East
Hampton Plan of Conservation & Development Issues Survey
Draft Report
(1785 total surveys returned.
150,000 data items were processed)
1.
The best thing about East Hampton is: (1650 comments
received)
In order of number of responses received: 1. Small town 2.
Lake
3.
People/community
4. Environment 5. Location 6. Schools
2.
The worst thing about East Hampton is: (1570 comments
received)
In order of number of responses recieved: 1.Rapid
development
2.
Blight 3. Politics/town
mgmt/town employees/some people
4.
Distance from services 4. Taxes
5. Lack of economic base/water system 6. Lake/environment abuse
7. Roads/sidewalks 8. RT 66/Traffic 9. Planning/Zoning
10.
Lack of things to do 11. Transfer station/trash pickup
12.
Lack of support for schools 13. Schools
3.
How important to you is each of the following?
A.
Very B. Somewhat A + B
Not Unsure
a) Beauty of town 63% 34%
97% 2% 1%
b) Historic character 44% 44%
88% 9%
2%
c) Housing opportunities 16% 43% 59% 35%
7%
d) Lake Pocotopaug 69% 24%
93% 6% 1%
e) Library 55% 38% 93%
5% 2%
f) Open space 64% 28% 92% 5%
3%
g) Small rural town 71%
23%
94%
4% 2%
h) Shopping opportunities27% 45%
71%
26% 2%
i) Tax rate 71% 24% 95% 3% 2%
j) Town recreation facilities 36% 48%
84% 13% 2%
k) Road improvements 51%
43%
93% 5% 2%
l) Town transfer station 37% 43% 80% 15% 5%
4. To increase the likelihood of State funding for Lake Pocotopaug water
quality improvements and fish stocking, there must be lake access to all state residents. Would you support:
Yes No Unsure
a) A public launch area for all types of boats: 19%
69%
12%
b) A public launch area for car top boats only: 51% 33%
16%
c) A public launch area for off-season fishing
only: 34%
40% 27%
d) No public access & possible no State funding: 27%
47% 26%
5.
Do you think East Hamptons rate of growth is:
Too Low: 5% About right: 47% Too
High: 43% Unsure: 4%
Should East Hampton
better manage growth by:
6. Increasing building
lot sizes above present 1.3 acres.
A. Strongly Agree B. Agree A+B
Disagree Unsure
34% 26% 60%
29% 11%
7.Continuing to allow smaller lot sizes where there are sewers
A. Strongly
Agree B. Agree A+B
Disagree Unsure
6%
28%
33% 57%
10%
8.Increasing open space required in new subdivisions (now 15%)
A. Strongly Agree B. Agree A+B
Disagree Unsure
42%
24%
66% 12%
22%
9.Expanding greenways along watercourses to preserve stream habitat?
A. Strongly Agree B. Agree A+B
Disagree Unsure
50%
32%
82% 6%
11%
10.Expanding the
Towns business districts?
A. Strongly
Agree B. Agree A+B
Disagree Unsure
17%
36%
53%
35%
12%
11.Encouraging the
following?
A. Strongly Agree B. Agree A+B
Disagree Unsure
a) Restaurants
33%
44%
77%
17%
6%
b) Retail shops
26%
45%
71%
22%
7%
c) Hotels/motels 7% 18% 25% 66% 9%
d) Mega stores
(e.g. Walmart) 13%
14%
26%
68%
5%
e) Corporate offices 17%
42%
60%
32%
9%
f) Light industrial 23%
49%
71%
20%
9%
g) Bed & Breakfast 30%
51%
81%
11%
7%
h) Campgrounds 17%
44% 61% 29% 10%
i) Golf courses 20%
30%
50% 34% 16%
j) Other (see comments section)
12. Purchasing open
space to enhance/maintain towns rural character.
A. Strongly
Agree B. Agree A+B
Disagree Unsure
45%
34%
79%
14%
7%
13.To accomplish this, the Town should:
a)
aggressively pursue State Open grants (which require matching
Town
tax money)
A. Strongly Agree B. Agree A+B
Disagree Unsure
39%
30%
70%
16% 14%
b)
add an additional $50 tax per homeowner to establish a significant open space fund
A. Strongly Agree
B. Agree A+B Disagree Unsure
20%
21%
41%
3% 16%
14. Allowing the
following:
a)
Conversion of existing homes into up to 4-family units
A. Strongly Agree
B. Agree A+B Disagree Unsure
3%
13% 16%
76%
8%
b) Multi-family apartment buildings (new construction)
A. Strongly Agree B. Agree A+B
Disagree Unsure
2%
12% 14% 79%
7%
c)
Condos/townhouses
A. Strongly Agree B. Agree A+B
Disagree Unsure
4%
28%
32%
61% 7%
d) Cluster subdivisions where houses are grouped
together on smaller lots with remaining acreage devoted to open space.
A. Strongly Agree B. Agree A+B
Disagree Unsure
8%
28%
35%
55% 10%
15. Reduce acreage
necessary (now 25 or more acres) for tax relief under Public Act 490, which was designed to preserve Open Space, but may increase
taxes elsewhere.
A. Strongly Agree
B. Agree A+B Disagree Unsure
12%
21% 33% 42% 24%
16. Enhance/create
the following resources which may increase taxes.
A. Strongly B. Agree A+B
Disagree Unsure
Agree
a) Sears Park 16%
34%
50%
42% 9%
b) Airline Trail 18% 37%
55%
34% 11%
c) Indoor youth
recreation facility 18%
39% 57% 32%
11%
d) Skating rink 10% 26%
37%
51% 12%
e) Public golf course13% 26%
39%
50% 11%
f) Library 20% 39%
59%
31% 10%
g) A new
Community Center
6%
19% 24% 60%
16%
h) A new Senior Center 6% 19% 25%
57%
18%
i)Improve town
appearance by funding
tree plantings, flags
burying utility lines, etc.25% 39% 64% 27%
9%
j)Other (see comments section)
17. The Town has decided to enter into a contract with Portland allowing EH
residents to use Portlands transfer station five days a week for an individual usage fee. Our own transfer station will be
open every Saturday pending state approval, and will be adding a user fee and sticker fee. Should the Town consider building
a new transfer station facility at a new location at an approximate cost of $1 million dollars?
Yes: 16%
No: 64%
Unsure: 20%
18. The Ambulance Association is currently housed at the Barton Hill fire station. Because of space constraints
they are investigating building their own quarters using private donations and grant money. However, they may need additional
funding. Would you support allocating tax dollars toward this effort?
Yes: 57%
No: 27%
Unsure: 16%
19. Noting a shortage in volunteer help during the day, should the Town explore hiring some paid staff to cover
ambulance calls during times of low coverage?
Yes: 60%
No: 21%
Unsure: 18%
20. When deciding the annual budget, do you want to
vote separately on the General Government and Board of Education budgets instead of the two budgets combined as they are now?
(The actuality of this happening will depend on a pending
State Supreme Court decision.)
Yes: 65%
No: 16%
Unsure: 19%
21. Are you satisfied with the current system of town government?
Yes: 47%
No: 26%
Unsure: 27%
22. Should a Charter Revision Commission to explore other town government options (e.g. mayor, selectman, etc.)
Yes: 36%
No: 37%
Unsure: 27%
23. Should a Charter Revision Commission consider merging the Board of Finance & Town Council?
Yes: 14%% No:
44%
Unsure: 42%
24. Are you satisfied with the Towns police
protection and services?
Yes: 74%
No: 16%
Unsure: 10%
25. Should the Town explore the benefits and disadvantages of hiring resident State troopers as an alternative
form of police protection?
Yes: 35%
No: 52%
Unsure: 13%
26. Should members of the following boards/commissions be elected instead
of appointed as they are now?
a) Planning and Zoning: Yes: 69% No: 15%
Unsure: 15%
b) Conservation:
Yes: 59% No: 24%
Unsure: 16%
c) Park& Recreation: Yes:
51% No: 32%
Unsure: 16%
d) Economic Development Yes: 62% No: 21% Unsure: 16%
27. Please rate the current level of service provided
by the following Town agencies:
A. Substantial B. Adequate A+B Poor Unsure
Value Value Value
a) Ambulance
Association
52%
30%
81% 2% 17%
b) Fire Department 60%
28%
88% 1% 12%
c) School System 43% 36%
79% 7% 15%
d) Zoning Enforcement 13% 36%
49%
28% 23%
e) Public Works 19% 49%
69% 15% 16%
f) Building/Planning Dept.13% 42% 54% 22%
24%
g) Town Hall Services 28%
57%
85%
5%
9%
h) Park & Recreation 26%
54%
80% 7% 13%
i) Senior Center
19% 39%
58%
3%
39%
j) Social Services 13%
36%
48%
5%
47%
k) Library 34% 52%
86% 5% 10%
28. Comments and
other issues that should be addressed in this plan: (see Comments Section that follows).
Comments Section
Several thousand comments were received,
including some very extensive amplifying comments and enclosures. Comments for Question 11j (Encourage the following), Question
16j (Enhance/create following resources) and Question 28 (General Comments) had considerable overlap. The various comments have been
grouped into major categories and are listed below in order of the number received in a given area.
Many single comments are also listed at the end of each section to provide
an idea of the range of responses received.
Town Government Related
1. Keep taxes low/more services for tax dollars/control school costs
2.
Too many police officers/police-related
complaints
3.
P&Z favoritism/complaints/lack
of enforcement/conflicts of interest
4.
Replace or elect or limit
term of Town Mgr/better leadership
5.
More professionalism by
town employees
6.
New/expanded Town Hall
7.
Keep local police
Improve Public Works Improve
animal control
8.
Inland Wetlands lacks authority Hire real planner
Confiscate blighted properties and sell to responsible parties
limit size/type of retail signs Evaluate Sears Park costs in light of usage Town
is doing great
9. Single comments: No more Spice Hills, more taxes ok, nothing that costs money, stop rude behavior at meetings, unify medical insurance
coverage, balance needs of community, where is money allocated 5 years ago for High School track, respect U.S. Constitution
on property rights, legal fund for liability suit on town officials, too many paid administrators, encourage more involvement
of people, better Lake patrol, Sprint tower bad, too many $ spent on Lake, town agencies should work together, social services/food
bank/town employees are great, fire house should be in nonresidential area, review pay scale for town employees, hire residents
first, maintain core values, accountability for commissions, like state police, stop plowing out businesses/sidewalks, more
co-pays for town employee benefits, high fees for boats/jet skis, too many to list, love Fire Dept., put Bible Church on web
page, holding public meetings and then disregarding the public, fire chief should be elected, cable modems for homes, allow
people to comment on website, need more cops, stop bothering dirt bikes, additional public lake access wont save money, have
police teach self defense and do car seat checks, update Town Hall technology, update Town Hall info when dealing with blueprints,
change name to Chatham, more leeway in zoning, police patrol Lake Vista, homeowners should maintain sidewalks, keep Lake open
to town residents only, require photo IDs at dump and eliminate fees, put all legal notices in Rivereast, revive town annual
report, use boat launch fees to pay for Lake patrol, Park and Rec needs more help, lots of secrets, revise Charter to change
budget adoption procedure, employees should live in town, get open space money from developer/real estate fees, improve town
web site, volunteers already paid via tax relief, illegal docks do owners pay taxes?, people with kids shoulder more of tax
burden, take care of lakefront property or else take ownership away, better support
for fire dept., maintain what we have, have blight ordinance, stricter zoning, vote on Education budget line items, consider
trash pickup day, have citizen group audit town expenditures with object of saving money, dont need bigger and bigger need
less spending, increase service time discount from $1,000, town growing at alarming rate and services falling behind, electing
commission members might mean towns interest may not be first, if planning so good why all the run down buildings?, require
tidy yards, enforce leash law, elect police commission, tax abatements for volunteers not enough to retain, use resident trooper
to oversee smaller local police force, more hours at Town Hall, taxes now fair but may increase because of too many houses,
eliminate street names that are the same, give tax $ to Marlborough for library services, events to attract visitors, Lake
