The “Town of Caroline Planning Survey” results are in! The survey was mailed to 1,770 residents (all of Caroline’s registered voters) on June 1. Twenty-six percent were completed and returned by mid-July. While this is a high return rate for a survey, the Planning Board wanted to be sure that the survey accurately represented the residents of the Town of Caroline.

The age of respondents generally followed actual age distributions in Caroline, although younger adults were slightly underrepresented among survey respondents. Approximately three percent of the respondents were 18 to 24 years old, 29 percent were 25 to 44 years old, 48 percent were 45 to 64 years old, 10 percent were 65 to 74 years old and 9 percent were 75+ years old. The survey also reflected opinions from both new and long-time residents. Approximately 42 percent of the respondents have lived in Caroline at least 20 years, another 20 percent have lived here 10 to 19 years, and 32 percent have lived here less than 10 years. Additionally, both rural residents and those in hamlets took the time to reply. Approximately 36 percent of respondents lived in rural areas and the remaining 64 percent came from the hamlets of Brooktondale, Slaterville Springs, and Speedsville.

The survey’s three major questions asked respondents to rate (1) the importance of listed goals, (2) the current Town success in accomplishing these goals, and (3) the desirability of suggested actions in achieving the goals.
 

nd current success on Town goals. With average ratings ranging from 3.2 to 4.4, respondents found most goals moderately to very important for the Town to address. In general, residents rated the Town’s current success at addressing these goals as lower than their importance, with average ratings from 2.4 (somewhat unsuccessful) to 4.1 (very successful). There is the most room for improvement on goals where importance is rated high and current success is rated somewhat lower. Such goals may warrant particular attention in the comprehensive plan.

There are many possible actions that can be taken to address these goals. Table B summarizes the desirability of a variety of potential Town actions that could help achieve these goals. With average ratings ranging from 3.1 to 4.0, respondents found most actions moderately to very desirable.

A complete report of the survey results is available at the Caroline Library at the Town Hall and will be placed on the Town of Caroline Web site when it is launched (www.townofcaroline.org).

The Planning Board wishes to thank H. Christine Richards, Town of Caroline Planning Board summer research assistant, for preparing the above survey summary. Ms. Richards is a master’s degree candidate in city and regional planning from Cornell University. During her internship this summer, she has analyzed this survey and prepared extensive information packets about the Town of Caroline as background for the comprehensive plan.

The Planning Board thanks all of the resident who took the time to thoughtfully complete this detailed survey. The results will be very helpful in developing a comprehensive plan for the Town that reflects the desires of community members.
The “Town of Caroline Planning Survey” is one of a series of activities to solicit public input on the comprehensive plan. The items in the survey were developed based on input provided at three community visioning workshops held in February through April and through informal polling of residents.

As another means of engaging community participation in the planning process, three working groups have been convened to review information and develop recommendations for the comprehensive plan. The working groups are meeting monthly from June through October. All meetings are open to the public and new members are welcomed:

• Open Space, Environmental Protection and Outdoor Recreation Working Group (meetings scheduled for fourth Mondays at 7 p.m., Town Hall: August 23, September 27, October 25)

• Housing, Roads and Transportation Working Group (meetings scheduled for fourth Wednesdays, 5:15 p.m., Town Hall: August 25, September 22, October 27)

 

Farming and Small Businesses Working Group

The working groups and the Planning Board are reviewing the results of the survey. While residents are welcomed at each meeting of the Planning Board (first Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the Town Hall), extra time will be set aside at the meeting on October 7 to hear residents’ comments, concerns, and questions about the survey results or other input to the comprehensive plan. Please come prepared with a brief (no more than three minutes) statement or question.
Recommendations from working groups will be shared with the Planning Board in November. The Planning Board anticipates releasing a draft comprehensive plan for public comment in early 2005.

Submitted by Kathleen M. Quinlan, Chair, Town of Caroline Plan