Town of Montezuma, New York Community Survey 2015 The Montezuma Comprehensive Planning Committee and the Central New York Regional Planning & Development Board
MONTEZUMA, NEW YORK COMMUNITY SURVEY PLEASE REPLY BY MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015 Town of Montezuma residents are currently working to develop a Comprehensive Plan that will incorporate the shared vision and unique characteristics of our community. Members of the Montezuma Comprehensive Planning Committee meet on a regular basis to discuss the content and format of the Plan. The Central New York Regional Planning & Development Board (CNY RPDB) is providing program planning, writing, and mapping assistance and is working closely with the Committee to ensure that the final report remains a local level initiative. Your comments are important to us and will help to identify local goals and objectives that will be included in Montezuma s Comprehensive Plan. The Plan will help guide future growth and development while preserving the town s historic, recreation, and cultural resources. Please fill out the following survey and mail or hand-deliver it to the Town Hall by November 9, 2015. It should take less than five minutes to complete. Thank you from the Montezuma Comprehensive Planning Committee members: John Malenick Supervisor, Town of Montezuma Joe Verdi Planning Board Chair Barbara Culotti Planning Board Marian Ellinwood Planning Board Donald Ellinwood Town Resident Cheryl Longyear Planning Board Clerk, Historian John Fordyce Planning Board Carol Fordyce Town Resident Amanda Mazzoni CNY RPDB
Town of Montezuma Comprehensive Plan COMMUNITY SURVEY 2015 Please answer the following questions by marking an X in the appropriate boxes. Montezuma at Present 1. Are the following aspects of Montezuma important to you? a. Healthy environment b. Strong economy c. Clean, safe drinking water d. Safe community e. Transportation and connectivity to neighboring municipalities f. Preservation of historic resources g. Preservation of open space and farmland 2. Please rate Montezuma in the following areas: a. Ambulance service b. Availability of child care services c. Fire protection d. Police response and assistance e. Emergency Medical Services f. Housing Affordability: Rental Affordability: Purchase Availability: Rental Availability: Purchase Quality: Rental Quality: Purchase g. Internet service availability (specify service provider: ) h. Seneca River water quality i. Phone Service Cellular (specify service provider ) Landline (specify service provider ) j. Proximity to employment opportunities k. Proximity to health services l. Proximity to social services m. Road maintenance (specify roads: ) n. School district quality o. Snow removal (specify road(s): ) p. Town operations Code enforcement Animal Control Good Adequate Poor No opinion
Assessment review process Planning Board procedures Tax collection procedures Town Board procedures Zoning Board of Appeals procedures Water department q. Drinking water quality (specify source: municipal or well-water) r. Trash collection and removal Town sponsored clean-up days Private haulers s. Other (specify ) Good Adequate Poor No opinion 3. Are you concerned about the following conditions in Montezuma? a. Big truck traffic (specify road ) b. Increased traffic (specify road ) c. Speeding (specify road ) d. Loss of farmland and open space e. River water quality f. Seneca River access (too much or too little please specify) g. Assessment process h. Pesticide application (specify residential, farmland, or both) i. Other (specify ) Very Concerned Somewhat Concerned Not Concerned Looking Ahead 4. Environmental Preservation - Should Montezuma leaders encourage the following changes: a. Preservation of scenic views and natural areas b. Protection of environmental quality through local laws (buffers, setbacks) c. Protection of natural resources (water, wetlands, etc.) d. Tax incentives for the preservation of undeveloped, natural areas and open space 5. Land Use: Agricultural Should Montezuma encourage the following: a. New policies to help reduce agriculture-related neighbor conflicts b. Farmland protection through long term land agreements (easements) c. Limiting the conversion of farmland for non-agricultural uses d. Maintenance of the town s rural character e. Niche-farming and agri-tourism
f. Increasing erosion management practices on agricultural land g. Offering tax incentives to keep land in production h. If you farm in Montezuma, are you interested in receiving information on conservation options that will protect your land from future development? i. If you farm in Montezuma, what do you plan to do with your farm upon retirement? Please check all that apply Pass it on to children or other family members Sell it to another farmer Sell it to a developer I don t know yet Other j. If you farm in Montezuma, what are your primary crops and/or livestock? 6. Land Use: Industrial and Commercial - Should Montezuma encourage these types of development: a. At home businesses (please specify ) b. Manufacturing (specify ideal locations ) c. Retail businesses (specify what types and ideal locations ) d. Professional services e. Restaurants f. Commercial wind turbines 7. Land Use: Residential Should Montezuma do more to encourage: a. Affordable housing b. Mobile homes on individual lots or mobile home parks c. Owned, multi-unit houses (condos, town homes) d. Rental, multi-unit housing (apartments, town homes) e. Senior citizen housing f. Single family housing g. Two family housing (duplexes) h. Cluster housing (houses closer together with shared green space) i. Other (specify ) 8. Land Use: Are the following resources adequately provided in Montezuma: a. Community center (list services ) b. Farmers and artisans market (location? ) c. Outdoor athletic field(s) (location? ) d. Seneca River public access (location? )
e. Historical society/museum (location? ) f. Picnic area/playground (location? ) g. Hiking and biking paths (location? ) h. Other (specify what and where ) 9. Local Laws and Regulations - Should land use regulations be developed or revised to address the following: a. Clustering of homes to protect green space b. Degradation of environmentally sensitive areas c. Design standards (lighting, signage, style) for commercial development d. Future subdivision of larger parcels e. Land use that significantly lowers surrounding land values f. Land use that adversely impacts the environment (setbacks, buffers) g. Minimum lot sizes (specify: increase decrease remain the same) h. Mobile home placement and site requirements i. Property Maintenance Upkeep of occupied structures Upkeep of vacant parcels and dilapidated buildings j. Rental housing inspections and landlord registration k. Other (specify ) 10. Informational Activities Should Montezuma make the following changes: Yes No a. Improve communications with neighboring towns and villages b. Improve the town s website (www.townofmontezuma.org) c. Conduct an inventory of historical sites d. Place community events in local papers e. Publish a periodic community events calendar f. Publish a town newsletter g. Purchase an electronic message board to display local news and events No opinion How do you normally receive information about the Town of Montezuma? Check all that apply Local newspaper (specify Auburn Citizen or other ) Town website (www.townofmontezuma.org) Word of mouth Other (specify ) 11. Historic Preservation Please list the top priority business and residential buildings in Montezuma that should be protected for their historic value.
12. Future Challenges How challenging will the following issues be for the Town of Montezuma in the near future? Please rank each issue on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most challenging. 1 2 3 4 5 a. Accommodating flood safe commercial or residential growth b. Improving town infrastructure (roads, water) c. Improving utility infrastructure (electric, phone, Internet, natural gas) d. Protecting natural resources and water quality e. Maintaining tax levels in relation to services provided f. Supporting community organizations g. Encouraging volunteer participation for local organizations h. Improving access and connectivity to regional transportation routes i. Maintaining farming and agriculture j. Encouraging attendance at town-related meetings k. Other (specify ) Please take a moment to tell us a bit about you. 13. Your age group: 15-20 years 21-35 years 36-55 years over 55 years 14. Length of residency/land ownership in Montezuma: 0-10 years 11-20 years 21+ years 15. Your association with Montezuma: Own Land Own Home Own Business (circle all that apply) Work in Montezuma Rent Land Rent Home Rent Business 16. Please specify your residency status in Montezuma: Full Time Part Time 17. Why do you live in the Town of Montezuma (circle all that apply): Cost of Living Employment Environment Family Location Recreation Rural Character Schools Other 18. Town Board meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm at the Town Hall, 8102 Dock Street. How frequently do you attend Town Board meetings? Never Once a year A few times per year Monthly 19. Are you interested in serving on special committees, appointed positions, or at town events? Yes / No If yes, please provide your name, address, and phone number below: Thank you for taking the time to help the Town of Montezuma plan for the future! Please mail or hand-deliver your completed survey to the Montezuma Town Hall by November 9, 2015
FOLD HERE Return Address Place Stamp Here Montezuma Comprehensive Planning Committee Montezuma Town Hall P.O. Box 357 8102 Dock Street Montezuma, NY 13117 TAPE BOTTOM CLOSED