Town of North
Smithfield
Visioning
Study - Preliminary
Survey Results
The following is a compilation of the results of the
Visioning Study Survey mailed to approximately
7,900 registered voters on August 17, 2001.
The number of responses received by the required due date was 1,089 for
a 13% response rate. Responses post
marked after September 7, 2001, totaled 101 and were not considered for these
tallies. Columns with “Total Responded”
are the summation of all the respondents that answered that particular question
for that row ONLY. Inconsistencies
among the “totals” are due to respondents skipping questions.
The respondent profile indicates that the survey
reached a representative cross section of the community. Slatersville, Union Village, Primrose,
Forestdale, Waterford were mentioned most frequently as respondents’ place of
residence. The highest percentage of
respondents, by far, identified Slatersville as their place of residence. Primrose and Union Village were the second
and third most mentioned areas.
|
Average Tenure |
21.9 years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Age |
13% (18-35) |
41% (36-50) |
25% (51-65) |
21% (65+) |
|
|
|
Gender |
53% (F) |
47% (M) |
|
|
|
|
|
Household Size |
Average 2.89
Persons |
Median 2 Persons |
|
|
|
|
|
School Aged Children |
Total 486 |
Grade K-3 30.9 % |
Grade 4-7 36.0% |
Grade 8-12 33.1% |
|
|
|
Employment Status |
Homemaker 5.5% |
Inside N.S 7.9% |
Outside N.S. 57% |
Retired 25% |
Student 2% |
Unemployed 2.6% |
Education |
Some H.S. 3.5% |
High School Grad. 19.5% |
Tech/Trade School Grad. 5% |
1-2 Years College 20% |
College Grad. 35% |
MS / MA 15% PhD. 2.8% |
=========================================================================================
|
1. How important are the following quality of life issues facing the
Town of North Smithfield over the next decade? |
|
|
|
|
Important = 1 2 3 4 5 = Unimportant
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Total Respondents |
|
Improvements to existing road network. |
193 18% |
298 28% |
392 37% |
124 12% |
49
5% |
1056 |
|
Maintenance and enhancement of the small town character. |
457 43% |
277 26% |
208 20% |
73
7% |
47 4% |
1062 |
|
Protection of North Smithfield’s water supply. |
799 75% |
142 13% |
80
8% |
19
2% |
23
2% |
1063 |
|
Expansion of municipal sewerage system. |
262 25% |
190 18% |
279 26% |
156 15% |
170 16% |
1057 |
|
Increased amount of
moderately priced housing in the community. |
103 10% |
156 15% |
317 30% |
231 22% |
256 24% |
1063 |
|
Maintaining and/or improving the quality of North Smithfield’s public school system. |
481 45% |
185 17% |
228 21% |
62
6% |
105 10% |
1061 |
|
Improving the quality of recreational facilities. |
161 15% |
253 24% |
368 35% |
152 14% |
130 12% |
1064 |
|
Maintenance and enhancement of the historic character of Slatersville, Forestdale, and Union Village. |
290 27% |
281 26% |
285 27% |
113 11% |
95
9% |
1064 |
|
Preservation of Open Space. |
518 49% |
252 24% |
188 18% |
47
4% |
49
5% |
1054 |
|
2.
How would you rate your
level of concern regarding the following environmental issues? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Total Respondents |
|
Air Quality. |
611 58% |
238 22% |
135 13% |
56 5% |
20 2% |
1060 |
|
Groundwater Quality. |
753 71% |
195 18% |
75 7% |
21
2% |
14
1% |
1058 |
|
Surface Water Quality. |
632 60% |
241 23% |
132 13% |
29
3% |
15
1% |
1049 |
|
Noise. |
457 43% |
265 25% |
225 21% |
69
7% |
41
4% |
1057 |
|
|
Yes |
No |
Total Respondents |
|
3.
Do you feel the Town should enact a noise ordinance? |
672 ( 64%) |
377 ( 36%) |
1049 |
|
|
Yes |
No |
Total Respondents |
|
4.
Should the Town regulate the lighting levels of commercial
developments? |
694 ( 66%) |
351 ( 34%) |
1045 |
|
5.
What is your opinion
regarding the rate of development over the last five years for: |
|
|
|
|
|
Too Slow Too Fast |
|
||||||
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
Total Respondents |
|
Residential |
15 2% |
34 4% |
49 5% |
236 26% |
208 23% |
157 17% |
204 23% |
903 |
|
Commercial |
208 23% |
136 15% |
141 16% |
207 23% |
88 10% |
51 6% |
73 8% |
904 |
|
Industrial |
236 26% |
139 15% |
119 13% |
221 24% |
74 8% |
35 4% |
82 9% |
906 |
|
|
Yes |
No |
Total Respondents |
|
|
|
6.
Are additional/different types of housing
needed in North Smithfield? |
483 ( 46%) |
569 ( 54%) |
1052 |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
citizens was in greatest demand.
26% felt apartments/townhouses were needed most. |
||||
|
Single-Family Housing |
120 |
|
Duplexes (Two Family) |
98 |
|
Subsidized Housing |
56 |
|
Apartments / Townhouses |
213 |
|
Housing for Senior Citizens |
269 |
|
Nursing Homes |
73 |
|
Total |
829 |
|
|
Yes |
No |
No Opinion |
Total Respondents |
|
7.
Do you believe the Town is doing enough to maintain adequate levels of moderately priced housing? |
437 41% |
266 25% |
355 34% |
1058 |
|
|
Yes |
No |
No Opinion |
Total Respondents |
|
8.
Should the Town actively support the development of moderately priced housing? |
340 32% |
547 52% |
168 16% |
1055 |
|
9.
Which group of people are most in need of housing in North
Smithfield? |
|
· 27% and 29% of respondents
believe that families with children and elderly respectively have the most
need for housing. |
|
|
Total Respondents = 849 |
|
Singles |
73 ( 9%) |
|
Young Couples |
155 (18%) |
|
Families with Children |
230 (27%) |
|
Empty Nesters |
129 (15%) |
|
Elderly |
245 (29%) |
|
Special Needs |
17 ( 2%) |
|
10. Rate the following services/ facilities and whether you would be
willing to pay additional taxes to finance improvements. |
·
43% of respondents felt that the school system was good
while 33 % felt it was only adequate and
49%
of responded that they would finance improvements to the school system.
·
50% of respondents felt police and fire service was good
while 28% and 25% respectively felt
service was adequate. Police and fire service also had the highest
number of respondents who felt
the
service was “Excellent” (17% police and 19 % fire).
·
The highest percentage of respondents who rated roads,
water, sewer, recreation & youth
activities felt these services were adequate.
·
34% of respondents felt that senior activities were
adequate and the same percentage did not
know
how to rate this service.
·
Of all the
services, water and sewer had the highest number of respondents who felt the
service
was “poor” (22 %).
|
|
Excellent |
Good |
Adequate |
Poor |
Don’t Know |
Finance Improvements |
|
Schools |
89 10% |
381 43% |
290 33% |
101 11% |
44 5% |
Yes = 468 (49%) No = 479 (51%) |
|
Fire |
174 19% |
457 50% |
227 25% |
16 2% |
39 4% |
Yes = 504 (55%) No = 411 (45%) |
|
Roads |
21 2% |
360 39% |
449 49% |
77 8% |
7 1% |
Yes = 386 (42%) No = 528 (58%) |
|
Library |
139 15% |
398 44% |
275 30% |
34 4% |
61 7% |
Yes = 323 (36%) No = 577 (64%) |
|
Police |
154 17% |
450 50% |
255 28% |
19 2% |
29 3% |
Yes = 385 (42%) No = 530 (58%) |
|
Water |
36 4% |
228 26% |
281 33% |
192 22% |
124 14% |
Yes = 451 (52%) No = 422 (48%) |
|
Sewer |
24 3% |
189 22% |
291 34% |
185 22% |
161 19% |
Yes = 304 (35%) No = 562 (65%) |
|
Recreational Areas |
58 7% |
283 32% |
392 44% |
83 9% |
66 7% |
Yes = 330 (37%) No = 572 (63%) |
|
Youth Activities |
49 6% |
262 30% |
355 40% |
78 9% |
133 15% |
Yes = 336 (38%) No = 548 (62%) |
|
Senior Activities |
42 5% |
170 19% |
300 34% |
61 7% |
300 34% |
Yes = 266 (32%) No = 558 (68%) |
|
11. What do you believe are the two most important land use and
development issues facing the facing the Town over the next decade? |
|
·
Management of growth in undeveloped
and partially developed areas of town.
|
|
·
Need to promote commercial and
industrial development. |
|
Management of growth in undeveloped and partially developed areas of the Town |
488 (25%) |
|
Community character may change |
211 (11%) |
|
Density of residential development |
231 (12%) |
|
Need to promote commercial and industrial development |
431 (22%) |
|
Need for additional recreational facilities |
85 ( 4%) |
|
Permitting processes should be conducive to business development. |
182 ( 9%) |
|
Need for additional permanent open space |
336 (17%) |
12. Should the Town
encourage or discourage growth of the following land uses? |
|
· 53% of the respondents felt that two-family housing and cluster
development should be discouraged |
|
· 71% of respondents felt that multi-family housing should be discouraged |
|
· 55% and 52% of respondents felt that office and industrial development
respectively should be encouraged. |
|
· 79% of respondents felt the town should encourage permanent open space. |
|
|
Encourage |
Discourage |
Neither Encourage nor Discourage |
Don’t Know |
Total Respondents |
|
Single Family Residential Development |
290 29% |
243 25% |
414 42% |
41
4% |
988 |
|
Two-family Residential Development |
140 14% |
526 53% |
280 28% |
43
4% |
989 |
|
Residential Cluster-smaller lot sizes surrounded by permanent open space |
229 23% |
509 52% |
184 19% |
66
7% |
988 |
|
Accessory/In-Law Apartments |
316 32% |
250 25% |
341 35% |
77
8% |
984 |
|
Multi-Family Residential Development |
63
6% |
690 71% |
181 19% |
44
4% |
978 |
|
Retail Development |
463 47% |
290 29% |
194 20% |
41
4% |
988 |
|
Office Development |
546 55% |
210 21% |
181 18% |
47
5% |
984 |
|
Industrial Development |
521 52% |
300 30% |
146 15% |
37
4% |
1004 |
|
Permanent Open Space |
783 79% |
43
4% |
124 12% |
44
4% |
994 |
|
Mixed Use Development (e.g. residential) |
159 16% |
329 34% |
337 35% |
139 14% |
964 |
|
Age Restricted Housing (e.g. senior, assisted) |
405 41% |
210 21% |
302 30% |
78
8% |
995 |
|
13. How do you rate the existing level of
economic development activities in North Smithfield? |
|
· 48% of respondents felt that the level of retail development was
adequate while 41% felt there was not enough. |
|
· 47% and 46% of respondents felt that there was not enough commercial
and industrial development respectively. |
|
|
Too High |
Adequate |
Need More |
Don’t Know |
Total Respondents |
|
Retail |
47
5% |
497 48% |
400 39% |
89
9% |
1033 |
|
Commercial (Office, etc.) |
49
5% |
391 38% |
488 47% |
101 10% |
1029 |
|
Industrial |
101 10% |
344 33% |
479 46% |
114 14% |
1038 |
|
14. Rate the type of businesses you would like
to see in Town. |
|
· 54 % of respondents felt that restaurants should be encouraged. |
|
· 52 % of respondents felt that large-scale retail should be discouraged. |
|
|
Encourage |
Discourage |
Neither Encourage nor Discourage |
Total Respondents |
|
Restaurants |
511 54% |
140 15% |
287 31% |
938 |
|
Nursery/florists |
291 32% |
188 21% |
419 47% |
898 |
|
Clothing Stores |
372 40% |
254 27% |
310 33% |
936 |
|
Food Shops |
323 35% |
231 25% |
357 39% |
911 |
|
Hardware Stores |
296 33% |
242 27% |
370 41% |
908 |
|
Large Scale Retail |
227 29% |
486 52% |
226 24% |
939 |
|
15. Would you support municipally financed infrastructure to aid
development of an industrial park? |
|
Yes |
No |
Total Respondents |
|
399 ( 40%) |
588 ( 60%) |
987 |
|
16. Which recreation/open space issue should have the greatest priority
AND are you willing to finance improvements? |
|
· 55% of respondents felt providing additional land for open space was
the highest priority and 82% of these respondents would be willing to finance
additional land for open space. |
|
|||
|
· 31% of respondents felt improving existing recreational facilities was
the highest priority. |
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Greatest Priority |
Yes |
No |
||
|
Improving existing outdoor recreation facilities |
264 |
204 ( 77%) |
60 ( 23%) |
||
|
Acquiring additional recreation facilities |
121 |
91 ( 75%) |
30 ( 25%) |
||
|
Pursuing additional land to be reserved for open space |
468 |
382 ( 82%) |
86 ( 18%) |
||
|
17. How important is maintaining the historic
appearance/character of TownVillages? |
· 68% of respondents felt it was very important or important to maintain
the historic appearance/ character of the Town villages
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Total Respondents |
|
454 43% |
260 25% |
203 19% |
79
7% |
59
6% |
1055 |
18. Which road or road section: 1) poses a serious safety threat,
2) bears excessive
traffic, 3) has the
worst traffic?
|
Analysis of responses to
these questions is incomplete.
19. Indicate level of agreement to the
following statements.
|
|
·
43 % of respondents felt RIPTA bus
service should be improved. 38% had
no strong opinion on this issue. |
|
·
53 % of respondents felt developing
a bike/walking trail system was important. 25 % had no strong opinion on this
issue. |
|
·
46% of respondents felt new
sidewalks or sidewalk repair was important. 33 % had no strong opinion on
this issue. |
|
·
53% of respondents felt all
subdivisions should have sidewalks.
23 % had no strong opinion on this issue. |
|
·
62% of respondents felt handicapped
accessibility should be a high priority. 28% had no strong opinion on this
issue. |
|
·
42% of respondents felt direct rail
service to Boston should not be
investigated. 25 % had no strong opinion on this issue. |
|
Strongly Agree Strongly Disagree |
|
||||
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Total Respondents |
|
RPTA Bus service to urban centers should be improved. |
213 21% |
231 22% |
395 38% |
101 10% |
98
9% |
1038 |
|
Planning and developing a bikeway/walking trail system connecting neighborhoods to schools and other activity centers should be a high priority issue. |
279 27% |
274 26% |
262 25% |
113 11% |
121 12% |
1049 |
|
Construction of new sidewalks and improvements to existing ones should be a high priority issue. |
206 20% |
269 26% |
337 32% |
154 15% |
85
8% |
1051 |
|
All new subdivisions should have sidewalks regardless of the size or location of the development. |
323 31% |
234 22% |
237 23% |
127 12% |
121 12% |
1042 |
|
Handicap accessibility
should be a high priority. |
349 34% |
295 28% |
294 28% |
61
6% |
42
4% |
1041 |
|
Direct rail service to Boston should be investigated. |
189 18% |
164 16% |
259 25% |
150 14% |
291 28% |
1053 |