Purpose, Definitions & Goals

The Open Space Priorities Plan has been prepared to guide the protection of Hanover's significant open spaces, in the belief that a rational open space system is fundamental to maintaining and enhancing the character of the town as it grows. The purposes of this open space plan are:

• To provide meaningful input for the town Master Plan
• To encourage and guide land-protection actions by individuals, and by nonprofit organizations such as the Upper Valley Land Trust and the Hanover Conservation Council and
• To ensure thoughtful expenditure of public moneys, particularly the town's Conservation Fund, and to leverage additional money from other sources for implementation of the plan. 

There are many techniques available for both public and private entities to implement the Open Space Priorities Plan, one parcel at a time, over the next several decades. Whether this is accomplished through donation, purchase, easement, transfer of development rights, or other methods, each donor or purchaser will be assured that his/her land fits into the whole open space plan, and thus contributes significantly to sustaining Hanover's high quality of life. 

During the past 25 years, Hanover residents have repeatedly expressed strong support of municipal open space protection (see Appendix III). Voters took a further step by approving establishment of a Conservation Fund, authorized by RSA 36A:5.1, at the 1999 Town Meeting. The Conservation Commission controls the use of the Conservation Fund, within parameters established by statute, including educational purposes; maintenance and management of town lands; and acquisition of property, interests in property, or options on property. Acquisitions require Select Board approval under the conditions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Select Board and the Conservation Commission. The MOU is reviewed and renewed annually. The MOU also requires the creation of an Open Space Priorities Plan to identify lands for potential full- or partial-interest acquisition using the Conservation Fund, and to define the criteria by which the lands' resource characteristics and uses should be evaluated. This document fulfills that requirement.

 The Conservation Fund is augmented each year through appropriations from the Land Use Change Tax, timber sales from town lands, and environmental fines and penalties. Additional funds may be sought from foundations, government agencies, donors, and other sources. The Conservation Fund might also be used to match dollars from state and federal conservation programs. The goals of the Open Space Priorities Plan, and the criteria to be applied to potential acquisitions, have been selected in the belief that they will serve the needs of Hanover far into the future. Nevertheless, the plan should be reviewed regularly as progress is made in building a cohesive system of open spaces, as development and open space needs evolve, and as new information becomes available.

Definitions

For the purposes of this report, there are two types of open space in Hanover - "conservation/recreation open spaces" and "in-town open spaces". Either type may be owned publicly or privately. Conservation/recreation open space lands typically have no buildings or other complex man-made structures in current service. The lands may be in their natural state to serve important environmental and/or aesthetic functions, or they may be used for agriculture, forestry and/or outdoor recreation. Either way, they ensure the continued functioning of the natural infrastructure and the recreation resources that are essential to sustaining Hanover's outstanding quality of life. 

In-town open spaces are immediately accessible to people in Hanover's densest population center, are generally smaller in size, and typically have more obviously focused uses. Nevertheless, they also serve to protect conservation, scenic, and other important features of the landscape. 

Open spaces of either type may have historic structures or have supported former uses that are important elements of Hanover's heritage. The existing pattern of open spaces between structures and between settlements, developed over time, is a key element in defining the small-town/rural character of Hanover. Size is not considered to be a limiting factor for open space, nor is public ownership a necessity. 

Protection in the public interest does not require public access to open space lands. Indeed, public access might be incompatible with other open space uses such as wildlife habitat, fragile plant and animal communities, flood control, or water supply. Also, public access might be incompatible with an individual property owner's right to privacy.

Goals

The general goals of this open space plan for Hanover, serving both conservation/recreation and in-town needs, are:

• To promote the conservation, protection and sound management of the natural resource base
• To protect and enhance the ecological integrity of the town's diverse natural communities and wildlife habitats
• To sustain the scenic quality and visual character of the town
• To maintain and expand landscape-based recreational and educational opportunities
• To protect the town's historic sites and cultural landscapes and
• To protect in-town open spaces

Goals of the Plan

The general goals of Hanover's open space plan are:

• To promote the conservation, protection and sound management of the natural resource base
• To protect and enhance the ecological integrity of the town's diverse natural communities and wildlife habitats
• To sustain the scenic quality and visual character of the town
• To maintain and expand landscape-based recreational and educational opportunities
• To protect the town's historic sites and cultural landscapes and
• To protect in-town open spaces