East Whiteland Township Comprehensive Plan Online Community Survey Results: Data Charts and Tables

Transcription

1 East Whiteland Township Comprehensive Plan Online Community Survey Results: Data Charts and Tables Summarized: August 13, 2015

2 Introduction East Whiteland Township is updating its Comprehensive Plan, a strategic policy and action plan that sets forth a vision for the Township for the next ten years, directs key policy decisions, and guides Township resources (time, tax dollars, and staff) toward reaching those goals. As part of its initial outreach, the Township conducted an online survey to gauge residents opinions on various aspects impacting their quality of life. These results, presented below, will be combined with other sources of information to identify priority topics for the Comprehensive Plan. This survey is only the first opportunity for community input. A Community Workshop is scheduled for October 8, 2015 at the Township building to gather additional feedback. As the plan is developed, more public meetings and public hearings will be held. For additional information on these please check the Township s website and/or Facebook page. Survey Development and Distribution The East Whiteland Township Online Community Survey was launched on June 23, 2015 and ran for six weeks until August 6, The survey was available via link on the Township s website and Facebook page, as well as being ed to members of the Township s advisory boards, committees, and homeowners association heads. Additional promotional materials were distributed via: Postcards mailed to each residence Full page flyers were handed out to participants in the EWT Summer Camp at KDM; and An article included in the IN Great Valley Community magazine. Finally, paper copies of the survey were made available by calling the Township for those who did not wish or were unable to take the survey online. Survey Participation The survey received 392 responses. The vast majority of these responses were received via the Township s Facebook page. Survey Results A summary of the online community survey results is found on the following pages. Due to the number of open ended responses, these were not included at this time. East Whiteland Township Community Survey Results

3 Q1 What are your favorite characteristics of East Whiteland Township? Check a maximum of 3 choices. Answered: 390 Skipped: 2 Access to major roads Access to public... Cultural and historic... My neighborhood... Natural environment Proximity to employment Proximity to shops and... Recreational opportunitie... Schools Other (please specify) 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Answer Choices Access to major roads Access to public transportation Cultural and historic opportunities My neighborhood character Natural environment Proximity to employment Proximity to shops and services Recreational opportunities and trails Schools Other (please specify) Responses 56.15% % % % % % % % % % 17 Total Respondents: / 40

4 Q2 On a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 as the lowest and 5 as the highest), how would you rate the quality of life offered in East Whiteland Township? Answered: 389 Skipped: 3 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Lowest Highest Lowest Highest Total Weighted Average 0.77% % % % % / 40

5 Q3 Is there a particular place you recognize as the "heart", hub, or community center of East Whiteland Township? Answered: 390 Skipped: 2 Yes No Unsure 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Answer Choices Yes No Unsure Responses 15.13% % % 51 Total / 40

6 Q6 Rate your satisfaction with the following utilities and services. Answered: 352 Skipped: 40 Ambulance Services Fire Services Police Services 6 / 40

7 Public Sewer Service Public Water Service... Township Parks Township Administrati... 7 / 40

8 Township Code Enforcement Township Communications Township Road Maintenance 8 / 40

9 Snow Removal Parks Maintenance Recreation Programs Trash 9 / 40

10 Trash (provided by... East Whiteland Township Comprehensive Plan Survey 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Dissatisfied Somewhat Dissatisfied Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied Somewhat Satisfied Satisfied Unsure/NA Dissatisfied Somewhat Dissatisfied Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied Somewhat Satisfied Satisfied Unsure/NA Total Ambulance Services 0.00% % % % % % Fire Services 0.00% % % % % % Police Services 0.86% % % % % % Public Sewer Service 4.05% % % % % % Public Water Service (provided by Aqua PA) 2.01% % % % % % Township Parks 2.56% % % % % % Township Administrative Services 1.72% % % % % % Township Code Enforcement 6.05% % % % % % Township Communications 6.74% % % % % % Township Road Maintenance 8.05% % % % % % Snow Removal 1.15% % % % % % Parks Maintenance 2.02% % % % % % Recreation Programs 2.60% % % % % % Trash (provided by others) 0.29% % % % % % / 40

11 Q8 Rate the following tax rates. Answered: 349 Skipped: 43 Earned Income Tax County Real Estate Tax School District Rea... Township Real Estate Tax Sewer tax 12 / 40

12 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 1 Too high 2 High 3 Reasonable Unsure 1 Too high 2 High 3 Reasonable Unsure Total Weighted Average Earned Income Tax 8.99% % % % County Real Estate Tax 7.00% % % % School District Real Estate Tax 19.54% % % % Township Real Estate Tax 8.07% % % % Sewer tax 8.45% % % % / 40

13 Q9 How satisfied are you with the services received from the Township relative to taxes paid to the Township? Answered: 351 Skipped: 41 Dissatisfied Somewhat dissatisfied Neither satisfied no... Somewhat Satisfied Satisfied Unsure 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Answer Choices Dissatisfied Somewhat dissatisfied Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied Somewhat Satisfied Satisfied Unsure Responses 3.70% % % % % % 14 Total / 40

14 Q10 Check the top 3 ways that you prefer the Township to communicate with you. Answered: 353 Skipped: 39 US Mail Inserts into my tax or... Facebook Twitter Township website Township park kiosks Public postings at... Other (please specify) 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Answer Choices US Mail Inserts into my tax or utility bills Facebook Twitter Township website Township park kiosks Public postings at the Township building Other (please specify) Responses 65.16% % % % % % % % % 14 Total Respondents: / 40

15 Q11 Which initiatives should the Township support with its resources (time, people, and money) in the future? Check all that apply. Answered: 344 Skipped: 48 Promoting redevelopmen... Creating greater... Preserving open space. Creating additional... Improving connections... Attracting and retaining... Encouraging diverse hous... Protecting historic and... Protecting existing... Other (please specify) 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Answer Choices Promoting redevelopment of the commercial corridors. Creating greater community identity and recognition for the Township. Preserving open space. Creating additional parkland. Improving connections throughout the Township for people who walk and bike (or would like to) for transportation and recreation. Attracting and retaining businesses. Encouraging diverse housing opportunities. Responses 33.14% % % % % % % 35 Protecting historic and cultural resources in the Township. Protecting existing neighborhood character % % / 40

16 Other (please specify) 10.76% 37 Total Respondents: / 40

17 Q12 Which initiatives would you be willing to support through higher taxes? Check all that apply. Answered: 340 Skipped: 52 Promoting redevelopmen... Creating greater... Preserving open space a... Improving connections... Attracting and retaining... Encouraging diverse hous... Protecting historic and... Protecting existing... None of the above Other 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Answer Choices Promoting redevelopment of the commercial corridors. Creating greater community identity and recognition for the Township. Preserving open space and creating additional parkland. Improving connections throughout the Township for people who walk and bike (or would like to) for transportation and recreation. Attracting and retaining businesses. Encouraging diverse housing opportunities. Protecting historic and cultural resources in the Township. Protecting existing neighborhood character. None of the above Other Responses 14.41% % % % % % % % % % 35 Total Respondents: / 40

18 Q13 How appropriate is the rate of residential development in East Whiteland Township? Answered: 346 Skipped: 46 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 1 Not appropriate Very appropriate 1 Not appropriate Very appropriate Total Weighted Average 13.87% % % % % / 40

19 Q14 How appropriate is the rate of nonresidential development in East Whiteland Township? Answered: 346 Skipped: % 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 1 Not appropriate Very appropriate 1 Not appropriate Very appropriate Total Weighted Average 15.32% % % % % / 40

20 Q15 How important is it to provide more of the following housing options in East Whiteland Township? Answered: 334 Skipped: % 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Housing options for young people. Housing options for young families. Housing options for empty nesters... Housing options within walking... Homes for sale in my price range. Homes for rent in my price range. Unimportant Somewhat Unimportant Neither important nor unimportant Somewhat important Important Unsure Unimportant Somewhat Unimportant Neither important nor unimportant Somewhat important Important Unsure Total Weighted Average Housing options for young people % % % % % % Housing options for young families % % % % % % Housing options for empty nesters and retirees % % % % % % Housing options within walking distance of shops and services % % % % % % Homes for sale in my price range % % % % % % Homes for rent in my price range % % % % % % / 40

21 Q19 To what destinations in the Township would you like to be able to bike or walk? Answered: 333 Skipped: 59 Chester Valley Trail My school My house My job Neighborhood parks and ot... No particular place, I wou... I do not care to walk or b... Other (please specify) 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Answer Choices Chester Valley Trail My school My house My job Neighborhood parks and other community facilities No particular place, I would just like to walk and bike more. I do not care to walk or bike in the Township. Other (please specify) Responses 60.66% % % % % % % % 40 Total Respondents: / 40

22 Q20 What types of pedestrian facilities are most appropriate in the Township? Check all that apply. Answered: 332 Skipped: 60 Unpaved trails Paved trails Sidewalks All types of pedestrian... No pedestrian facilities a... Unsure 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Answer Choices Unpaved trails Paved trails Sidewalks All types of pedestrian facilities should be considered No pedestrian facilities are needed. Unsure Responses 22.59% % % % % % 19 Total Respondents: / 40

23 Q21 What types of bicycle facilities are most appropriate in the Township? Check all that apply. Answered: 333 Skipped: 59 Paved Shoulders Bicycle lane striping Multi-use trails All types of bicycle... No bicycle facilities a... Unsure 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Answer Choices Paved Shoulders Bicycle lane striping Multi-use trails All types of bicycle facilities should be considered. No bicycle facilities are needed. Unsure Responses 30.03% % % % % % 36 Total Respondents: / 40

24 Q22 Please rate the importance of the following energy conservation topics. Answered: 330 Skipped: 62 Managing stormwater... Composting programs Natural landscaping / 40

25 Recycling of more... Efforts to reduce... Efforts to reduce... Alternative energy sourc / 40

26 Improved cooperation... 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Unimportant Somewhat Unimportant Neither Important nor Unimportant Somewhat Important Important Unsure Unimportant Somewhat Unimportant Neither Important nor Unimportant Somewhat Important Important Unsure Total Weighted Average Managing stormwater naturally through rain gardens, green roofs, permeable paving, etc. 3.68% % % % % % Composting programs 8.23% % % % % % Natural landscaping and Native plantings (as an alternative to chemically fed/mowed lawns) 5.21% % % % % % Recycling of more materials/items 3.69% % % % % % Efforts to reduce municipal energy and water use 3.37% % % % % % Efforts to reduce community wide energy and water use 4.29% % % % % % Alternative energy sources for residents and the community 6.17% % % % % % Improved cooperation with nearby farmers to strengthen the local food supply/economy 3.06% % % % % % / 40