Hillsdale Visioning Survey
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1. Hillsdale Visioning Survey

 
The Hillsdale County Planning Commission is in the process of reviewing the county’s master plan and would like to get your input. Our job is to envision the county we would like to live in the year 2050 and structure the planning process around achieving that vision. The vision, however, belongs to the community, so we are asking for your help in crafting the plan. Please respond to the questions below to provide your input on the county development vision. This survey will take only 10 to 15 minutes of your time.

1. Is the rural character of the county worthwhile and important to preserve?

2. Please suggest how would you propose accomplishing this?

3. Which of the following do you prefer as a place to live in?

4. On a scale of 1 to 5, (1 being least important and 5 being most important) what is the importance of the following to you?

5. Would you like to see your community add or expand the following uses:
Residential Development?

6. If you answered Yes to more residential development, then please indicate your preference for the type of residential development (check all that apply).

7. Would you like to see your community add or expand the following uses?

 YesNo
Small-scale retail development (i.e. pizza shop)
Large-scale retail development (i.e. Meijer)
Office development
Light industry (i.e. manufacturing or clothes, shoes, household items)
Heavy industry (i.e. steel mills, chemical plants)
Health care facilities and services (i.e. hospitals, nursing homes, medical care)
County-wide public services (i.e. recycling program, fire protection, public safety, public transportation)
Outdoor recreation industry (i.e. trails, bikeways, fishing, motor sports)
Agri-business (i.e. farm equipment stores, retail food stores, canning companies)
Alternative energy industry (i.e. ethanol plants, wind power, methane digesters)
Ag Tourism (i.e. farmers market, farm heritage centers, farm tours and vacations)

8. Do you prefer that commercial/industrial development be concentrated?

9. Where should that be and how would that be accomplished?

10. Are there problems in your community with malfunctioning septic systems?

11. Would your community benefit from storm sewer lines, sanitary sewer lines, and/or water lines?

12. Would you be willing to pay an additional assessment or additional taxes to bring these services to your community?

13. Do you feel you have adequate recreational facilities in your area?

14. What type of additional recreational facilities would you support (Check all that apply)?

15. Would you be willing to pay an additional assessment tax to bring such facilities to your area?

16. What is your definition of prosperity for Hillsdale County?

17. Please indicate the extent of your agreement with the following statements:

 Strongly AgreeAgreeNot SureDisagreeStrongly Disagree
The scenic beauty of the county has declined in the last 20 years due to unplanned or unmanaged growth.
The highway system is adequate for the current needs of the county and is sufficient to support the county’s anticipated growth for the next 5 to 10 years.
The loss of farmland due to division of farms into small residential tracts is detrimental to the county’s quality of life and the county’s agricultural base.
The quality of life in Hillsdale County would be improved with the implementation of development controls designed to minimize traffic congestion, maximize open spaces and provide aesthetically pleasing living areas.
Local authorities should do more to enforce existing laws regulating junkyards, junk vehicles, and other nuisances.

18. Please indicate the extent of your agreement with the following statements:

 Strongly AgreeAgreeNot SureDisagreeStrongly Disagree
Rapid, unregulated growth and development is costly to the taxpayer with respect to road maintenance, police and fire protection, schools, and other public services.
Tourism is valuable to the county’s economy and should be promoted.
Farmers who choose to preserve the family farm should have government programs like purchase of development rights programs available to assist them.
The changes that have taken place in the county in the last five (5) years are positive and compatible with changes that are taking place in my lifestyle.
I support organized and balanced growth and development compatible with existing neighborhoods within my township.
Community and Housing Revitalization Programs are effective ways to improve the community.
Given below are a series of development scenarios. Please choose the one development option in each scenario which best represents your preferences about how new development that might occur in the county should be sited.

Current Land Use

Image as described above.

Example A: New houses uniformly scattered across the landscape

Image as described above.

Example B: Same number of new houses clustered to preserve open spaces

Image as described above.

19. Of the three medium density residential scenarios above which do you prefer?

Current Land Use

Image as described above.

Example A: New houses laid out in typical subdivision pattern

Image as described above.

Example B: Same number of new houses clustered to preserve open spaces

Image as described above.

20. Of the three high density residential scenarios above which do you prefer?

Current Land Use

Image as described above.

Example A: Typical commercial strip development with buildings arranged in linear fashion along roadways resulting in numerous driveways and parking lots.

Image as described above.

Example B: Alternative pattern of development where businesses are grouped together with shared parking allowing people to walk to businesses.

Image as described above.

21. Of the three Residential/Commercial Development Along State Highway scenarios above which do you prefer?

We would now like to know more about you. The following questions are primarily to help us determine the makeup of the group of people answering this questionnaire. If you do not wish to answer these personal questions, we understand your reasoning.

22. In which zip code do you reside?

23. How many years have you lived in the county?

24. What township, city or village did you reside in prior to moving to Hillsdale County?

25. Do you plan to move from the county in the next two (2) years?

26. If you answered yes to question 25, why might you move from the county in the next two (2) years?

27. What is your employment status?

 Yes
Full Time
Part Time
Retired
Disabled
Student
Homemaker
Unemployed
Self Employed

28. Where are you employed?

29. How many miles from home is your workplace?

30. What kind of transportation do you use to get to work?

31. Your age?

32. Annual Family Income?

33. Highest grade completed

34. Do you own or rent property in Hillsdale County?

35. Do you use the Internet?

36. What type of access to do you use (check all that apply)?

37. We thank you for your cooperation. If you should have additional comments or if you wish to clarify an answer, please comment below: