Charlotte, VT Justin Bezold Sarah Ford Ryan Salem

Charlotte Facts Location: Chittenden County, 10 miles south of Burlington Chartered: June 24, 1762 Area: 32,242 acres/50.38 square miles Population: 3,569 (US Census, 2000) Population Density: 70.8 persons/mile2 (Burlington: 2,512.2 persons/mile2; New York City: 26,517 persons/mile2!) *more interesting Charlotte facts

A Brief History Founded in 1762 In 1800’s population over 3500, larger than today Sheep Farming and Lake Commerce Prominent in 1800’s Farming lead to deforestation Rivers experienced high levels of sedimentation, then eutrophication

1900’s Early Railroad brings commerce and allows people to leave area (Go west young man) Forests begin regeneration and landscape begins to recover (streams approach historic conditions) 1970’s Interstate comes to Vermont – rapid increase in population and development statewide

Charlotte Development Districts Village--------------------- Rural----------------------- Commercial--------------- Industrial------------------ Shoreland------------------ Seasonal (camps)-------- Conservation------------- Mixed use center of town Farming or natural areas Stores and Retail areas Manufacturing/non-retail Development along shore Memorial to Labor Days Lands w/ restrictions ie-wetlands

Charlotte Development Information 1. 1942-62– 232 housing units total 2. 1962-77– 265 housing units total 3. 1977-92– 770 housing units total 4. 1992-95– 1447 units total

Charlotte Zoning Basics

Zoning Laws’ Affects on Charlotte Sprawl See how Charlotte is Zoned Why is “rural sprawl” encouraged in Charlotte?? Charlotte Zoning Laws require 5 acres of land for each dwelling unit. This encourages development to be even more spread out than the traditional one-acre lot size. Over the last decade, the town has seen a boom in the number of large houses, especially along the lake because of its attractive “rural” setting. This is starting to change the feel of Charlotte from a traditional rural Vermont town to one that is “between the glitzy refinement of Shelburne to the north and the blue-collar panache of Ferrisburgh to the south, trying to find a happy medium between the two extremes, and forging its own peculiar character in the process” (Charlotte Homepage 2003). 

Effects on Water Resources Agriculture Development Road Infrastructure