Route 120 South Main Street and Lyme Road.

The many boards and commissions of Hanover's town government play a critical role in scenic protection. The following suggestions are presented according to the board or commission most likely to initiate action.

Introduce the findings of the Scenic Locales Committee by means of neighborhood meetings, with Upper Valley Land Trust participation. Outline options for municipal action and for citizen and landowner participation in scenic protection. Solicit citizen input.

Increase the Land Acquisition Fund by annual commitment of 100% of the Land Use Change Tax, and by additional annual contributions from the budget, to be voted on at Town Meeting as was done in previous years. Remove the option of spending the fund, or any of the tax, for purposes other than land protection. Direct the Conservation Commission to set goals for annual acquisition or purchase of development rights . Special value should be given to those scenic lands that serve multiple purposes such as augmentation of publicly owned lands, protection of wildlife corridors and habitat, buffering of water courses, or habitats of endangered vegetation. Alternatively, build a specific program of acquisition and protection into a 20-year Capital Improvement Plan, with a commitment to the costs attached.

Prepare ahead for timely municipal action when land becomes available that the town wishes to acquire or protect.

Conduct vigorous on-site supervision during construction at all times, and particularly where sensitive terrain or scenic locales are involved.

Hold developers to their conditions of approval. Require performance bonds and levy fines and penalties for violations.

Adopt standards based on "Best Management Practices" for all forestry in Hanover. Monitor and enforce vigorously.

Provide staff assistance to the Conservation Commission to monitor and enforce conditions of easements held by the town.

Establish a Heritage Commission (as per RSA 674:44a). Responsibilities would include conducting an historic features survey, and creating a map that should then be adopted into the Master Plan, and used by municipal boards and commissions.

Clearly identify municipal ownership of the rights of way of all Class VI roads to assure their protection as public trails. Use signage, surveys and mapping.

Expand and connect walking trails and Class VI roads by purchase and acquisition of easements.

Investigate the use of sewerline easements for recreational purposes.

To the extent practicable, adopt a policy of maintaining rural dirt roads in unpaved condition.

Institute a cooperative owner/town maintenance plan for mowing fields and clearing brush along stone walls for preservation of existing views from roads.

Provide incentives for pasture reclamation and farming.

Coordinate with Dartmouth for protection of the scenic qualities of Hanover.

Commission a "Year 2000" photographic study of Hanover, using a combination of volunteer and professional photographers.

Adopt the Scenic Locales Map and High-Priority Action List into the Master Plan. The map and list should be used by the Planning Board, Select Board, Conservation Commission and Public Works Department during project planning and/or review.

Adopt an Environmentally Sensitive Overlay District (ES) into the zoning ordinance to provide additional protection for hilltops and ridges, water bodies, special roads, important cultural features, exceptional natural features and open space, community gateways and/or landscape transitions, and any other areas deemed appropriate.

Accelerate completion of the Master Plan revision, with a six-month deadline.

Accelerate revision of the Zoning Ordinance for conformance to the new Master Plan's goals and objectives.

Re-examine the appropriateness of the 3-acre RR zone to ensure the continuance of a true variety of life styles, to reflect differences in topography and scenic value, to protect wildlife habitat and corridors, and other beneficial purposes.

Enlarge the SR and GR zones closest to existing development and municipal services to accommodate development pressures.


Emulate existing models of scenic-sensitive development in future development in Hanover. Four examples are: the sections of Trescott and Three Mile Roads where the houses are set back out of sight; retention of large trees and landscape variety on Partridge, Quail and Woodcock Roads; the absence of high visual impact on Laramie Road by the development of Blueberry Hill; and the retention of the rural landscape at Hayfield Road.

Require presentation of plans in 3-D to better anticipate and regulate the visual impact both into and out of the site. Proposed location and structure heights should be shown in relation to topographic sections. (See '"Tools" for Planning'.)

Require design of developments to conform to existing topography. Require the disclosure of plans for blasting, cut and fill volumes, heights/depths and retaining walls for review at site visits.

Develop planning policies for specific kinds of scenic locales, and for groups of several sites listed individually in this report, but each of which enhances the visual impact of the rest. Fields, bodies of water, and views of Mt. Ascutney, Moose Mountain and Lords Hill, wherever they are located, are of special importance in the context of scenic significance. An example of mutual enhancement are the several sites and the overall visual context of the stretch of Etna and Hanover Center Roads extending from the intersection of Etna Road with Greensboro Road through the center of Etna up to the intersection of Dogford Road. Hanover Center and its visual relationship with Moose Mountain is another special entity.

Rezone the Hanover Water Company Land from Forestry (F) to Natural Preserve (NP) to afford a greater level of environmental protection.

Institute a new overlay zone defined by elevations to further restrict development on hilltops and ridges. Minimize visibility from distant locations of new development in these areas. (See "An Example of Elevation Zoning for Hanover", in the Scenic Locales section of the Planning Library in the Municipal Building.)

Retain existing forested roadsides to minimize visibility of new development, especially for major subdivisions.

Consider "F" District zoning changes to protect Hanover from the cumulative negative effects of scattered and premature development.

Whenever possible, bury existing and new cables and wires.

Require identification of conservation-type land use restrictions such as easements on a developer's property and on abutters' property, and of publicly- and institutionally-owned land within one-half mile of the subject property. The purpose is to work towards a well- connected network of trails throught the town.
Establish lot coverage limitations for all districts.

Require helium balloons and flagging during site visits as visual aids in assessing scenic impact.

Give high priority to protection of people's ability to view the night sky.
Minimize off-site impacts of all signs and lights (municipal, business and private, including all exterior landscape lighting) from a nuisance and scenic standpoint. Avoid (or remove) street lighting in rural areas and require timed light shut-off at business and industrial sites. Prohibit the spill of light onto abutting properties. (See Section 320 of the Zoning Ordinance.)

Vigorously seek out, encourage and support all initiatives to protect and enhance the scenic qualities of Hanover.

Take active steps to promote public recognition of the importance of Hanover's scenic landscape.

Lead the effort to establish an interconnected network of trails, conservation areas, Class VI roads, and easements to create a Hanover Greenway system.

Re-evaluate the vulnerability of Hanover's scenic locales within the framework of this committee's methods and survey results. An unbiased group of citizens should do this at regular and frequent intervals to keep the High-Priority Action list current. (See "Project Methodology".)

Develop additional methods for increasing public awareness of the local and regional landscape, which might include but not be limited to:

* creating displays to circulate between the libraries, schools, Municipal Building, and other public spaces;

* providing a thorough introduction to the geography of Hanover for the public, and for all new appointees to municipal boards and commissions;

* developing a scenic locales driving and cycling tour of Hanover to increase public awareness of the dimensions and variety of the town. Provide a map/brochure to be available to the public in the municipal office;

* establishing an annual road running race, bicycle race and/or walking tour that "tours" the scenic highpoints of Hanover;

* setting up an additional Valley Quest activity under the Upper Valley 2001 program for Hanover's scenic locales.
In the increasingly complex task of planning for scenic resource protection in the midst of on-going development, all boards and commissions in Hanover would be greatly assisted by information, maps and other "tools" that are not currently available.

MOOSE MOUNTAIN
Tighten the Forestry Zone conditions to limit density, limit development to downslope locations, minimize the visibility of structures from both nearby and distant locations, and to prevent spillage of artificial light to the surrounding area and night sky.

Maintain the wild, scenic and other special qualities of the east slope of Moose Mountain, and the land between it and Goose Pond.

Develop a system to monitor and enforce seasonal dwelling restrictions in the "F" Zone.

GOOSE POND
Limit the amount of forest clearance that will be seen from the pond.

Coordinate with the town of Canaan, and with the Goose Pond Association, to protect views of the pond from Hanover's shoreline.

Develop a system to monitor and enforce seasonal dwelling restrictions in the "F" Zone.

MINK BROOK CORRIDOR
Mink Brook cuts a sinuous swath through Hanover that starts on the slopes of Moose Mountain, descends through the center of Etna, parallels Greensboro Road and ends at its confluence with the Connecticut River. The environs of the brook are protected by public ownership primarily at its lower end close to the river.

Since the brook functions as a linear scenic and environmental resource, it should be treated as a unit. A plan for the whole corridor would include data collection and mapping of current easements, owners, associated wetlands, water quality, and the sewer line; designation of site-by-site trail locations the length of the corridor, parking sites and public access to be requested by the Planning Board in the event of development applications; severe restriction of high-impact development within the watershed; and designation of advocates for implementation of the corridor plan on the Planning and Zoning Boards, and on the Conservation Commission. The Upper Valley Land Trust should be involved in planning and implementation.

KING ROAD/ROBERT FROST LANE
Acquire land or a scenic easement to protect the views from the intersection of King Road and Robert Frost Lane across the fields to the west and southwest. Provide a small-vehicle pull-off for peaceful enjoyment of sunsets, celestial events, etc.

Ensure that the location of new structures, or growth of vegetation, does not encroach on the public's "use" of the view.

ETNA FARM AT RUDDSBORO ROAD
Encourage continued agricultural use of farm land.

If and when owners are willing, be ready to acquire or place easements on the open land and surrounding woods.

ETNA VILLAGE AND HANOVER CENTER
Conduct a planning study of Etna Village and Hanover Center. Consider the competing interests of the very special scenic village character of each versus the high (and increasing) volumes of traffic and the rate of development. Scenic viewsheds are critical in Hanover Center. Historic and scenic qualities of Etna Village should be protected. Current zoning requirements may need reconsideration.

HANOVER COUNTRY CLUB GOLF COURSE
Rezone to protect scenic qualities and open space.

TRESCOTT ASCUTNEY VIEW
Encourage continued agricultural use of farm land.

If and when owners are willing, be ready to acquire or place easements on the open land and surrounding woods.

Protect the viewshed of Mt. Ascutney, as seen from Trescott Road near Etna, using easement, purchase or other means.

HANOVER WATER COMPANY LAND
Rezone as an "NP" district (Natural Preserve), or take other strong measures, at the earliest opportunity to ensure open space protection in a natural state.

Open Class VI roads to passive recreation where water quality will not be compromised.

The Scenic Locales Committee recommends

* that all Current Land Use Change tax money be placed in the Land Acquisition Fund, and that the fund be dedicated solely to land acquisition;

* that the town establish the authority and make necessary procedural changes so it can act expeditiously if and when an important land acquisition opportunity arises; and

* that the town appoint a citizen group to examine the option of instituting a new tax to raise more money for land acquisition and related activites such as development, acquisition and monitoring of easements. Many states, counties and towns in the United States have voted to tax themselves by bond issues, gasoline tax, real estate transfer tax or other methods. (See Appendix C for a partial list.)

An additional reason to bolster town commitment to funding now is the land protection program currently under development by the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Commission, scheduled to be introduced in the Legislature during its next session. The plan may share some characteristics of the state's former Land Conservation Investment Program (LCIP), through which Hanover purchased the development rights on Fullington Farm on Lyme Road almost a decade ago. As in LCIP, the new program is likely to require matching funds for municipal projects, and thus will offer the opportunity to significantly stretch funds available through municipal sources.