Fulton County Community Survey Initial Survey Results January 2003 Ken Genskow Univ. of Wisconsin-Cooperative Extension, Environmental Resources Center

This Evening Overview of logistics and participation Overview of survey results Discussion

Survey Development Initiative from NRCS Office of Farmland Protection & Community Planning Developed for pilot community in WI Modified for use here; local oversight from:  Fulton Co. Regional Planning  Natural Resources Task Force

Survey Delivery 1400 Fulton Co. households  Random selection (equal chance for all)  Utility and land ownership lists  Stratified, proportionate sample 40% rural; 60% incorporated areas Wanted 50 rural/twns & for urban Mail delivery: early-Sept to mid-October  Local promotion  Up to 5 mail contacts for late/non- respondents

Survey Participation 959 usable returns  70% response rate Of the usable returns:  37% incorporated/urban  63% unincorporated/rural 100%

Length of Residency in Community Percent 5 years or less 6-15 years years More than 25 years (n=940)

Singe-family house Duplex/Two-family house Mobile/manufactured home Apartment Condominium/Town house Percent Own = 95% Rent = 5% Type of Residence (n=934)

Acres of Land Owned by Residents Own/operate farm? no = 90% yes = 10% Urban Rural Combined

Satisfaction with the Community as a Place to Live Very Dissatisfied No OpinionSatisfied Very Satisfied (n=925)

Satisfaction with the Community as a Place to Live Very Dissatisfied No OpinionSatisfied Very Satisfied (n=925)

Municipal/water utility = 45% Private well = 54% Don’t know = 1% Satisfaction with Water in the Community Very Dissatisfied No OpinionSatisfied Very Satisfied Quality Amount

Q9 Satisfied with amount of water Crosstabulation % within TOWNSHIP Township (n=924) very dissatisfieddissatisfiedno opinionsatisfiedvery satisfied Amboy7%10%3%49%30% Chesterfield6% 4%30%54% Clinton1%6%1%57%35% Dover2%15% 53%30% Franklin 4%2%38%56% Fulton9%13%4%39%35% German6%2% 40%52% Gorham3%2% 59%34% Pike2%10%4%50%34% Royalton8%11%1%43%37% Swan Creek1%8% 54%37% York2%4%2%48%43% Total4%7%2%48%40%

Importance of Various Fulton County Characteristics Local retail shopping Local personal & professional services Local health care New housing New economic & business development Sense of safety and security Rural/country atmosphere Small-town atmosphere Very Unimportant NeutralImportant Very Important Selected most important

Importance of Natural Resource and Landscape Features Wooded areas Grasslands Lakes and lakeshores Rivers/streams Wetlands/marsh Very Unimportant NeutralImportant Very Important Urban Rural

Importance of Natural Resource and Landscape Features Unimportant Neutral Important

Importance of Various Characteristics in and around Community Preservation of natural areas Habitat for fish and wildlife Water quality Locally grown food Preservation of rural character The area’s scenic quality Very Unimportant NeutralImportant Very Important Urban Rural

Importance of Protecting Farmland in Fulton County Very Unimportant NeutralImportant Very Important Urban Rural Combined

Effect of Farmland on Community Characteristics Very Negative Effect Negative Effect NeutralPositive Effect Very Positive Effect Preservation of natural areas Habitat for fish and wildlife Water quality Locally grown food Preservation of rural character The area’s scenic quality Impact on local economy Urban Rural

Adequacy of Current Housing in Your Community Housing for seniors Housing for people with disabilities Multi-family apartment buildings Single-family houses Condominiums/townhouses Affordable rental housing Affordable owner occupied housing Very Inadequate NeutralAdequateVery Adequate Urban Rural

Adequacy of Recreational Areas in Your Community Park space Children's playgrounds Sport fields Bicycle and pedestrian trails Golf courses Areas for scenic enjoyment Hunting areas Fishing areas Very Inadequate NeutralAdequateVery Adequate Urban Rura l

Future Housing Development – Single Family Small-lot subdivisions (less than1/2 acre plots) Large-lot subdivisions (more than 1/2 acre plots) Dispersed houses Strongly Discourage NeutralEncourage Strongly Encourage Urban Rural

Future Housing Development: Multi Family & Special Needs Apartment buildings Mobil/manufactured home parks Duplexes/Two-family houses Condominiums/Townhouses Housing for seniors Housing for people with disabilities Strongly Discourage NeutralEncourage Strongly Encourage Urban Rural

Future Commercial Development Convenience stores/gas stations Antique, craft, specialty stores Shopping centers Grocery stores Restaurants Child care facilities Office facilities Health facilities 1 Strongly Discourage NeutralEncourage Strongly Encourage Urban Rural

Future Industrial & Production Development Large-scale livestock operations Agriculture-related business Warehousing/distribution Manufacturing & assembly Heavy industry Mineral extraction (gravel quarries, etc.) Strongly Discourage NeutralEncourage Strongly Encourage Urban Rural

Future Recreational Development Park space Children’s playground facilities Sport fields Bicycle & pedestrian trails Golf courses Areas for scenic enjoyment Hunting areas Fishing areas Strongly Discourage NeutralEncourage Strongly Encourage Urban Rural

Establish or Expand Natural/Conservation Areas in and around Community Discourage Neutral Encourage

Where To Direct Future Development in Amboy Township?

Where Future Housing Development in Amboy Township?

Where New Industrial & Production Development in Amboy Township?

Where New Recreational Development in Amboy Township?

Where New Commercial & Service Development in Amboy Township?

Support for Clustering of Houses in Unincorporated Areas of Fulton County Strongly Discourage NeutralEncourage Strongly Encourage Urban Rural Combined

Support for Clustering of Houses in Cities or Villages in Fulton County Strongly Discourage NeutralEncourage Strongly Encourage Urban Rural Combined

Knowledge of Existing Land-Use Related Plans for Fulton Co. Not aware of existing plans Think they exist but don’t know much about them Generally familiar with plans Very knowledgeable Urban Rural Combined Percent

Awareness of Current Planning Efforts Not aware of current efforts (prior to survey) Heard of them but don’t know much about them Generally familiar with current efforts Very knowledgeable Urban Rural Combined Percent

Support for use of a plan to guide decisions in Fulton County Strongly Unsupportive NeutralSupportive Strongly Supportive Urban Rural Combined

Non-farmers Farmers How Should Farmland Be Used After it is Sold? Used as new owner desires Kept in agricultural use Used as specified in land use plan No opinion