The objectives of the plan are that the town should develop as a community of single family homes. The development of residences should be in harmony with the natural resources of the town and not have a significant negative impact on the agricultural and forest land nor on air and water quality.

Small scale commercial, public and industrial development is compatible with these objectives if properly controlled. Industrial development should be related to the town's agricultural and forest resources. Recreational development should not be encouraged around First, Second and Third Lakes and California Pond. Prime agricultural land should be preserved.

All development should be in those areas best suited by reason of appropriate soils, topography, highway access and existing land use patterns. Development should be restricted from areas which benefit the public in their present natural state. These include areas of shoreline and all areas of wetlands.

State law until recently did not authorize plantations to have planning boards nor did it give them power to control land use. In order to gain this power and to provide a full-fledged municipal government, New Canada asked the state legislature to become incorporated as a town. The legislature passed the appropriate act and it was signed by governor on Feb. 1976. On March 26, 1976 the voters accepted the act and voted to become a town by a vote of 22 to 15. Also approved at the same meeting was the institution of the planning board.

The planning board met on April 12, 1977 and elected Claude Dumond as chairman. The process of developing this plan and this land use ordinance was begun with assistance from the Cooperative Extension Service.

After the plan and the proposed ordinance were approved by LURC, they were ready for consideration at a town meeting.

Existing development in New Canada is all either along Rte. 161, Daigle (40 residences) or along the West boundary of the town, State Aid 3 New Canada, northeast of Soldier Pond Village (33 residences). Future developments should be in these areas as public service investments (highways, utilities, and school bus routes) have already been made. The undeveloped areas should remain in their natural state for agricultural and forest use. It is not anticipated that community type facilities such as public water and sewer will be needed in the current planning timespan.

The policies and objectives of this plan will be implemented mainly through the passage and enforcement of the town land use ordinance. To better meet the federal requirements for flood insurance and federal disaster programs as well as to control development in areas prone to flooding, the town should consider adopting a model federal ordinance designed for this purpose.

The acceptance of any subdivision by the planning board will be based on meeting the criteria listed in the state laws. All subdivisions will also meet the standards of the zoning ordinance and be compatible with this plan before acceptance. Subdivisions should only be accepted in the development areas.

To further meet the goals of this plan, the planning board will be active in local inventory of the enforcement of the following state laws:

1. Great Ponds Protection......................38 MRSA 386-396
2. Waterways Protection........................12 MRSA 2203-2205
3. Wetlands Control...............................38 MRSA 471-478
4. Site Location Development...............38 MRSA 481-488
5. Subdivision Of Land...........................38 MRSA 4956

The planning board and the selectman will continue to study other needs of the town and make recommendations and proposals to town meetings or implementing the actions suggested in this plan.

(Information herein obtained by request from New Canada Town Office: 834-6674)