North Yarmouth Open Space Planning Committee Resident Input Survey

About this survey
The North Yarmouth Select Board created the Open Space Planning Committee as an early step in creating a plan for maintaining and expanding open space in North Yarmouth. Community input is critical for devising the best plan possible for our town and its residents. Thank you for taking the time to offer your opinions. Please share the link with friends, family, and neighbors. This survey will be followed by an in-person workshop to share findings and delve deeper into community members’ open space priorities.

What is Open Space?
Open space is any undeveloped or lightly developed area of land. These areas may provide wildlife habitat, recreational access, hunting and fishing opportunities, scenic vistas, and community gathering spots, among other benefits. Examples of open space include parks, water access points, forestland, farmland, conserved or other privately owned lands with and without trails, community gardens, and playgrounds. Open spaces do not need to be open to the public, nor do they need to be permanently conserved; however, conservation of priority open spaces will ensure that future generations enjoy their benefits.

Question Title

* 1. What is your age?

Under 18

18-20

21-30

31-40

41-50

51-60

61-70

71-80

81-90

Over 90

Question Title

* 2. How long have you lived in North Yarmouth?

Less than 5 years

Between 5 and 10 years

Between 10 and 20 years

Over 20 years

Question Title

* 3. In what part of North Yarmouth do you currently live?

I live in the center of town (Village Center District)

I live close to the center of town (Village Center Residential District)

I live away from the center of town (Farm and Forest District)

Question Title

* 4. Do you have children under 18 in your household?

Yes

Question Title

* 5. What are some of the reasons you value living in North Yarmouth? Select all that apply.

Sense of safety

Proximity to Portland and other urban areas

Access to recreational opportunities

Education/schools

Quality of life

Proximity to dining, entertainment, leisure activities, and commercial services

Small town rural feel

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 6. How do you stay informed on Town matters? Select all that apply.

Talking with other town residents

Town newsletter

Social media (Facebook Community Page)

Talking with town employees/elected officials

Town meetings

Town website

The Forecaster

Town emails

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 7. How have you used North Yarmouth’s parks and trails, conserved lands, and/or private lands with public access in the last 12 months? Select all that apply.

Picnicking

Snowmobiling

Water sports or water activities

Enjoying quiet and solitude

Dog walking

Hunting and/or fishing

Observing nature

Hiking/running/winter sports (for example, snowshoeing)

Events/educational activities

Biking

I haven't used our parks and trails, conserved lands, and/or private lands with public access in the last 12 months

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 8. How important is it to you that there be more protected open space in North Yarmouth?

Very important

Somewhat important

Not important

No opinion

Question Title

* 9. How important are the following open space planning goals to you?

	Very important	Somewhat important	Not important	No opinion
Providing a diversity of open spaces for a variety of uses	Providing a diversity of open spaces for a variety of uses Very important	Providing a diversity of open spaces for a variety of uses Somewhat important	Providing a diversity of open spaces for a variety of uses Not important	Providing a diversity of open spaces for a variety of uses No opinion
Connecting open spaces by trails where possible	Connecting open spaces by trails where possible Very important	Connecting open spaces by trails where possible Somewhat important	Connecting open spaces by trails where possible Not important	Connecting open spaces by trails where possible No opinion
Ensuring the utility and longevity of open spaces through good management	Ensuring the utility and longevity of open spaces through good management Very important	Ensuring the utility and longevity of open spaces through good management Somewhat important	Ensuring the utility and longevity of open spaces through good management Not important	Ensuring the utility and longevity of open spaces through good management No opinion
Protecting lands that provide resilience to extreme weather events	Protecting lands that provide resilience to extreme weather events Very important	Protecting lands that provide resilience to extreme weather events Somewhat important	Protecting lands that provide resilience to extreme weather events Not important	Protecting lands that provide resilience to extreme weather events No opinion
Protecting wildlife habitat	Protecting wildlife habitat Very important	Protecting wildlife habitat Somewhat important	Protecting wildlife habitat Not important	Protecting wildlife habitat No opinion
Utilizing open space acquisitions as a land planning tool	Utilizing open space acquisitions as a land planning tool Very important	Utilizing open space acquisitions as a land planning tool Somewhat important	Utilizing open space acquisitions as a land planning tool Not important	Utilizing open space acquisitions as a land planning tool No opinion
Protecting the water supply and other natural resources	Protecting the water supply and other natural resources Very important	Protecting the water supply and other natural resources Somewhat important	Protecting the water supply and other natural resources Not important	Protecting the water supply and other natural resources No opinion
Ensuring that protected open spaces are sufficient and available throughout the entire town	Ensuring that protected open spaces are sufficient and available throughout the entire town Very important	Ensuring that protected open spaces are sufficient and available throughout the entire town Somewhat important	Ensuring that protected open spaces are sufficient and available throughout the entire town Not important	Ensuring that protected open spaces are sufficient and available throughout the entire town No opinion
Protecting places of historical or cultural significance	Protecting places of historical or cultural significance Very important	Protecting places of historical or cultural significance Somewhat important	Protecting places of historical or cultural significance Not important	Protecting places of historical or cultural significance No opinion

Question Title

* 10. How often during an average year do you use the following North Yarmouth open space amenities?

	Often	Sometimes	Rarely	Never
Baston Park on Route 9	Baston Park on Route 9 Often	Baston Park on Route 9 Sometimes	Baston Park on Route 9 Rarely	Baston Park on Route 9 Never
Chandler Brook Preserve on North Road	Chandler Brook Preserve on North Road Often	Chandler Brook Preserve on North Road Sometimes	Chandler Brook Preserve on North Road Rarely	Chandler Brook Preserve on North Road Never
Eleanor Hayes Town Forest on Route 9	Eleanor Hayes Town Forest on Route 9 Often	Eleanor Hayes Town Forest on Route 9 Sometimes	Eleanor Hayes Town Forest on Route 9 Rarely	Eleanor Hayes Town Forest on Route 9 Never
Knights Pond Preserve	Knights Pond Preserve Often	Knights Pond Preserve Sometimes	Knights Pond Preserve Rarely	Knights Pond Preserve Never
Memak Preserve on Lufkin Road	Memak Preserve on Lufkin Road Often	Memak Preserve on Lufkin Road Sometimes	Memak Preserve on Lufkin Road Rarely	Memak Preserve on Lufkin Road Never
Old Town House Park on Route 9	Old Town House Park on Route 9 Often	Old Town House Park on Route 9 Sometimes	Old Town House Park on Route 9 Rarely	Old Town House Park on Route 9 Never
Royal River Water Trails	Royal River Water Trails Often	Royal River Water Trails Sometimes	Royal River Water Trails Rarely	Royal River Water Trails Never
Sam Ristich Trail on Parsonage Road	Sam Ristich Trail on Parsonage Road Often	Sam Ristich Trail on Parsonage Road Sometimes	Sam Ristich Trail on Parsonage Road Rarely	Sam Ristich Trail on Parsonage Road Never
Skyline Farm on The Lane	Skyline Farm on The Lane Often	Skyline Farm on The Lane Sometimes	Skyline Farm on The Lane Rarely	Skyline Farm on The Lane Never
Veteran’s Memorial Park on Parsonage Road	Veteran’s Memorial Park on Parsonage Road Often	Veteran’s Memorial Park on Parsonage Road Sometimes	Veteran’s Memorial Park on Parsonage Road Rarely	Veteran’s Memorial Park on Parsonage Road Never
Village Green in the town center	Village Green in the town center Often	Village Green in the town center Sometimes	Village Green in the town center Rarely	Village Green in the town center Never
Wescustogo Park on Route 231	Wescustogo Park on Route 231 Often	Wescustogo Park on Route 231 Sometimes	Wescustogo Park on Route 231 Rarely	Wescustogo Park on Route 231 Never
Yarmouth Water District property on Sweetser Road	Yarmouth Water District property on Sweetser Road Often	Yarmouth Water District property on Sweetser Road Sometimes	Yarmouth Water District property on Sweetser Road Rarely	Yarmouth Water District property on Sweetser Road Never
StoryWalk Trail behind the Community Center	StoryWalk Trail behind the Community Center Often	StoryWalk Trail behind the Community Center Sometimes	StoryWalk Trail behind the Community Center Rarely	StoryWalk Trail behind the Community Center Never
Private land (your own or someone else's that you use with permission)	Private land (your own or someone else's that you use with permission) Often	Private land (your own or someone else's that you use with permission) Sometimes	Private land (your own or someone else's that you use with permission) Rarely	Private land (your own or someone else's that you use with permission) Never
Granite Falls Preserve on Goldenrod Lane	Granite Falls Preserve on Goldenrod Lane Often	Granite Falls Preserve on Goldenrod Lane Sometimes	Granite Falls Preserve on Goldenrod Lane Rarely	Granite Falls Preserve on Goldenrod Lane Never

Are there other North Yarmouth open spaces you use that aren't listed here? Please tell us which ones.

Question Title

* 11. What barriers have you encountered using North Yarmouth’s open spaces? Select all that apply.

I don't have proper transportation

I don't know where they are

They don't accommodate my level of ability

They aren't well-maintained

They are too far away from me

None. I haven't encountered any barriers

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 12. What types of open space do you think North Yarmouth needs more of? Check all that apply.

Dog parks

Town parks

Protected forests, wetlands, and other ecosystems

Commuter/rail trails

Athletic fields

Community gardens

Playgrounds

Scenic vistas

Water access points

Working agricultural lands

Recreational trails

Outdoor event spaces

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 13. The Town currently budgets $10,000 annually towards open space land acquisition. That amount should:

Remain unchanged

Increase to $20,000 to $40,000

Increase to $40,000 to $60,000

Increase to $60,000 to $80,000

Increase to $80,000 to $100,000

Increase to over $100,000

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 14. Besides budget allocation, surrounding towns have used many other approaches to fund open space budgets for land acquisition. Which of the following additional funding mechanisms might you support? Select all that apply.

Municipal bonds

Land use impact fee (a one-time fee imposed on a real estate developer)

Real estate developer land swap (for example, mandating a new development set aside a percentage of land as open space)

Tax on real estate property sales (for example, a 0.2% sales tax on a $500,000 home sale would be $1,000)

Contracting with a grant writer to help apply for state and/or federal funding for open space acquisition/development

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 15. Is there anything else you would like to tell the members of the North Yarmouth Open Space Planning Committee?

Question Title

* 16. (Optional) Is there a particular area of town or parcel of land that you would like the town to prioritize in its conservation goals?

Question Title

* 17. (Optional) Are you a landowner who might be interested in conserving land for public benefit?

Yes

Question Title

* 18. (Optional) Would you like a member of the Open Space Committee to contact you? If so, please enter your information below.

Your name

Your email address

The best phone number to reach you

Reason for contacting you