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MetroFuture recommends focusing growth in the region’s city, town, and village centers, and other areas where infrastructure and resources are available to support growth.  However, the plan also recognizes that some development will still occur on undeveloped “greenfields.”  Just as there are ways to “grow smart” in urban communities and town centers, there are ways to “grow smart” in the less developed, more rural portions of the region.  Clustered homes, well-designed roadways, and preserved open spaces can be combined to support housing development without homogenizing the region’s character.  

However, many current land use controls include requirements that are detrimental to the protection of natural resources and traditional New England character.  MetroFuture recommends changes to state and local zoning to discourage conventional subdivision designs, excessively wide roads, unregulated house lots along rural roads, and suburban-style development in truly rural areas. 

25)    Eliminate “Approval not Required” (ANR) process for land subdivision

26)    Adopt true large lot zoning

27)    Implement environmentally-friendly roadway standards

28)    Protect scenic roads through development controls and sensitive design