Introduction to the Future Land Use Plan

The Future Land Use Plan is an overall view of the town and how it will grow, based on the Goals, Policies and Strategies from the previous chapter. The Future Land Use Plan corresponds to the Future Land Use Map. While these are not zoning instruments, they will become the basis for a zoning map and new ordinances.

The four overarching goals for Wiscasset’s future land use are these:

1. Provide for orderly growth and development in appropriate areas of the town.
2. Maintain the maritime, historic, cultural and rural character of the town.
3. Build up the tax base while promoting the maritime, historic, cultural and rural character of the town.
4. Preserve natural resources, including but not limited to ground and surface water quality, fisheries and other wildlife habitat, forest and farmland, and scenic views.

The Future Land Use Plan divides the town into five geographic sectors:

A. The Historic Village and Harbor Neighborhood

1. The Northeastern Neighborhood
2. The Northwestern Neighborhood

D. The Southern Neighborhood

E. The Route 1 Corridor

Within each sector, there are proposed zoning districts that will guide future land use policies and ordinances. In addition, as required by the State of Maine, the Comprehensive Plan establishes Growth Areas where appropriate development is encouraged through land use policies and ordinances and Rural Areas where incompatible development is discouraged through land use policies and ordinances.

Maine’s Mandatory Shoreland Zoning Act mandates that towns protect certain waters and the lands around them by creating different kinds of shoreland zones. While those do not appear on the Future Land Use Map, Wiscasset will comply with the Shoreland Zoning Act by creating appropriate designations for critical water-related resources in each applicable district.

FUTURE LAND USE PLAN

Goals

1. Provide for orderly growth and development in appropriate areas of the community.
2. Preserve the maritime, historic cultural and rural character of the Town.
3. Build up the tax base while promoting the maritime, historic cultural and rural character of the Town.
4. Preserve natural resources, scenic views, groundwater, and the quality of the water of Nequasset Lake and ground and stream water quality in the Nequasset Watershed.