Francestown Master Plan Questionnaire New Hampshire law requires towns to create "Master Plans" and to update them periodically – to guide the Planning Board, Selectmen, and local governing bodies in developing public policy and long-range budgets. The Town of Francestown's current Master Plan is based on the responses to a questionnaire that was distributed in 2003. To help plan for the next decade, the Planning Board wants to know what you think – about today's issues, your hopes and priorities for the Town's future.Your Opinion is Important!Results will be tabulated and published by the Planning Board later this fall and will be used in development of the 2026-7 Master Plan Update. Thank you for your input. YOUR OPINION COUNTS! Question Title * 1. Are you registered to vote in Francestown? Yes No Question Title * 2. Are you a resident of Francestown? Year-round resident Seasonal resident / non-resident property owner Question Title * 3. How long have you lived in Francestown? less than 1 year 1-5 years 6-10 years 11-20 years 21+ years Question Title * 4. Why did you choose to live in Francestown? On a scale of 1 to 5, (1 being very important and 5 being not important), please indicate why you live in Francestown 1 - Very important 2 3 4 5 - Not important Elementary School Elementary School 1 - Very important Elementary School 2 Elementary School 3 Elementary School 4 Elementary School 5 - Not important Access to urban areas Access to urban areas 1 - Very important Access to urban areas 2 Access to urban areas 3 Access to urban areas 4 Access to urban areas 5 - Not important Rural lifestyle Rural lifestyle 1 - Very important Rural lifestyle 2 Rural lifestyle 3 Rural lifestyle 4 Rural lifestyle 5 - Not important Privacy Privacy 1 - Very important Privacy 2 Privacy 3 Privacy 4 Privacy 5 - Not important Proximity of recreation areas Proximity of recreation areas 1 - Very important Proximity of recreation areas 2 Proximity of recreation areas 3 Proximity of recreation areas 4 Proximity of recreation areas 5 - Not important Historic architecture Historic architecture 1 - Very important Historic architecture 2 Historic architecture 3 Historic architecture 4 Historic architecture 5 - Not important Zoning laws/regulations Zoning laws/regulations 1 - Very important Zoning laws/regulations 2 Zoning laws/regulations 3 Zoning laws/regulations 4 Zoning laws/regulations 5 - Not important Property tax rate Property tax rate 1 - Very important Property tax rate 2 Property tax rate 3 Property tax rate 4 Property tax rate 5 - Not important Reasonable commute Reasonable commute 1 - Very important Reasonable commute 2 Reasonable commute 3 Reasonable commute 4 Reasonable commute 5 - Not important Low crime rate Low crime rate 1 - Very important Low crime rate 2 Low crime rate 3 Low crime rate 4 Low crime rate 5 - Not important Family ties Family ties 1 - Very important Family ties 2 Family ties 3 Family ties 4 Family ties 5 - Not important Question Title * 5. On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being very important and 5 being not important), how would you rate the following municipal services and facilities funded by property taxes? 1 - Very important 2 3 4 5 - Not important Library Library 1 - Very important Library 2 Library 3 Library 4 Library 5 - Not important Public schools Public schools 1 - Very important Public schools 2 Public schools 3 Public schools 4 Public schools 5 - Not important Cemetery maintenance Cemetery maintenance 1 - Very important Cemetery maintenance 2 Cemetery maintenance 3 Cemetery maintenance 4 Cemetery maintenance 5 - Not important Road maintenance Road maintenance 1 - Very important Road maintenance 2 Road maintenance 3 Road maintenance 4 Road maintenance 5 - Not important Town administration Town administration 1 - Very important Town administration 2 Town administration 3 Town administration 4 Town administration 5 - Not important Conservation efforts Conservation efforts 1 - Very important Conservation efforts 2 Conservation efforts 3 Conservation efforts 4 Conservation efforts 5 - Not important Snow plowing Snow plowing 1 - Very important Snow plowing 2 Snow plowing 3 Snow plowing 4 Snow plowing 5 - Not important Transfer station/recycling Transfer station/recycling 1 - Very important Transfer station/recycling 2 Transfer station/recycling 3 Transfer station/recycling 4 Transfer station/recycling 5 - Not important Fire protection Fire protection 1 - Very important Fire protection 2 Fire protection 3 Fire protection 4 Fire protection 5 - Not important Public recreational facilities Public recreational facilities 1 - Very important Public recreational facilities 2 Public recreational facilities 3 Public recreational facilities 4 Public recreational facilities 5 - Not important Police protection Police protection 1 - Very important Police protection 2 Police protection 3 Police protection 4 Police protection 5 - Not important Public assistance Public assistance 1 - Very important Public assistance 2 Public assistance 3 Public assistance 4 Public assistance 5 - Not important Rescue services Rescue services 1 - Very important Rescue services 2 Rescue services 3 Rescue services 4 Rescue services 5 - Not important Question Title * 6. What, if any, public services do you or members of your household utilize and which do you not use but find of value to our town? (check all that apply) Use and find valuable to Francestown Don't use but find valuable to Francestown Don't find valuable to Francestown Red Cross Red Cross Use and find valuable to Francestown Red Cross Don't use but find valuable to Francestown Red Cross Don't find valuable to Francestown Ambulance Ambulance Use and find valuable to Francestown Ambulance Don't use but find valuable to Francestown Ambulance Don't find valuable to Francestown Hospice Hospice Use and find valuable to Francestown Hospice Don't use but find valuable to Francestown Hospice Don't find valuable to Francestown Library programs Library programs Use and find valuable to Francestown Library programs Don't use but find valuable to Francestown Library programs Don't find valuable to Francestown Recreation Department camps/lessons Recreation Department camps/lessons Use and find valuable to Francestown Recreation Department camps/lessons Don't use but find valuable to Francestown Recreation Department camps/lessons Don't find valuable to Francestown The Grapevine The Grapevine Use and find valuable to Francestown The Grapevine Don't use but find valuable to Francestown The Grapevine Don't find valuable to Francestown Conservation programs Conservation programs Use and find valuable to Francestown Conservation programs Don't use but find valuable to Francestown Conservation programs Don't find valuable to Francestown Home health care/visiting nurse Home health care/visiting nurse Use and find valuable to Francestown Home health care/visiting nurse Don't use but find valuable to Francestown Home health care/visiting nurse Don't find valuable to Francestown Contoocook Valley Transportation Co. Contoocook Valley Transportation Co. Use and find valuable to Francestown Contoocook Valley Transportation Co. Don't use but find valuable to Francestown Contoocook Valley Transportation Co. Don't find valuable to Francestown Other (please specify) Question Title * 7. Do you feel you are adequately informed about local issues? Yes No Question Title * 8. How do you find out about local issues? (check all that apply) Social Media/Facebook Posted notices Word of mouth Francestown Town Web Site Francestown TV The Francestown News The Ledger/Transcript Subscribe to Francestown email blast School notices Other (please specify) Question Title * 9. Francestown runs on volunteers. Volunteers help keep our taxes lower than if we relied on paid town staff to do the work required to keep Francestown running. Do you volunteer your time to any of the following town/community organizations? (check all that apply) FFD Auxiliary Conservation Commission Old Meeting House Fire Department School Board Recreation Commission FIHS (non-Labor Day) Francestown Land Trust Library Heritage Commission PTO FIHS/Labor Day Francestown News Public Assistance/Wood Bank Question Title * 10. Francestown has 50.7 miles of town-maintained roads, of which 20.1 miles are paved and 30.6 miles are gravel (an additional 10.4 miles are state-maintained roads.) Upon improvement of present gravel roads, would you prefer Maintaining gravel surface Upgrading to paved surface Question Title * 11. The Francestown Police Department currently has budgeted for an officer on duty 100 hrs/week. That allows for 80 hours/week of full-time officer coverage and 20 hours/week of part-time coverage per week.Do you feel that the current level of police coverage is - Not enough Adequate Too much Question Title * 12. Zoning is a set of rules and regulations that help guide growth and development and provide a framework for protecting community character, while balancing the needs of residents, businesses, and property owners. A Zoning Ordinance helps ensure that land is used in ways that support a community's long-term vision, encourage compatible development, and protect natural and cultural resources.Do you think the current Francestown Zoning Ordinance is: Not effective Effective Don't know Question Title * 13. Current zoning regulations require a minimum lot size of 3 acres, with a minimum of 300 ft. road frontage, 100 ft. front setbacks and 50 ft. side/rear setbacks. Do you think the present lot size and setback requirements are: Not restrictive enough Just about right Too restrictive Don't know Question Title * 14. Currently, town law governing setbacks and minimum acreage for the Village District are the same as those for the Rural District of Francestown (3 acre lots/100' front setbacks/50' side setbacks). The majority of the properties on Main Street and immediate to the Village do not meet these requirements but were built prior to these requirements and are grandfathered. Would you be in favor of relaxing minimum lot/setback requirements in the Village District in order to allow residents more flexibility and to permit greater density? Yes No No opinion Next