Master Plan Steering Committee begins analysis of survey results

609 residents of Bolton responded to a townwide survey from May to June of this year. The Master Plan Steering Committee (MPSC) is now working to study and address the topics of greatest concern. The raw results were recently posted on the town website https://www.townofbolton.com/master-plan-steering-committee/pages/survey-results, however, additional analysis is needed. This analysis will help the task groups within the committee set goals for the town and envision what kind of town Bolton will strive to become in the future.

There was a good mix of age groups responding to the survey, with the exception of people between the ages of 18 to 30, which mirrors this smallest population in town. There was a healthy balance of newcomers (45%) and longtime residents (32%).

Many of the same concerns that have been brought up in previous surveys were raised again, despite a gap of over 10 years between surveys. These were: addressing traffic complaints, preserving the small town rural charm, determining the amount and kind of business development, and the overall desire for town services versus the need to keep tax growth in check.  Many of these topics elicited both positive and negative responses: Bolton is affordable to some (compared to other towns) or not affordable (compared to recent memory). Some of the comments showed that the school system is viewed as strong, however, others indicated a desire for improvement. Some residents want business growth, whereas some residents point out the benefit of using businesses in nearby towns and keeping Bolton free of them. Mostly, residents share a strong appreciation for living in a small-town, close-knit community that is ideal for raising a family. And many cited that Bolton offers plenty of outdoor recreation space and activities, as well as scenic beauty.

To preserve what people value most, the top responses were to continue to protect open space (80%), preserve farms (79%), protect (properties with scenic) landscapes 66%, and encourage historic preservation (60%). Eight percent thought no preservations were necessary.

In response to survey questions about affordable housing, many residents expressed general support. There was no clear preference about where new affordable housing should be located. Many respondents (51%) view senior housing as a priority. Another theme is that while residents are open to more housing, they would also like to preserve historic properties and ensure that new development aligns with Bolton’s small-town New England charm. The MPSC looks forward to bringing forth ideas that promote both objectives: increasing affordable housing and maintaining the small-town appeal of Bolton.

The top wish list for municipal services was a community center (34%) followed by town wide trash pickup (32%).  The top desire for commercial amenities got double the votes for those services, with restaurants garnering 67%, although this topic may need to be revisited once pandemic related trends have been evaluated.

A question of holding Town Meeting on a Saturday to increase participation elicited 39% (or 237 people) favoring the idea, while the remainder thought it would make no difference. The favorable responses were more likely to be by residents who were new to town (116 under 10 years in town, 66 in the 11-21 years in town, and 55 longtime residents).

Interest in volunteering appealed to 61% of respondents. The MPSC will be preparing a list of town and civic groups that may help people get involved.

A salient question from the survey was how do residents keep up with town news.  Almost a third of respondents (32%) perceived that they were not sufficiently aware of current town news. The top sources were: from neighbors, email subscription from town hall (https://www.townofbolton.com/subscribe), and the 2 local newspapers, followed by social media (Facebook and Nextdoor) and the Houghton Building sign. The MPSC will be planning public forums and specialized surveys to gather additional information from residents and will take measures to ensure that town residents are sufficiently aware of these surveys and forums.

Although the survey was very informative, the MPSC has set up a “Suggestion Box” to hear from residents who have additional comments or were unable to do the first survey. Your ideas are welcome!

Please join us for background information and updates on our activities on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Bolton-Master-Plan-Steering-Committee-106362957727934/) and on the Bolton Town website (www.townofbolton.com/master-plan-steering-committee).