Thursday, January 31, 2008 6:15 PM

 Town of Walpole, Walpole, NH  03608

TOWN SURVEY FOR MASTER LAND-USE PLAN REVISION

FINAL TALLY OF LAND-USE SURVEY, 12-22-07

 

1.  How long have you lived in Walpole?

a.  less than 1 year:            6

b: 1-5 years:                      51

c.  5-20 years:                   89

d.  more than 20 years:     149

 

2.  In which part of Walpole do you live?

a.  Drewsville:             17

b.  North Walpole:       24

c.  South Walpole:       254

 

3.  Do you own or rent your home?

own:    276

rent:     21

 

4.  Please indicate the work status of those in your home.  (Check more than one if applicable.)

a.  work in Walpole:              101

b.  work outside of Walpole:  131

c.  retired:                            133

d.  not employed:                    8

 

5.  Please rate the importance to you of protecting and promoting these features of Walpole.

g.

very

somewhat

less

no importance

rural agricultural setting

215

56

11

2

small-town atmosphere

231

54

6

5

historic New England village character

223

54

13

6

forests, streams, and undeveloped space

198

90

12

6

natural habitat for wildlife

220

58

14

2

scenic views

174

74

31

8

working farms and land available to farm

210

58

16

9

lack of congestion and sprawl

202

58

17

7

 

availability of shopping and stores

77

99

86

21

light industry

91

101

65

30

locally-owned businesses

186

73

12

3

cottage industry and home-based businesses

152

98

27

10

                       

6.  There are flexible approaches to zoning that allow for protection of features of the town that the community has cited as important while also allowing for appropriate development.  These approaches permit higher-density development in some parts of a land parcel to preserve special features in the rest of the land being developed.  Please indicate your view as to the importance of each of the followin    

 

A.  AConservation subdivision@ allows for building houses closer together in that part of the land being developed in order to put at least 50% of the entire land area into conservation.

very important

somewhat important

less important

not important

116

98

34

23

                                   


B.  AFeature-based density@ allows greater concentration of buildings in some areas of the land being developed so that development will not occur on or near specific natural features to be protected.

very important

somewhat important

less important

not important

142

91

24

14

                                   

C.  Steep slopes and ridgeline protection can be done by designating these areas as special zoning districts or can be done in a way similar to feature-based density.  Do you prefer one over the other?

a.  special zoning districts: 79

b.   individual site planning protecting specific features: 153

c.  no preference: 2

d.  don=t understand: 2

           

D.  A village plan would allow for village-like development of larger land tracts, including small-scale commercial buildings and compact housing units with recreational and conservation areas surrounding the built areas.  How important is it to permit village-plan residential developments in Walpole?

very important:  75

somewhat important:  88

less important:  46

not important:  60

 

7.  How important is the protection of historic buildings and features of Walpole?

very important:  191

somewhat important:  64

less important:  18

not important:  5

                       

For this purpose which of the following would you favor (please check only one):  

A specific historic district?  78

Zoning that protects specific buildings or historic features instead of all the buildings in a particular area of the town?  192

 

8.  Some towns use protective zoning for specific features.  Please let us know if you would be in favor of protective zoning for: 

 

Scenic views  

yes:   179

no:   90

 

Ridgelines and hilltops           

yes:   186

no:   86

 

Wildlife habitat           

yes:   235

no:   44

 

Streams and waterways          

yes:   246

no:   36

 

Unfragmented forests 

yes:   213

no:   59

 

9.  How important is it to ensure lower-price housing for young families and others?  

very important:   133

somewhat important:   101

less important:   41

not important: 14

                                                                       

Would  you prefer that lower-priced housing be available only in specific areas of town or should all new major residential developments be given incentives to include lower-price housing, such as permission to build more houses on the same amount of land?

specific areas:   136

all developments:   134

 

10.  How important do you consider affordable retirement housing within our community? 

very important

somewhat important

less important

not important

161

87

26

12

                                                                       

11.  How important is future development of our commercial district?          

very important

somewhat important

less important