Regional Planning Commissions’ Statewide Survey

Strafford Regional Planning Commission recently received the final copy of the UNH Survey Center’s Granite State Future Survey for the Regional Planning Commissions (RPCs). This survey was conducted over the course of three months in Summer 2013, and included responses from over 2900 residents statewide. The input received from the data will be used in conjunction with the comments SRPC has received at Outreach events to shape and write our Regional Master Plan. Survey questions pertained to housing, transportation, economic development, the environment and natural resources, energy and natural hazard mitigation, and broadband internet access. In the Strafford Region alone 352, or 12% of the total respondents, were surveyed.

Responses on a regional level were, for the most part, similar to those given statewide. Individuals in the Strafford Region identified the following issues as the top priority for investment of public dollars:

• Safe and affordable housing (21%)
• Environmental Protection/ Natural Resource Conservation (19%)
• Economic Development (15%) & Energy Efficiency/ Choice (15%)

The fact that individuals identified housing as the top priority for investment of public dollars in the Strafford Region was interesting, as statewide there were only 15% who expressed this as a top priority. Environmental Protection/ Natural Resource Conservation was also given high priority for investment of public dollars. Both of these topics were also highlighted as important in our regional outreach efforts, so it was good to see the similarity between the two outreach methods.

Individuals in the Strafford Region also addressed what was important to them in their community when asked, “which of the following things should be actively encouraged in your community?” The top three responses included:

• Promoting local agriculture (90%)
• Promoting safe place to bike or walk (85%)
• Expanding or promoting current business (84%)

We heard many comments concerning agriculture when attending two winter farmer’s markets, but it was not a primary topic of concern overall. It was surprising to see that such a large amount of respondents in the region viewed promoting local agriculture as something that should be actively encouraged in their community. The other top responses were more in line with comments heard at our regional outreach events.

The survey offered great insight concerning investment of public dollars, and opinions on the future of our region and our state. To read the full report on the NH Regional Planning Commission A Granite State Future 2013 Statewide Survey, click here.