Aids in identifying townwide protection priorities using planning-level information and town plan goals. Helps avoid premature decisions that lock the developer and Planning Board into one design before all options have been evaluated. Identifies general site suitability for development. Identifies areas with severe development constraints where construction costs are higher as well as sensitive areas where disturbance should be minimized to reduce environmental impact. Provides a clear understanding of constraints and opportunities in user-friendly, visual format as basis for reaching agreement on preferred options.
Data are readily available at both town and watershed scale, fostering watershed- based planning.
Provides access to data such as DEM Natural Heritage Areas that may not be available at the town level. Provides enhansed data and standardized formatting such as soil hydrologic groups .