Concatinated Plan Sections

To read or print the plan in its entirety, click on the following links.
(To pick specific sections or maps, scroll down below.)



Introduction about how to navigate individual sections and maps


Supplemental Information


Title Page and Table of Contents

 Title Page Image

Executive Summary

Section 1

Purpose of this Land Conservation Plan

Current file: 01-section1-2022_11_01-final.pdf

In This Section:

  • Background
  • Approach
  • Conservation Goals
  • Plan Elements and Applicability

Status: Final


 Section 1 Image

Section 2

Reasons for Conserving Land

Current file: 02-section2-2022_11_01-final.pdf

In This Section:

  • Aesthetic and Environmental Reasons for Conserving Land
  • Studies of the Economic Benefits for Conserving Land
  • Conservation’s Impact on Atkinson’s Tax Rate
  • Excerpts and Recommendations from Atkinson’s 2015 Master Plan
  • State Laws Pertaining to Open Space Preservation
  • Challenges and Emerging Issues

Status: Final


 Section 2 Image

Section 3

Methods for Conserving Land

Current file: 03-Section3-2022_11_01-final.pdf

In This Section:

  • Land Ownership
  • Protection of Town-Owned Conservation Land
  • Conservation Easements
  • Cluster Subdivision Dedicated Open Space
  • Other Zoning Protections
  • State Regulations
  • Property Tax Relief Programs: Current Use and Conservation Restriction
  • Examples of Methods of Conserving Land

Status: Final


 Section 3 Image

Section 4

Conservation Attributes in the Town of Atkinson

Current file: 04-section4-2022_11_01-final.pdf

In This Section:

  • What is a Conservation Attribute?
  • An Introduction to the Maps
  • A Description of the Maps
  • How to Use the Maps
  • Maps 1 – 14 (see the table below)

Status: Final


Supplemental Information
.

Section 4 - GIS Conservation Attribute Maps
Map Name Map
Map 1 - Land Use 2015 Map 1
Map 2 - Topography Map 2
Map 3 - Soils (NRCS, 1994) Map 3
Map 4 - Agricultural Soils Map 4
Map 5 - Surface Water, Watersheds, FEMA Flood Hazard Areas Map 5
Map 6 - Groundwater, Aquifers (USGS 1992) Map 6
Map 7 - Wetlands Map 7
Map 8 - Open Space Map 8
Map 9 - Wildlife Habitat Features Map 9
Map 10 - Aerial Photo (USGS/NHDOT 2015) Map 10
Map 11 - Impervious Surfaces (UNH Complex Systems, 2015) Map 11
Map 12 - Unfragmented Blocks Map 12
Map 13 - Forest Resource Potential Map 13
Map 14 - Connecting the Coast (TNC, SELT 2019) Map 14
Section 4 Image
Supplemental Information


Section 5

Analysis of Conservation Priorities and Opportunities

Current file: 05-section5-2022_11_01-final.pdf

In This Section:

  • Conservation Priorities for the Town of Atkinson
  • Co-Occurrence Mapping - Analysis of Conservation Priorities
  • Examples of How to Use These Maps
  • Why These Maps Are Important
  • Map 15 – The Co-Occurrence Map (see the table below)

Status: Final


Supplemental Information
.


Section 5 GIS - Map
Map Name Map
Map 15 - Natural Resource Priority Areas Map 15
Map 15 - Raw Layering File - Supplemental Information Raw Layering File
Section 5 Image

Section 6

Recommendations and Conclusions

Current file: 06-section6-2022_11_01-final.pdf

In This Section:

  • Recommendations
  • Conclusions

Status: Final


 Section 6 Image

Appendix A

A Brief History of Conservation in Atkinson

Current file: a01-appendix_a-2022_11_01-final.pdf - History of Conservation

In This Section:

  • The Atkinson Conservation Commission (an overview)
  • Accomplishments
  • The Conservation Fund
  • The Forest Maintenance Fund
  • By-Laws and Rules of Procedure
  • Mission Statement
  • Policies and Guidelines for the Use of Conservation Land
  • Excerpt from Atkinson Then and Now
  • Chet Ladd Dedication, from town’s Annual Report of 1988
  • Ruth McPherson Dedication, from the Town’s Annual Report of 1992
  • Atkinson residents who have served on the Conservation Commission
  • An essay by former Commission Chair Scott Kukshtel about the importance of the Conservation Fund
  • Chronology of Conservation in Atkinson, a summary of Annual Reports of the Conservation Commission, 1974 - 2020

Status: Final


 Appendix A Image

Appendix B

Current State of Conservation in Atkinson

Current File: b01-appendix_b-2022_11_01-final.pdf - Current State Table

In This Section:

  • Summary of Land Uses in Atkinson
  • Tables and Maps (see table below)

Status: Final

Supplemental Information - Tax Assessment spreadsheets supporting the Land Use Table on page B-03
  • Master spreadsheet for land use data table in Appendix B, page B-03: 2021_spreasdsheet-working-copy (excel spreadsheet download)
  • Sorted spreadsheet showing total acreage unimproved land, not counting conservation, cluster OS, cons easements, or other municipal land, sorted by parcel size: Unimproved Land Spreadsheet (excel spreadsheet download)
  • Sorted spreadsheet showing all Current Use parcels, sorted by parcel size: Current Use Land Spreadsheet (excel spreadsheet download)
Appendix B Image

Appendix B - Tables and Maps
Land Category Table Map
A - Town-Owned Conservation Land Table A Map A
B - Cluster Development Open Space Table B Map B
C - Conservation Easements on Privately-Owned Land Table C Map C
D - Projects Funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Table D Map D
E - Lands with Current Use Tax Assessments Table E
See Note		 Map E
F - Municipal and Undesignated Land Table F Map F
G - Prime Wetlands Table G Map G
H - Trails on Conservation Lands Table H Map H
Individual Trail Maps
I - Conservation Lands Allowing Hunting Table I Map I
J - Current Aerial Photograph (September 2020) n/a Map J
K - Open Space at the Atkinson Resort and Country Club Table K Map K
Notes:
  • Table E (Current Use Lands) was updated Nov. 11, 2022 to include sizes of parcels.

Ecological Descriptions of Atkinson's Prime Wetlands
Final
Supplemental Information

Reference Data (Deeds and Plans)

Supplemental Information

Although not part of the published Plan document,
the following is a 36 x 48 inch high-resolution map summarizing Atkinson's state of conservation:

Appendix C

Other Reference Data

Current File: c01-appendix_c-2022_11_01-final.pdf

In This Section:

  • Property Tax Rate Analysis
  • Buffers and Setbacks Demystified
  • Available Sources of Grant Funding

Status: Final


Supplemental Information

Appendix C Image