General Recommendations

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  1. All the various techniques for expanding Hanover's open space system should be vigorously pursued.
  2. The realities of real estate transactions dictate that opportunistic action should be taken when properties meeting the benefits criteria of this plan become available within any of the action areas. In this manner, over the long term, individual tracts of land will become linked to create a connected open space system.
  3. Expenditures from the Conservation Fund should be committed when serious efforts to find other means have been exhausted or when the Conservation Fund can leverage significant other sources of revenue.
  4. A standing Land Conservation Committee should be created by the Conservation Commission. Membership should include Commission members, and other local officials, as well as residents and representatives of the Upper Valley Land Trust, Hanover Conservation Council and Appalachian Trail Conference Land Trust. The Land Conservation Committee should:
    • encourage and solicit open space protection projects
    • evaluate projects in which the town might become involved
    • report recommendations to the Conservation Commission
    • establish standards for conservation easements to be granted to the town
    • protect from development parcels without maintained public road access and parcels which rely on Class VI road frontage
    • (Travelers on Route 10 enjoy the view of this protected field.)
    • fill in missing links between existing protected open space lands and trail segments
    • establish new trails as appropriate throughout the town and encourage linkages between in-town and rural open spaces
    • maintain an active relationship with local, regional and statewide land trusts and
    • seek a location for a public garden
  5. The Conservation Commission should also:
    • foster volunteer stewardship efforts to annually monitor town-held easements and to maintain trails and open space lands
    • propose a zoning change to prohibit new residential construction in Hanover's Forestry ("F") Zone
    • work to maintain the "F" Zone designation for the Water Company lands and elsewhere
    • propose a ridgeline protection ordinance, particularly on Lord's Hill, Moose Mountain, Balch Hill, Pinneo Hill, Huntington Hill, Oak Hill, Hayes Hill and Velvet Rocks
    • propose a zoning change to allow telecommunications facilities on pre-existing structures only
    • encourage the institution of transfer of development rights
    • create a municipal Connecticut River management plan as recommended in the Upper Valley Region portion of the Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan, June 1997
    • encourage universal access to a variety of appropriate open spaces throughout the town
    • work to leverage resources by pursuing State, Federal and private partners and funding sources in conservation projects
    • evaluate which Class VI roads should become public trails pursuant to RSA 231-A and
    • establish close relationships with neighboring conservation commissions to identify and act on areas of mutual benefit
  6. The town Zoning Ordinance, and Subdivision and Site Plan regulations, should be revised and administered to preserve and protect open spaces through a variety of provisions. These may include: planned residential and open space development, dedication of public parks, open space and trail easements, streetscapes and other urban open areas, limitations on building heights and setbacks, grading, tree removal and width of right-of-ways.
  7. Support wildlife monitoring research in all conservation/recreation action areas.