Selection: Town = 'Amherst' Record Count: 28 (Deleted Records Excluded) Date: 10/21/2014 1:24:02 PM. Frequency Percent

Transcription

1 Amherst Comprehensive Plan Survey Selection: Town = 'Amherst' Record Count: 28 (Deleted Records Excluded) Date: 10/21/2014 1:24:02 PM FREQ * TOWN Amherst % % A# DO YOU PLAN TO MAKE YOUR SEASONAL RESIDENCE YOUR PERMANENT RE No % 50.00% Yes % % Total % % 3# HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN YOUR TOWN? years % 14.29% 1-5 years % 21.43% 20+ years % 67.86% 6-10 years % 96.43% less than one year % % A# FIRE PROTECTION Adequate % 42.86% Needs improvement % 75.00% Not sure % %

2 INCREASED LOCAL No % 43.48% Yes % % Total % % B#_RECREATIONAL FACILITIES Adequate % 67.86% Needs improvement % 85.71% Not sure % % INCREASED LOCA1 No % 80.95% Yes % % Total % % C#_AMBULANCE Adequate % 60.71% Needs improvement % 75.00% Not sure % % INCREASED LOCA2 No % 71.43%

3 Yes % % Total % % D# ROAD MAINTENANCE Adequate % 67.86% Needs improvement % 89.29% Not sure % % INCREASED LOCA3 No % 57.14% Yes % % Total % % E# SNOW REMOVAL/SANDING Adequate % 75.00% Needs improvement % 85.71% Not sure % % INCREASED LOCA4 No % 73.68% Yes % % Total % % F# PUBLIC SCHOOLS

4 Adequate % 64.29% Needs improvement % 71.43% Not sure % % INCREASED LOCA5 No % 50.00% Yes % % Total % % G# POLICE PROTECTION Adequate % 46.43% Needs improvement % 78.57% Not sure % % INCREASED LOCA6 No % 65.00% Yes % % Total % % H# CODE ENFORCEMENT Adequate % 50.00% Needs improvement % 78.57% Not sure % %

5 INCREASED LOCA7 No % 75.00% Yes % % Total % % I# PUBLIC ACCESS TO SHORE Adequate % 64.29% Needs improvement % 75.00% Not sure % % INCREASED LOCA8 No % 76.19% Yes % % Total % % J# LIBRARY Adequate % 50.00% Needs improvement % 57.14% Not sure % % INCREASED LOCA9 No % 80.95%

6 Yes % % Total % % K# TOWN OFFICE Adequate % 71.43% Needs improvement % 92.86% Not sure % % INCREASED LOC10 No % 80.00% Yes % % Total % % L# SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL Adequate % 75.00% Needs improvement % 85.71% Not sure % % INCREASED LOC11 No % 77.27% Yes % % Total % % M# COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

7 Adequate % 21.43% Needs improvement % 57.14% Not sure % % INCREASED LOC12 No % 73.68% Yes % % Total % % N# OTHER MUNICIPAL SERVICES (SPECIFY) A renovated or modern central meeting/social/recreational space is needed. It would be nice if the existing town hall could be renovated to provide this space with a kitchen, etc., or a new building built for the use of local residents % % Total % % F34 Needs improvement % 33.33% Not sure % % Total % % INCREASED LOC13 No % 50.00% Yes % %

8 Total % % A#_JOB OPPORTUNITIES No % 32.14% Yes % % B#_AFFORDABLE HOUSING No % 67.86% Yes % % C# SPEEDING TRAFFIC No % 39.29% Yes % % D# PROPERTY TAXES No % 60.71% Yes % % E# POPULATION GROWTH No % 85.71% Yes % % F# HIGH SPEED INTERNET No % 67.86%

9 Yes % % G# POPULATION GROWTH No % 85.71% Yes % % H# POTABLE WATER No % 96.43% Yes % % I# AIR OR WATER QUALITY No % 92.86% Yes % % J# PUBLIC TRASPORTATION No % 53.57% Yes % % K# LOSS OF WILDLIFE HABITAT No % 50.00% Yes % % L# TIMBER HARVESTING

10 No % 67.86% Yes % % M# OTHER PROBLEMS (SPECIFY) Total % % 95% Conf Limits F49 No % % Total % % 3# DO YOU FEEL THAT THE TOWN GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIVE TO YOUR NE No % 14.29% Yes % % A# SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES Undecided % 3.57% Yes % % B# DUPLEXES No % 46.43% Undecided % 53.57% Yes % %

11 C# APARTMENTS No % 53.57% Undecided % 57.14% Yes % % D# AFFORDABLE HOUSING No % 35.71% Undecided % 42.86% Yes % % E# MOBILE HOMES ON INDIVIDUAL LOTS No % 35.71% Undecided % 42.86% Yes % % F# CLUSTER (OR OPEN SPACE) HOUSING No % 53.57% Undecided % 57.14% Yes % % F58 a. Anywhere in town % 3.57%

12 b. In remote rural areas % 10.71% c. Adjacent to commercial areas % 28.57% d. Along major roads % 42.86% e. In as few places in town as possibl % 89.29% f. Anywhere but near built up residential area % 92.86% minimum lot size per ordinance % 96.43% Nowhere % % A# RESIDENTIAL Anywhere in town % 57.14% Close to village centers % 82.14% Specifically designated areas % 89.29% Undecided % % B# COMMERCIAL (RETAIL & SERVICES) Anywhere in town % 14.29% Close to villages centers % 46.43% Nowhere in town % 50.00% Specifically designated areas % % C# LIGHT MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS Anywhere in town % 10.71% Close to village centers % 21.43%

13 Nowhere in town % 32.14% Specifically designated areas % 96.43% Undecided % % D# HEAVY INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS Anywhere in town % 3.57% Nowhere in towns % 46.43% Specifically designated areas % 96.43% Undecided % % E# GRAVEL EXTRACTION Anywhere in town % 7.14% Nowhere in town % 28.57% Specifically designated areas % 96.43% Undecided % % F# CELL TOWERS Anywhere in town % 14.29% Close to village centers % 17.86% Nowhere in town % 42.86% Specifically designated areas % 96.43% Undecided % % G# WIND TURBINES

14 Anywhere in town % 10.71% Nowhere in town % 53.57% Specifically designated areas % 92.86% Undecided % % H# GAS OR OIL PIPELINES Anywhere in town % 7.14% Nowhere in town % 46.43% Specifically designated areas % 89.29% Undecided % % I# EAST/WEST HIGHWAY Anywhere in town % 7.14% Close to village centers % 14.29% Nowhere in town % 57.14% Specifically designated areas % 85.71% Undecided % % A# AGRICULTURE LAND No % 25.00% Yes % % B# FOREST LAND No % 14.29% Undecided % 17.86%

15 Yes % % C# TREE GROWTH No % 17.86% Undecided % 25.00% Yes % % D# WILDLIFE HABITAT No % 7.14% Yes % % E# AQUIFERS No % 7.14% Undecided % 10.71% Yes % % F# WETLANDS No % 10.71% Undecided % 14.29% Yes % % G# SCENIC VIEWS No % 10.71% Yes % %

16 H# DEER WINTERING AREAS No % 10.71% Yes % % I# UNION RIVER WATERSHED No % 10.71% Yes % % J# LAKE WATERSHEDS No % 10.71% Yes % % 5#_HOW IMPORTANT IS MAINTAINING THE RURAL WAY OF LIFE? Not very important % 7.14% Very important % % 6# PLEASE INDICATE WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT LIVING IN YOUR TOWN: being in nature while being close to a city location close enough to bangor/brewer to be easily accessed but small, quiet and rural still % 4.00% % 8.00%

17 Close to Bangor yet rural % 12.00% Friendly, quiet rural lifestyle away from major development, tourists and traffic % 16.00% I enjoy the natural beauty of the area % 20.00% It a small quaint town where neighbors watch out for each other and willing to help when it is needed. It's peaceful; green vistas; good well water; ability to see neighbors' houses but still have privacy; fiber optic broadband location; town officials who work for the betterment and benefit of the town' neighboring community activities % 24.00% % 28.00% % 32.00% My seasonal property is taxed at a reasonable rate for the services I don't receive % 36.00% Peaceful % 40.00% Quiet place to get away % 44.00% Quiet, elbow room, Everyone knows each other. Distance to town if need to go % 48.00% Quiet, mostly peaceful good people % 52.00% quiet, solitude, % 56.00% rural atmosphere % 60.00% Rural Living % 64.00% Rural nature, quiet, clean, access to lands for hunting and fishing and recreation % 68.00% Rural simple lifestyle % 72.00% Rural way of life - Good hunting - Friendly people - quietness - road maintenance - good access to shopping and medical services and other services The clean flowing unobstructed protected river - the general value citizens hold for the town's rural character. The set aside of the Amherst Forest and its protection of the pond in it % 76.00% % 80.00%

18 The lack of government intrusion. Not being overburdened with excessive ordinances. The people and rural nature of the town. The Amherst forest is great. The rural "lifestyle" Low crime The "community" forest. The rural way of life, however, the town does need growth in order to survive. we enjoy living in a rural community, it is quiet and peaceful and private % 84.00% % 88.00% % 92.00% % 96.00% % % Total % % 7#_PLEASE INDICATE WHAT YOU LIKE LEAST ABOUT LIVING IN YOUR TOW A sleepy town main road was turned into a highway--it should have by passed the populated parts of town; pollution from Route 9 (air and noise); disregard for speed limits on Route 9; discontinuance of old social events; paying for a fire department that is too far away and does not save houses or lower insurance rates because it is too slow and unmanned--not a fault of the firemen by any means--just a consequence of it being unmanned and too far away for much of the towns; lack of affordable bus or public transport to Bangor/Brewer/Ellsworth areas Amherst is a disgrace with abandoned cars, junk piles, etc along Route 9. Burned out Building and trailer blight. Being tied to a private vehicle to go to town to access basic services like shopping, doctors, etc. Some sort of public transportation or car pool system would be nice for people who cannot drive % 4.17% % 8.33% % 12.50% Bizarre neighbors % 16.67%

19 citizen apathy and complacency % 20.83% I'm very happy with the way things are in our town % 25.00% Increasing thoughtless development % 29.17% Lack of cellular and internet coverage % 33.33% N/A % 41.67% No access to before/after school child care. This makes it nearly impossible to have a home where both parents work which could be the reason that the school population is as small as it is and why a large portion of homes are for sale! % 45.83% No place to buy pizza % 50.00% No solid waste disposal in a local area, Ambulance service comes from Ellsworth when Eddington is closer. Network should consider where call originates from % 54.17% Property Taxes!!!!!!! % 58.33% proximity to health services % 62.50% Route 9 truck traffic speeding and noise along with tourist speeding along RT 9. Not enough current local and state law enforcement of speed limits on RT 9. If current limits won't be enforced, lower the speed limit through the built up section of Amherst on RT % 66.67% speed limits; poor cell phone service % 70.83% Speed/traffic on roads % 75.00% speeding along route % 79.17% The lateness of checks being "held" after payment of property taxes. Too many private roads. The town should take a greater role in taking over these roads that meet town specifications. we are a long commute (daily) to work, school, grocery store doctor's offices, etc % 83.33% % 87.50% % 91.67%

20 We have one place there because we like it! Would like to see more support for fire department (s) and we personally donate to Aurora FD to help out. wish we were closer to city "services" like doctors, hospital, etc % 95.83% % % Total % % 9#_FEEL FREE TO MAKE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS HERE (USE ADDITIONA A great place to raise a family. We are concerned about the rising crime rate, often hard drug inspired. As government regulations and etc. increase, wondering if the 4 towns should hire and share a "town Manager" to stay abreast of all that is needed and answerable to each town's select people" at each town's monthly select board meeting??? It is difficult to have "volunteers" running a town in these times. Amherst is intimidated by certain indigent familys who have created a visual blight, poaching, and drug dealing. Surprised no one has reported this to Dept. Env. mgt. Town goveners are Lame!! I would really support organizing many of the local towns into consolidated government. In winter months it would be nice if our section of Route 9 could be plowed and cleared early - we leave our home around 6 AM on weekdays - many storms Route 9 was not very clear until Eddington. It would be great to have someone fill in for the town clerk when she takes time off. Having to wait two weeks to conduct business isn't very efficient. I've always felt that a general practitioner doctor's office would be a very useful addition to the towns. I wonder if the Affordable Care Act might have made it more feasible to attract one since more people are insured, even if only for part of two or three days a week. Perhaps the various town halls could offer up free clinic space to a doctor willing to try it, or the state would come up with a grant for a mobile x-ray/consultation unit that could visit % 9.09% % 18.18% % 27.27% % 36.36% % 45.45% % 54.55%

21 each town regularly, plus perhaps others nearby. Has the feasibility of a "public transportation" bus that would serve the towns on a regular, predictable schedule (even if not every day) and route ever been investigated? Also, very affordable technology exists now to harness hydroelectric power from relatively shallow, slow moving rivers without damming the flow.* It would be fortunate if cost vs. our aggregate usage made such an investment viable and the towns could find or borrow money to invest in electric power generation for its residents, since it is a utility used by all and the Union river flows through all three towns. Excess capacity could be sold to the Grid to help allay property taxes. The towns were not served by the short-sighted sale of the Union River Electric Co-op. This might be a way to regain some of the well-paying local jobs that were lost in that transaction. *The RivGen Power System has been developed to generate electricity in smaller river sites that might power remote communities. This device will work well in shallow water situations and can be grouped by the dozen as the situation dictates. The components of the device are small enough to fit inside a shipping container making it possible to easily transport each one to its operating destination. At this stage each RivGen device has a generating capacity of up to 25kW in a 7.5 foot per second (2.25 meters/second) current. Info: Let's avoid letting out of state developers such as wind farms divide our community and ruin our resources for resource development local people will not benefit from. The town Clifton will take years to heal, just as the town of Searsport and the propane tank controversy. Not being a full time resident, we feel we should not have a major say in how Amherst is run. We are happy with the way things are, however, including us in the survey was a welcome gesture. Hope this helps! % 63.64% % 72.73% Thank you for this opportunity to offer input % 81.82% The speed limit of 50 MPH on Route 9 through the middle of Amherst is insane. try to improve housing/neighborhood quality. Protect (with ordinances) against people making their home a junk yard % 90.91% % %

22 Total % %