Stafford Community-Wide Brownfields Assessment Grant Program

Community Assessment Survey

Introduction
Hello! We hope you are doing well during this unusual time and thank you for taking our survey. Need some background information? Read on. If not, feel free to skip to question 1.

What are brownfields?
Brownfields are properties where the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contamination. This can include former industrial/commercial sites; underutilized, unused, or abandoned properties; or locations where perceived or real environmental issues are a barrier to redevelopment.

What are we doing about it?
Brownfields are opportunities! The Town of Stafford has secured a grant to identify redevelopment opportunities that offer public co-benefits including increased employment opportunities, enlarging the Town’s tax base, improving quality of life for residents, and preserving natural resources. Learn more about the project details online (www.explorestaffordct.com/brownfields).

How can I get involved?
Take this short survey to tell us about local development needs, your redevelopment priorities, and how you would like to be engaged in the future! Follow along on the Town’s website and Facebook for project updates #StaffordCTBrownfields. If you have additional input, questions, or barriers to participation, please contact Amber Wakley, Grants & Marketing Specialist, amberw@staffordct.org, (860) 851-8102.

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* 1. What's Your Favorite Thing About Stafford?

Small town feel

Rural landscape/Natural Resources

Close proximity to work

Family

Open Space

Low Crime

Strong sense of community

Other (please specify)

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* 2. What development or resources would meet economic, community, and environmental needs in this area? Please choose your top 3 options below.

Affordable housing

Retirement housing

Grocery Store

Restaurant

Office Space

Industrial Space

Recreational indoor space

Dog Park

Boutique or Independent Hotel

Lumber Yard/Building Supplies

Entertainment (i.e., bowling alley/movie theater/etc.)

Community Pool

Community Kitchen

Maker Spaces

Community Gym/Gathering Space

Mixed use

Mixed Income housing

Other (please specify)

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* 3. Rank the following properties in order of priority for consideration as part of the Town’s Brownfield’s program (1 being the highest)?

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* 4. Which of the following redevelopment scenarios would be the best fit for the Former Earl M. Witt School – 20 Hyde Park Road. Please choose your top 3 options below.

Affordable housing

Retirement housing

Neighborhood Grocery Store/Co-Op

Restaurant

Office Space

Industrial Space

Recreational indoor space

Dog Park

Boutique or Independent Hotel

Lumber Yard

Entertainment (i.e., bowling alley/movie theater/etc.)

Community Pool

Community Kitchen

Maker Spaces

Community Gym/Gathering Space

Mixed use

Mixed income housing

Educational purpose/technical training concept

Demolition

Other (please specify)

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* 5. Is there a property in the Town of Stafford that you would like to nominate for a Brownfield investigation (i.e., a property that is not listed in question #3)?

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* 6. What factors are most important when selecting properties for the Town’s Brownfields program or when considering redevelopment options? Please choose your top 3 priorities below.

Revitalize the housing stock

Revitalize commercial areas with new shopping and dining options

Reuse vacant, underutilized and abandoned commercial and industrial areas to bring more jobs

Develop tourism assets to support revitalization

Creation of job opportunities

Tax delinquent/foreclosure industrial and commercial properties OR Increase local tax base

Removal of blight (e.g., vacant or abandoned buildings, etc.)

Assessment would address potential risk to public health and safety and/or environment

Property is located in priority development area

Property is located in vicinity of sensitive populations

Assessment would enhance potential for site development for economic activity or would advance community development goals (i.e., more workforce housing / open space & recreational lands, etc.)

Property has high redevelopment potential -Brownfield assistance from Town would remove stigma and help facilitate sale and redevelopment

Other (please specify)

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* 7. What do you feel is the best way to distribute information about the Brownfield process and progress to the community (select any you would be interested in)?

Mailed Newsletters

Emailed Newsletters

Website

Social Media Page

Community Meetings

Phone Calls

Online webinars

Pre-recorded videos posted online

Online surveys

In-person events after a COVID-19 vaccine is widely available

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* 8. Are there any other comments that you would like to share with the project team?

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* 9. If you would like to be included in future communications about the Town of Stafford Brownfields Program, please provide your name and email address below:

Name

Affiliation, if any (i.e., board/commission, business, civic organization, etc.)

Email Address