City Plan

2006

Newport City

Municipal Plan

Adopted by the City Council on September 20, 2004

2004

Newport City

Municipal Plan

Adopted by the City Council on September 20, 2004

NEWPORT, 2025, THE MILLENNIUM

As we enter the city coming from Troy on Route 100 and 105 it is a relief to find most of the traffic with its ubiquitous 18 wheelers swung to the right onto a two lane median divided roadway, overhead a well marked sign," Newport Mayors Boulevard, Through Traffic Bypass". As we bore to the left we passed under a very attractive sign," The City of Newport the Recreational Capital of the Northeast".

Almost immediately to the left we caught sight of the southern end of Lake Memphremagog and then almost immediately to the right a big green and yellow sign announcing, UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT, NEWPORT. Prior to arriving in Newport City we had been told how the University of Vermont had purchased a lot of the property on Memphremagog Heights and was developing a large campus primarily, at least initially for engineering and business schools, both undergraduate and graduate. Not only that, but the Vermont Technical College had begun preparations for constructing a sister facility to that in Randolph near the I-91 Interstate and proximate to the regional Technical Center high school. Along with this a big national hotel chain had purchased property in this vicinity to serve and support all these academic developments.

Just ahead on the right at the grounds of the old hospital, another sign, NASA International Space Station Monitoring Station. In amongst all of this, along the way, you could feel the subtle middle class improvements to lawn and home. Then ahead a widened mouth of the entrance to Route 5, and just across the street what appeared to be a prosperous fine dining restaurant. There it was, like a statue of liberty in this harbor of change high above us, the outline of St. Mary's Catholic Church. Thank providence some things never change.

Then ahead another sign, ALL TRAFFIC TO THE RIGHT, NEWPORTS GRAND ROTARY, we now were traveling.... Stop! You, the reader, take it from here. History is replete with dreams and will that has shaped the future. Your imagination please, undoubtedly some fruitful opportunities and happenings will be dreamed and be willed into the Northeast Kingdoms future. In yesteryear with the comic strip, Flash Gordon, who other than the dreamers thought man would land on the moon. And recently with a Cold War threat willed into our past and presently beyond to the planet Mars.

II. INTRODUCTION

This City Plan is a revision to the existing plan adopted by the Newport City Council on MARCH 1, 1999. Vermont statute mandates a re-adoption of the existing City Plan or of a new plan every 5 years.

This City Plan is not only developed to recommend some zoning changes but to attempt to inspire a public consensus on a future direction of the City, a vision of the future if you will.

Newport City is located on the southern end of a 30-mile long Lake Memphremagog. Via the lake, Newport City is 5 miles south of the border with Canada. As the crow flies, it is 15 miles SE from Jay Peak. Its surrounding towns are Derby, Coventry and the Town of Newport.

Newport City is what most citizens in the City and surrounding communities expect it to be. It provides a leadership role as the center of economic, educational and cultural activity. Accordingly, it is the Orleans County Seat and was incorporated in 1918, which evolved from divisions of both the towns of Newport and Derby.

· Four distinct seasons which enables a broad range of recreational and tourism opportunities.

· A citizenry of strong individual and self sufficient character and hardy work ethic

Since 1999 the City has seen development in the new City Center Industrial Park. The park currently consists of 2 buildings that house MSA Gallet Helmet manufacturing facilities, an auto parts distributor, and a large farm machinery dealership. A third 29,000 sq. ft. building is now under construction to provide additional manufacturing space for MSA Gallet Helmet. Additional industrial expansion has occurred at the Vermont Teddy Bear Company on Farrant Street, and the relocation of Louis Garneau from Main Street to the vacant Newport Plastic’s building on the Derby Road. Columbia Forest Products built a 35,000 sq. ft. expansion to its manufacturing facilities on Union Street.

The new Emery Hebard State Office Building and associated waterfront development have been completed, significantly enhancing the downtown area. The Pick and Shovel hardware store continues to expand along Coventry Street. Substantial activity has occurred in real estate sales in both Commercial Zones A and B, providing the community with many new businesses and services.

North Country Hospital just completed a 30,000 sq. ft. addition to accommodate an expanded emergency room and other healthcare services as well as moving the Wellness Center into the former Prouty and Miller building on the Crawford Farm Road. A third building has been constructed on Medical Village Drive to house Newport Pediatrics. The medical community has experienced continual growth offering many specialized services that were formerly only offered outside the area.

Generally any plan is only as good as the day it was written and with each succeeding day becomes less relevant. No planner can envision what the tomorrows will bring, but planning can help and guide for a better future within a reasonable range of change.

To be effective a plan must first describe the present and from that base, point in a direction of a vision for the future. In the instance of this plan, since we do not have the luxury of a vision of public consensus, this plan must provide a broad and optional vision and the general prerequisites and guidelines to it.

Finally, this plan is primarily aimed at sparking public discussion, and hopefully greater interest, and a slightly sharper, and perhaps, a narrower range of aspirations. This plan is not just for sake of having a plan; it is designed towards being controversial, but in the overall complexity of the future, a small, but hopefully significant contribution.

The overall objective of this plan is to help promote the future general well being and equity of opportunity of all the citizens of Newport City and in turn of all those in the neighboring towns, broadly speaking Orleans County.

1.) The rights of private property owners which do not impact negatively on the rights of others. For this purpose a right is defined as that which all individuals are entitled to have which does not impart an undesirable cost to another individual. This priority recognizes and accepts that some State and Federal laws abridge these rights in favor of a deemed higher pursuit.

2.) Preserving the integrity of the environment within good engineering/scientific principles and sound economic evaluation toward a balanced protection of the present and future rights and equities of all future citizens. Environmental protection a primary factor within all existing operations and future development within the City and its surrounding communities.

3.) Having a high-tech business, or businesses locate in Newport City or in Orleans County, the higher the skill levels the better.

4.) The development of a destination resort within our city, i.e. lodging and restaurant facilities that also provide convention center and recreational activities.

6.) Institutions of higher learning and research entities seeking facilities. Particular priority attention and inducements to technical schools and colleges that will provide a stream of technicians to support present and future area businesses.

7.) Support and encourage above average quality, yet affordable, housing for the elderly.

8.) Infrastructure improvements through business contributions and through government facilities additions and grants; such as, the new state office building and waterfront improvements.

9.) Sewer and water extensions to City limits on all major roads entering the City where business development is practical.

Every reasonable effort is made to assure that this plan is consistent with The Vermont Municipal and Regional Planning and Development Act, sometimes referred to as Title 24.

Newport City zoning bylaws, should be thoroughly and regularly reviewed toward assuring an absence of inconsistencies and support fore-noted objectives and priorities.

This plan is rooted in the following policies being supported by the citizenry of the City:

1.) Any significant change in the City or any change in a surrounding town has some measurable ripple effect in all towns in its vicinity. Promote the City as part of a community of towns in this area. That which affects one affects all in one form or another and that we are not reasonably isolatable in terms of developmental change.

2.) Support good quality housing being available to the elderly and provide recreational opportunities for the young.

4.) Support the seeking and welcoming of new enterprises, surveying locations for new facilities, that provide jobs, particularly, highly skilled jobs. Give particular support to businesses that will provide good paying jobs to youths who commit to their being educated and technically skilled.

5.) Support above average educational, particularly technical, opportunities for our youth.

6.) Support improved access and increased recreational utilization of the Lake. Guide free market development of Lake Memphremagog, and the lands proximate to it, as a valuable resource to be used for the benefit of all its citizens and in turn to those in surrounding communities.

7.) Support over-arching and persistent efforts making Newport City and Orleans County a property rich City and area with economical property tax utilization and reduction for all citizens.

IV. DEVELOPMENT DIRECTION ANALYSIS

There are at least these very general categories of development that should be considered:

*Note, air polluting industrial operations are not justifiably considered further here & are discarded out of hand.

Enhance and improve real estate values while expanding the tax base and thereby minimizing individual property tax increases.

It would seem that the type of development most apt to satisfy all of the above objectives would have to be a high technology business entity employing a lot of highly skilled technicians and engineer/scientists. From the standpoint of City interest, such a business or businesses, could be induced to locate in the fledgling City Industrial Park on the Derby Road.

Such a business might initially bring into the area its own trained technicians and others, but from the beginning they would be aware of the advantages of local hires, particularly if we proceed in the direction of a dramatically expanded North Country Career Center.

Highly paid personnel moving into the area would undoubtedly positively impact real estate values and increase the tax base.

Such a business would be expected to increase local retail and service sales and promote additional service businesses.

A destination resort would bring into the area a lot of increased spending, cash, respective outside purchasing power, and demand an expansion of local available services. Investment capital undoubtedly would greatly increase to provide a supply of recreational and purchasing opportunities. One only needs to look at Stowe, VT to appreciate the possibilities. The combination of Jay, Newport and the surrounding communities may presently lack the sophisticated and considerable investments that the Stowe area has but that didn't happen over night and we have an attribute Stowe lacks, a large lake with some unique attributes and great potential to complement a Jay ski resort on the inevitability of becoming a major year round resort.

A large investment, such as this, might have a kind of reverse domino effect in terms of other recreational investment in the area; e.g., this might add justification to a large expansion investment in Jay Peak.

This development could be expected to slowly happen as future demographics force vacationers further north in the US and further south in Canada and Quebec for more space and reduced cost. The rate at which this would happen depends primarily upon the overall economic health of these sources of vacationers, and of course, currency exchange rate in the instance of Canadians.

However, this development can be expected to occur rather slowly and narrowly because of major barriers placed on lakeside property development by various governmental agencies.

Although slow, this development should be encouraged as much as possible as it will gratefully bring additional tourist dollars into the regions local economies though mostly via seasonal employment.

Laissez Faire, a philosophy and doctrine of letting the future happen without any governmental planning or interference has in the past largely played out particularly in the Northeast Kingdom. Luck plays a major role in its outcome. However, this path is hardly predominant today with the relatively recent changes in construction development permitting, Acts: 250 & 200 and local zoning ordinances to name the ones most involving governmental planning and interference. However these acts, although constantly in the public eye and being a frustration of developers, seem largely to tend to block, make more expensive, and narrow some development as opposed to provident guiding as touted. However, large patient capital investment capital finds a way while the frail become frailer.

Fortunately or not, these development constants do not directly affect a large multitude of everyday, relatively small business and consumer decisions. In the final analysis is it these decisions along with large capital investments, business and government, that shape tomorrow?

Perhaps, at best, planning should only offer a flexible and adapting guide for public consensus toward improving the educational and economic opportunities of its respective citizens without violating sound scientific principles of protecting the environment. Zoning bylaws should perhaps only protect the equity of opportunity of its citizens. Trying to modify citizen behavior may be beyond the pale of realistic and equitable governmental planning.

Beyond the interferences of state and the federal government and in the absence of any major investments an evolution of relatively small business investments by local people with laissez faire flavored local zoning may best accommodate achieving the best future. Accordingly the existing Newport City Bylaws, though far from perfection, are largely designed to constrain one property owner from seriously disadvantaging another.

It is our conclusion that a high tech industry type business locating in Newport or in one of the surrounding towns would be the most provident for the average citizen, now and for the foreseeable future. At the same time we envision major gains through large investments: e.g., a destination resort/convention center.

In this City Plan we simply are attempting to point out some possibilities and at the same time inspire some debate about the future and how to best get there for all our citizens.

Newport is a City with many strong assets. Located on the southern tip of Lake Memphremagog, the City enjoys a natural environment that is conducive to residential and outdoor recreational activities as well as the tourist industry. As the "County Seat", the City is home to the majority of Orleans Counties State and County government offices and employment base. Newport, along with the Newport-Derby Road, provide Orleans and Northern Essex Counties with regional business and retail shopping centers. Newport is also host to one of the regions largest industrial companies, Columbia Forest Products Veneer Mill. North Country Union High School and North Country Hospital and associated Medical Offices also call Newport home.

Newport, while small in size with approximately 5,000 people, draws its economic strength from its diversity of economic activities. The City does not rely strictly on industrial, tourist, governmental, or any other single source for its economic stability. It is this diversity that gives Newport its unique character and ambiance. This diversity of interest and economic opportunities clearly provides the Vision for the future direction of the City. The City's future is not served well by heavy reliance upon industrial, tourist, retailing or any other economic activity at the exclusion of all others. Instead, the City's existing charm and future well being are best served by a continuation of a wide base of diverse economic, recreational and cultural and lifestyle choices. It is to this end that this City Plan for the City of Newport is designed.

While each version of a City Plan is designed for the next five years, the activities recommended for the next five-year period are put forth with this Vision of a wide base of diverse activities as the central focus. During the last five years the new “City Center Industrial Park” off the Newport-Derby Road has seen the development of a 29,000 Sq. Ft. industrial building housing the MSA Gallet Helmet Factory and an automobile parts dealership. A second 9,000 Sq. Ft. building housing Harvest Equipment, a John Deere Machinery dealership, has also been added and is planning a 6,500 Sq. Ft. addition. Construction has begun on a third 29,000 Sq. Ft. building to house additional manufacturing space for MSA Gallet Helmet Company. In addition to the industrial park Columbia Forest Products has built a 35,000 Sq. Ft. addition for additional manufacturing space. Vermont Teddy Bear has expanded to occupy both buildings at their Farrant Street site. Clothing manufacturer Louis Garneau USA has moved its manufacturing facility from Main Street to the old Newport Plastics Building on the Newport-Derby Road. Permit applications are currently being prepared for a Destination Resort, Conference Center and residential housing development surrounding the Golf Course and the land between the Golf Course and Glen Road. The City’s downtown business district has seen a lot of real estate activity and the development of several new retail businesses. The “Pick and Shovel” hardware and building supply store continues to expand along Coventry Street. These developments have enhanced the overall industrial, commercial, retailing and tourist interest within the City.

The focus for the next five years recommended by this plan is to continue to encourage the tourist and recreation interest within the City and the development of the proposed destination resort by making necessary and reasonable Zoning Bylaw changes to accommodate the development. Additional waterfront development is a natural follow through to what has already been developed during the last five years. Continued support of the industrial and commercial business community and the maintenance of the development momentum witnessed during the last five years is a high priority. In addition, working cooperatively with the Planning Commissions of neighboring towns to encourage Bi-community developments along the City’s borders is a planning activity that needs to be further developed.

VI. RECOMMENDATIONS

This plan attempts to achieve respective progress through recommending guidelines and fostering the following developments:

1.) Support, and augment with increments of infrastructure, as much as possible the financing, engineering, construction and staffing of a new expanded North Country Career Center to provide a stream of technically advanced youths to support existing businesses and induce the locating of other high technology businesses and corporations.

2.) Actively seed and maximize subsides for high technology and telecommunication businesses, big and small, to locate here, if not in the City, in Orleans County. Support as much as possible with increments of infrastructure.

3.) Support the continued development within the “City Center Industrial Park” on the Newport-Derby Road.

4.) Optimize for the present and into the next half century a convenient and efficient traffic flow and parking through the City, particularly Main Street, considering the following possibilities:

· Main St. one way from Coventry St. to Second St. with angle parking either side.

· Expansion of public parking along Second St. and on the south side of Main St. behind existing commercial buildings with consideration given to a two (2) storied parking garage.

5.) Better develop the lakeside adjacent areas considering the following possibilities:

· Adopt a Waterfront or Lakeside zone in the bylaws to guide development to common best interest.

· Public docking facility on the shore of the Waterfront Plaza property at the end of the alley, which accesses the waters edge at the north end of the Plaza.

· Improvement to the public dockage south of the Gateway Center and the Launch Area.

· Pursue through all available avenues a substantial improvement in lake traveler border crossing processing by the US Immigration & Naturalization Service, US Customs and Homeland Security.

· Pursue and promote a lakeside museum/aquarium featuring local flora and fauna.

6.) Seek and promote a Resort/Convention Center at a scenic location considering the following possibilities:

· Adopt a Resort or Convention Center Zone to guide and protect the integrity and limited purpose of such an investment.

· Consider a location in conjunction with the existing golf facilities at the Newport Country Club over looking the lake and wide expanse of Mountains and Jay Peak.

7.) Develop a plan for and implementing construction of a system of bike paths that go somewhere interesting; e.g., to Orleans along the Barton River, or to Coventry along the Black River or to Jay Peak or to Jay Peak via North Troy to some other place where there is something of interest and enticing or something different in refreshments can be had. (This will naturally foster a bike rental business). Presently there is an effort at Jay Peak to create a trail from the mountaintop to Jay Village. A bike path link from Newport City via the Town of Newport and then North Troy along the railroad right of way could be spectacular.

8.) Seek investment for a local flora & fauna museum, among other items of local interest, in conjunction with a replica railroad station museum near the original Newport Station location. For example, consider: chartering a Museum Authority, moving the existing City's "Municipal Building" offices to another more convenient but less prime real estate location inside the city limits and turn building over to the Museum Authority.

9.) Consider establishing a full time job of an economic advocator for the City to work with the State of Vermont tourist and economic development promotional agencies and at the same time maintain and act upon any and all federal and state development funding opportunities. We are too remote and culturally different than those in and around the state capital, Montpelier, and the Queen City of Burlington to depend upon inclusion. We need more attention to, pursuit and coordination of funding possibilities with local needs and aspirations.

10.) The Planning Commission should develop cooperative working relationships with the Planning Commissions of neighboring towns to encourage advantageous Bi-community developments along the City’s borders.

11.) The City of Newport should consider joining the National Main Street Network of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In parallel with this serious consideration should be given to contracting for a Main Street Assessment by The National Trust for Historic Preservation's National Main Street Center. The cost of such an assessment runs between $ 9,000 and $ 10,000.

12.) Support the Northeast Kingdom Travel & Tourism Association, a regional tourism planning entity, coordinating tourist recreational and points of interest opportunities.

13.) Support efforts to persuade the County to demolish the old County Jail for additional parking.

14.) Support the utilization of renewable energy resources within the City, mainly hydropower and wood heat, as long as the use of these resources do not themselves cause undue adverse impacts to the environment.

15.) The Planning Commission strongly advocates the conservation of energy. The use of energy efficient appliances, lighting, and building materials is highly recommended.

16.) Support reasonable bylaw changes to accommodate future development that are in the best interest of the City.

17.) Encourage retail development to that which is in scale with historic development patterns.

The aim of these above recommendations, some perhaps not seeming fully realistic, is largely to promote discussion and interest in achieving a provident future for all citizens in the Northeast Kingdom.

Newport is located in the center of Orleans County’s northern edge and is the dominant economic center of the County, nearby parts of Northern Essex County and Southern Quebec. Orleans, Caledonia and Essex Counties are regions known as Vermont's Northeast Kingdom.

The City's population peaked in 1950 at 5217 and at that point was on the decline. Newport's neighboring towns experienced double-digit population increases during the 1970's and continued at a slower percentage rate with the exception of Coventry. The 1990 census revealed the City was left with 4434, its lowest population since 1910. The drop in population may explain some of the growth in surrounding towns. The period from 1990 to 2002 saw Newport's population increased to the point where it has again become the most populous town in the county at 5,096 people. (See Table A-1)

Population for Newport and surrounding area 1970 - 2002

Source: Vermont Department of Health, Population and Housing Estimates

Table A-1

Newport's employees and businesses are the mainstay of the County's economy accounting for 44% of the total covered employment (employment covered by Vermont Employment Insurance).

In 2002 the average yearly wage paid for covered employment was $26,023 in Newport City and Orleans County's average was $24,517. Coventry and Derby were the only municipalities in the County with a higher wage average than Newport.

and Their Average Wage, 2002

Source: Vermont Department of Taxes

Newport City, by virtue of its small area (about 1/5 of the average land area of most Vermont communities), means its population of slightly more than 5,000 translates into one of the state’s highest population densities as well as the highest in the region. As such, it is important to make the best use of remaining open land for future growth.

The City’s downtown core is located on a peninsula that juts out from the western shores of Lake Memphremagog and South Bay. Commercial establishments in this core are concentrated on Main Street from the Causeway to School Street and along Coventry Street to Eastern Avenue. There is also a scattering of professional and commercial businesses in the immediate surrounding residential areas.

A secondary, but growing center of commercial activity is located on East Main Street to the Newport/Derby town line. This growth pattern was recognized by a zoning change to Commercial B. This area connects to the downtown core by The Causeway, which contains the only large-scale shopping plaza within the City limits. Many new businesses and professional offices have located on East Main Street in the past 5 years. It is anticipated that this pattern of growth will continue.

Union Street extends from the intersection of the Causeway and East Main Street into the City’s main industrial zone, which contains the City’s only heavy industry, a veneer mill, as well as the Industrial Park. The City Garage will relocate to this area in the next two years, and this will require a rezoning of some areas abutting the industrial zone to accommodate these plans. Parcels 106.040 and 113.174 off Union Street should be rezoned for Industrial Use to allow for proper setback requirements for the City Garage and ancillary buildings. The City Ambulance building, the North Country Health Systems Complex and other related businesses also occupy a large portion of the area at the end of Union Street to the Bluff Rd along Prouty Drive.

Concentrated residential development is largely focused in the two sections of the City abutting the commercial areas - namely, the so-called West Side, which largely encompasses the area surrounding the downtown core, and the East Side, which is roughly bordered by Sias Avenue and Union Street. Most are older structures, some of which have been converted to multi-family use and thus exacerbated a situation of overcrowding with regard to adequate parking in certain areas. Some neighborhoods have been in decline as a result, although a resurgence in the real estate market since 2001 has arrested the devaluation of property. Even though more non-owner occupied housing in these areas is the trend, values have not been affected negatively.

Newer residential development is occurring in several areas of the City, although it is mostly single-family homes in the outlying areas. The Bluff Rd development has seen a changeover from the planned condominium development to single family homes. Lot size has caused many of these homes to be smaller than they might be had larger building lots been available. The Scott Farm remains the largest undeveloped tract in this neighborhood. The farm has the distinction of having the longest length of undeveloped waterfront property in the City. This agricultural area contains woodland, cropland and pasture. Vacation homes are also being built in this area.

Memphremagog Views is another area that is becoming more and more developed and its condominium project is now complete. The proximity to and/or views of the lake continue to be the main attraction for development of residential homes.

There remain several other areas that could contain future residential development. Possible zoning changes may be required to accommodate some of the development, which may be an offshoot of one of the plans, which is roughly bounded by the Glen Rd, the golf course and Mt. Vernon Street. Parcel 131.004 should be re-zoned to Commercial B in order to have the ability to site a motel/hotel. Larger building lots may allow for more spacious homes that are presently being built in towns outside of the City of Newport. Such development is compatible with the overall plan of the City, and appears to be focusing on the recreational attributes of both the lake and the golf course. Water and gravel are apparently in plenteous supply in that area, which may provide some assistance in the increase in population, which may follow. Indeed, the 1999 City Plan stated that the building of the State Prison and improvements done along the Glen Rd may spur future development.

The sewer line currently extends to the end of the Glen Rd. The possibility exists for the line to be extended to the site of the former rest area in Coventry on I-91. This perhaps, could resurrect the area into a full service rest stop with promotion of the City and surrounding area. It lies 1¼ miles from the end of the line.

Another area with little development is the triangle of land on the opposite side of South Bay from the Glen Rd along Coventry Street. There is a farm and a few homes in this area, but it contains wetlands adjacent to the Bay and the Black River, which empties into the Bay.

A fourth area of undeveloped land is the Clyde River Valley, which lies between the access road to I-91 and East Main Street. The site of the City Garage has been sold with an anticipated branch building to be constructed by Passumpsic Savings Bank. Much of the river valley contains hydroelectric facilities presently maintained by Great Bay Hydro Corporation. There is mostly woodland with some clearings on the north side of Clyde Street.

And, finally, there is the site of the old Palin Farm on East Main Street, which could possibly contain future residential development. It lies across the road from the Newport City Center Industrial Park. The Industrial Park has seen growth since its inception, and one of the tenants MSA Gallet, a helmet factory, has already expanded. Other tenants include Sanel Auto Parts and Harvest Equipment.

In June 1997, the City Council approved 11 Tax Increment Finance [TIF] districts. These districts were formed to use the taxes to be paid on future improvements to these properties and to build the infrastructure to attract future development. The areas included in the TIF districts include basically all the land in the City that has a potential for future industrial or commercial development.

It is hoped that the State of Vermont will make a diligent effort to find occupants for the remaining commercial space in the Hebard State Office Building even if it is at discounted rates in order to improve the face of the downtown district. It is also hoped that a workable solution for the flashing light at the junction of the access road and the Causeway can be implemented by the State. This would help greatly with the traffic problems that exist at certain times of the day and make for easier exiting from the shopping plaza to the Causeway. Further, it is hoped that the re-location of Shaw’s from the plaza will not leave a large vacancy for a long duration of time.

Maps following this section are as follows: Map B1 shows the large undeveloped areas of the City of Newport. Area 1 is the triangle off Coventry Street across the bay from the Glen Rd, which is Area 2. Area 3 is the Scott Farm. Area 4 is the Clyde River Valley. The Palin Farm is located across Rtes.5 & 105 from Area 4.

Map B2 denotes the 11 Tax Increment Districts designated by the City Council in 1997. Map B3 shows land use and cover illustrating the pattern of development and land cover types. Portions of the City containing structures, yards and other such forms of human development have been coded as developed land. Undeveloped land is divided into forest, agricultural, transitional (largely overgrown fields), or wetland cover types.

Map B-1

Map B-2

Although Canada, and its province of Quebec, do not border on the City of Newport, but is separated by the Town of Newport on the west side of Lake Memphremagog and Derby on the east side, many Canadians visit and shop here. The City may be easily accessed by Canadians via US Interstate 91 and Route 5 and not so easily for some by boat via Lake Memphremagog. Also some Canadians have second homes along the shores of Lake Memphremagog within the boundaries of the City, Newport Town and the Town of Derby and several Canadian based companies have operations here.

Strongly encouraged should be the establishment of Canadian owned enterprises in the City and surrounding communities. The advantages of the City becoming a center of international trade are obvious in terms of jobs and possibly providentially increasing the City's tax base. The City would do well to increase its effort in conjunction with the local business organizations to formally promote our City as a business opportunity for Canadians. We should not overlook the immediate opportunity of attracting Canadian business to Newport.

Most Canadians visiting Newport come by automobile. However, in the summer a significant but small number of Canadians come to the City by boat traveling south on Lake Memphremagog usually from Magog, Quebec. Most of these are Canadian second homeowners along the lake's shoreline or relatively large-boat families who frequently make use of the lake very much like a second home.

As for interesting Canadian boater/tourists in embarking from the lake and visiting the City, particularly vacationers, the Gateway Center building and the new striking Emory Hebard State Office Building and water front development make a marked improvement in the business climate of local businesses proximate to the lake. However presenting a substantially effective welcoming face on the lake shore to Canadian tourists, awaits an entry processing facility at the border along with ample public docking opportunities along the entire shoreline, providing access to all businesses from Wendy’s to RJ's Supermarket.

Canada has been proactive in its efforts to maintain and improve the quality of the lake water. Both Magog and Sherbrooke utilize a large quantity of lake water as potable after minimal treatment. Watershed for the lake is largely at the US end. The lake flows north. Newport needs to continue full participation in these efforts, which by their nature must be cooperative to succeed. The operation of our sewage treatment and storm drain systems must be well above reproach.

Since September 11, 2001, the Federal Government has appropriated significant resources to deal with Homeland Security. Additional personnel, buildings, security screenings and services have all had a direct bearing on the local border crossing. The I-91 border crossing at Derby Line, is the 10^th busiest port of entry along the entire 4200 mile long US – Canadian Border. This provides the region many opportunities that derive directly from the amount of traffic through the area. However, the increased security risk combined with the high volume of traffic occasionally result in delays and increased screening at the border for local and tourist travelers.

Our City within its ethnic whole contains a fair proportion of people of Canadian and Quebecois ancestral roots. It is only fitting that we, as a City, be particularly welcoming and inviting to those similarly culturally rooted.

The City of Newport is blessed with a magnificent location here in the Northeast Kingdom and Lake Memphremagog is our brightest natural asset. Lake Memphremagog is over 30 miles long and straddles the US-Canadian border with the majority of the lake being in Canada. Newport sits at the extreme southern end of the lake.

Fishing and hunting are extremely popular on the lake. Lake Memphremagog is the host to numerous fishing tournaments and in the winter the lake is dotted with ice shanties. The Fish & Wildlife Refuge along the South Bay is a haven for hundreds of species of native birds and animals. From late spring through early fall the lake is utilized by boaters, swimmers, jet skis, and wind surfers.

Part of Newport's downtown waterfront has received a much needed facelift from the State. In connection with the State's Emory A. Hebard Office project they bought all the boathouses between Pomerleau Park and the Gateway Center. All the boathouses were demolished and a pedestrian walkway constructed. The view of downtown Newport from the lake has been greatly improved. Other commercial properties should be encouraged to turn around and embrace the lake, rather than remain with their backs to it.

Many, if not most, predominately French speaking Canadians on vacation in Magog, who decide to explore the lake and visit the US for the first time, when confronted with the confusing US entry requirements and a limited language grasp, after fueling, turn around and flee back to Canada. Present procedure allows Canadians to travel on the entire US portion of the Lake without entry processing. However setting foot ashore must first be done at the City Dock; i.e., the US Customs and Immigration/Naturalization office. The procedure for processing visitors from Canada must be improved.

At present on the lake at the border there are virtually no signs to mark one's entrance into the US or to direct tourists coming from Canada with respect to necessary processing. Tourists are expected to travel 5 miles by boat to the City's harbor and hopefully come upon someone who will direct them to the INS processing location or related telephone, relatively unmarked except by a USA flag at the City Dock. At times a CS officer is on duty at the City Dock, which is located at the base of Fyfe Drive alongside the Gateway Center. The schedule for this officer's availability is variable but is usually for a period of several hours, five days a week, during the summer vacation season of late June, July and August. Recently an interactive TV system has been placed at the City Dock, which should provide some relief for Canadian visitors. Time will tell. The bottom line is that funneling all Canadian visitors coming from Canada by water to the City Dock does not provide a convenient path to all Newport's recreational and other points of interest.

There have been a number of unsuccessful efforts to date made via members of Vermont's congressional Representatives and Senators to improve this situation. In the future the only worthwhile improvement would be to establish a reporting station at the border. One possibility is sharing one or both Canadian border crossing facilities on either the west or the east shore proximate to the border. An interactive TV system could be employed to minimize labor costs and fulfill the INS's policy requirement of scrutinizing the faces of individuals being processed. The imposition of Homeland Security requirements on top of the already difficult situation can only serve to complicate crossing the US- Canadian border by boat. Perhaps the additional security requirements will hasten the development of a Border crossing station at the border on the lake.

Dockage is beginning to become a problem for boaters on weekend and holidays. To support a further increase of day visitors, additional dockage convenient to Newport's downtown needs to be found. The Eastside Restaurant has some public dockage but it is located too far from downtown for the average visitor. Newport needs to be much more open and welcoming to Canadians and other foreign nationals who arrive in our harbor.

With improvement in the method of processing boating tourists by the INS and an improving increase in the availability of public docking along the City's lakeshore, the City can overcome the image as an uncertain and unwelcome place for boating Canadian tourists. By presenting a welcoming face from the lake, the City has an economic opportunity, which up to now has been virtually ignored. All one needs to see are the summer packed crowds of vacationing Canadian Tourists in Magog to realize the full potential that Newport has.

In the long term there can be no question that for the City to fully avail itself of this resource, there needs to be developed additional recreational tourist opportunities in the general area of the shoreline, in addition to the very fine, but struggling, existing opportunities.

APPENDIX E. NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES

As the shire town or seat of Orleans County, Newport City has a sphere of influence that goes far beyond the municipalities that border it and stretches across the international boundary just a short distance up Lake Memphremagog. Specifically, the adjacent towns of Newport Town, which included the Village of Newport within its jurisdiction until the city was incorporated in 1918, Coventry, and Derby, comprise the inner ring of the greater Newport region. Because of their seasonal impact on Newport City in winter, the towns of Jay and Troy, which features the Village of North Troy, are included in the City Plan.

The Town of Brighton (Island Pond), the largest municipality in Essex County located right over the county line next to Charleston and Morgan, and Orleans County’s other towns, from southernmost Greensboro to sparsely populated Holland, are pulled toward the hub of the county.

The city is also connected to several area towns through a variety of legal, cultural, governmental and intermunicipal means, especially emergency services. North Country Hospital, which opened in 1974, serves Orleans County and the northern Essex County. Dating to 1920 when Orleans County Hospital was opened in the City's west side, Newport has had a strong commitment to quality medical care.

Regional Cultural and Recreational Activities

Outside the confines of Newport City’s immediate neighbors is a plethora of activities in the remaining towns in Orleans County, Island Pond, and over the border in Quebec.

To begin, the nationally recognized Lake Willoughby Gap offers top-flight hiking trails, winter ice climbing on the rock faces of Mount Pisgah, scuba diving, windsurfing, swimming, camping, and year-round fishing. Other locations such as Brighton State Park, Crystal Lake State Park in Barton, Seymour Lake in Morgan, Caspian Lake in Greensboro, the Craftsbury Sports Center near Big and Little Hosmer Ponds, and the Long Trail on 3,315-foot Belvedere Mountain near Lowell all can keep local residents and visitors busy for a lifetime.

The unique Old Stone House Museum, operated by the Orleans County Historical Society, is one of several buildings that comprise the Brownington Village National Historic District. It houses local and regional artifacts and from mid-May through mid-October has historical events and activities, most notably Old Stone House Day in mid-August. Glover’s Bread and Puppet Museum, a large barn full of thought-provoking slogans and theater props used by the world-renown group, is one of the area’s more unusual attractions.

Many of the region’s library’s are museums in their own right, especially the Hitchcock Library in Westfield and the John Woodruff Memorial Library in East Craftsbury. Community theater abounds, most notably QNEK Productions, the resident company at the Haskell Opera House in Derby Line. Also, Derby Stock II, a non-profit volunteer stock company, presents annual summer musicals and Christmas productions.

Derby

Bisected by Interstate 91 and possessing a variety of residential, business, and geographical settings, this large town to Newport City’s north and east is the most dominant and important neighbor. As is the case with Newport Town to the west of Newport City, a section of Derby is now known as the east side of Newport City. It appears, after it surpassed Newport in population in the 1990 census, that Derby is now the second most populous Orleans County municipality. State numbers show Derby, which includes the villages of Derby Line and Derby Center, with a 2002 population of 4,679 and Newport with 5,093.

Derby’s diversity includes tourist attractions such as the Haskell Free Library and Opera House literally on the US-Canada border in Derby Line, prized Lake Memphremagog waterfront, Salem Lake cottages, the Cow Town Elk Farm, and Coutts-Moriaty 4-H camp. The Indoor Recreation of Orleans County (IROC) will be providing limited services in the fall of 2004. The complex plans for a swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball courts and an indoor track. Although it doesn’t have a true town center like Newport City, the quaint Village of Derby Line and attractive neighborhoods and country roads dotted with residences make the town a very desirable place to live. The elementary school is located just outside the Village of Derby Line and the Supervisory Union’s regional junior high school is in Derby Center.

The so-called Newport-Derby Road (Vermont Route 5) continues to be the primary business locale, a five-mile stretch of road that runs from the international boundary at Derby Line through Derby Center to Newport City. Along with many residences and apartment buildings, the route competes with, and complements, Newport City’s downtown business district. It has changed and grown much in the past five years; yet, it still does not have a traffic light even though it is one of the busiest roads in the state.

The sewer line from Derby Center to Newport's wastewater treatment plant along the road has been joined by a new water line to help develop a private industrial park and improve Newport City’s water supply. When the treatment plant was rebuilt in 1982, the Village of Derby Center purchased an allocation of 150,000 gallons per day.

With the creation of tax incremental financing (TIF) districts, industrial and commercial development will improve in the Derby/Newport area. Discussions and preliminary drawings depict a hotel complex near the Newport Country Club. This is land that the two municipalities share near exit 27 of Interstate 91 and Pine Hill road.

Further cooperative efforts investigating the provision of water and sewers in areas of Derby that are adjacent to the city, as well as on maintaining the quality of Lake Memphremagog are also recommended. As was recommended in the 1994 Newport City Plan, given these connections and the development of the Derby Road into a major commercial corridor, a yearly joint meeting of the Newport and Derby Planning Commissions to discuss issues is recommended.

Coventry

With a new elementary school on Vermont Route 5 and renovated town hall and senior citizen center at the former school site, this community continues to expand its residential and business base. State demographic information shows a 17.5 percent population rise between 1996 and 2002 (888 to 1044). Located to Newport City's south, Coventry is a rural agricultural town that is becoming an alternative to living in the City. Its comparatively low tax rate, ample land for residential construction, and proximity to Newport City and Interstate 91 has made the town very attractive.

Coventry has much community pride, as well, pulling together in 1998 to raise money to rebuild a historic covered bridge over the Black River just outside the town line in Irasburg after it was destroyed by fire Halloween night in 1997. Unlike Derby which has considerable businesses, Coventry's agricultural and residential nature make its connection to Newport City that of a bedroom community and as a source of customers for Newport's businesses.

Coventry’s two significant regional assets are the Newport State Airport and Waste USA, which operates the lined landfill. These facilities are located near each other in northern Coventry and are accessed via Route 5 and the Airport Road at the southern edge of Newport. Discussions between private businesses, state and local officials are on-going in regards to future airport expansion.

The Waste USA landfill is the only certified lined landfill in this area of the state. It is capable of serving a large area and will no doubt serve municipalities beyond the region. Newport's solid waste is currently sent to this facility. The importance of both of the above facilities' services to Newport, the fact that the northern access to them does go through the City, and that a small stretch of the Airport Road lies in the City, make it crucial Newport is aware of future changes at these facilities.

Newport Town

Until the City of Newport was formed in 1918, Newport Town, also called Newport Center, also included the peninsula Village of Newport. Mostly agricultural, Newport Town features tremendous panoramic views of both Lake Memphremagog (looking east) and Jay Peak (looking west) from Vance Hill. Its municipal offices, a post office, the elementary school (kindergarten through eighth grade) and several small businesses are located along a stretch of Vermont Route 105 and on the lower end of Vance Hill Road.

State population figures show a 0.8% increase (1511 to 1523) from 2000 to 2002, a strong indication the large town, with prime lakefront property and picturesque rural settings, is gaining year-round and vacation-home residents. While it doesn’t have a new school like Coventry, it supports and relies upon Newport City in much the same manner. We hope to work closely with Newport Center so that development will be coordinated and Lake Memphremagog's water quality will be maintained.

Jay

Dominated by Jay Peak Ski and Summer Resort, this town in recent years has improved its infrastructure, started the process to develop a town plan and zoning bylaws, enlarged its volunteer fire department and ambulance service building, and opened a new school it shares with neighboring Westfield.

The town offices and businesses servicing residents and the many tourists are located near or at the intersection of Vermont Route 242 and either the North Hill Road, which leads to South Troy and Westfield, or Cross Road, which heads toward Vermont Route 105 and North Troy. Just outside “Jay Village” along Route 242 is a proposed residential and commercial development called the “Foothills At Jay.” It is one example of the opportunity Jay Peak Resort’s own expansion, begun in earnest in the mid-1980s, has provided local developers.

Route 242 heading out of the small town center up to Jay Peak Resort and over to Montgomery is dominated by lodging and accommodations for visitors, mostly skiers from late November through mid-April. The highway was virtually rebuilt in recent years when a state-supported sewer line was installed from Jay Peak Resort to the treatment plant off Vermont Route 101 in Troy. The seasonal population, mostly Canadians, swells in winter, but the year-round resident base has seen only a modest increase of 5.5 percent (406 to 426) between 2000 and 2002.

Many of Jay’s winter visitors, along with its summer and fall clientele, inevitably find their way to Newport City, especially to visit the Main Street stores and entertainment spots. Hiking the popular Long Trail (maintained by the Green Mountain Club), riding to the summit in the 60-passenger aerial tramway, mountain biking, and hunting. Construction began in the fall of 2003 for Jay Peak's 18-hole golf course that will open for play by mid 2005. Continued expansion will include “The West Bowl”, a 250-acre bowl that will host 3 lifts, 18 trails, 8 glades and living accommodations. All are non-skiing reasons thousands come to Jay Peak from Ontario, Quebec, and other New England and East Coast states. Newport supports efforts to promote Jay Peak and recreational opportunities throughout the area.

Troy and North Troy

In contrast to other municipalities surrounding Newport City, Troy and its Village of North Troy has seen a decline in population from 1996 (1617) to 2002 (1559).

Although it is not a separate village, the section of the town at the intersection of Vermont Routes 100 and 101 is referred to as South Troy. Several businesses, including a bank branch, are located there. A fire in 2001 destroyed an animal feed and mineral manufacturing plant and closure of a building supplies store have both contributed to the population decline.

The Village of North Troy located on Vermont Route 105 has always been more of a center, partially because it is situated at the Quebec border. Now, it has the town’s elementary school, one small grocery store, a mini-mart and two restaurants, one of which is in a historic former hotel. North Troy also has the town and village offices, a large post office, a historical society, and a library. The village now has a furniture parts manufacturing plant and will soon be the site of a “state of the art” border station facility that will be capable of screening vehicles passing to and from the United States into Canada. This building is part of an aggressive program to upgrade security by the Department of Homeland Security. Since Jay and Newport City are connected in an economical sense because of the traffic flow of patrons, the section of South Troy and Village of North Troy are important junctions.

11 Towns: Brighton, Charleston, Coventry, Derby, Holland, Jay-Westfield, Lowell, Morgan, Newport City, Newport Town & Troy.

Each town has a school board and each sends a representative(s) to the Supervisory Union school board based in number on the respective number of students.

K - 6: Derby, Holland, Jay-Westfield, Morgan, & Newport City, (7 & 8 grades, North Country Union Junior High School.)

The North Country Junior High School is located on Main St. in Derby and has an enrollment of about 325 students.

It is geographically the largest union high school district in Vermont. The high school is located in Newport City on Veterans Ave., has an enrollment of well over 1,000 students (recently 1064) and an annual budget of around 10 million dollars. The high school or as sometimes referenced, The North Country Educational Complex is split into two entities: a conventional high school, North Country Union High School (NCUHS) and a regional technical school, North Country Career Center (NCCC).

NCUHS offers a comprehensive course of studies including advanced placement courses. The Guidance Dept. carries out a program called Reach Out that assists students make the transition to high school. Also NCUHS offers a variety of sports programs for both males and females. NCCC receives students not only from the North Country Union High School but also from the Lake Region Union High School located in Orleans. During the 03/04 school year enrollment was 300 high school students and 800 adult students. Currently, the NCCC has the second lowest cost per student in the state.