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.

 

 

Respondent Profile

 

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%

 

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1.     How important are the following quality of life issues facing the Town of North

     Smithfield over the next decade?

 

  • 69% of respondents felt it was very important or important to maintain small town character.
  • 88% of respondents felt it was very important or important to protect water supply.
  • 62% of respondents felt it was very important or important to maintain or improve the quality of the school system.
  • 73% of respondents felt it was very important or important to preserve open space.

 

 

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?

 

  • 80% of respondents were very concerned or concerned about air quality.
  • 89% of respondents were very concerned or concerned about groundwater quality.
  • 83% of respondents were very concerned or concerned about surfacewater quality.
  • 68% of respondents were very concerned or concerned about noise.

 

 

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:

 

  • 63% of respondents felt that the rate of residential development ranged from slightly faster than it should be to "too fast” while 26% felt that the residential development rate was appropriate.

 
  • 54% of respondents felt that the rate of commercial development ranged from slightly slower than it should be to "too slow", while 23% felt the rate was appropriate. 

 
  • 54% of respondents felt that the rate of industrial development ranged from slightly slower than it should be to "too slow", while 24% felt the rate was appropriate.

 

 

 

 

Too Slow                                                    Too Fast

 

 

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2

3

4

5

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