Planning Board

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  • 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 throughout 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.)