| Category | % | |
| Zero | 40.1 | |
| $1.00 | 33.2 | 
59.9 % |
| $2.00 | 18.3 | |
| $2.00 + | 8.4 |
(This survey was done by The Pound Ridge Coalition, the group which lobbied successfully for getting the Open Space Proposition tax ballot on the Nov. 7, 2000 election.
www.poundridgeny.com believes it is as accurate and fairly designed poll as can be done. Having received responses from 20% of the town, it is statistically more accurate than a typical opinion poll done for elections.)
Table of Contents
Objectives
Some of the specific areas studied were these:
• Opinions on the amount of open space currently in Pound Ridge
• Importance of types of land to be preserved
• Opinions on using taxpayer money to fund buying/ protecting open space
• Demographic characteristics
Methodology
In April 2000, Pound Ridge households were mailed a four-page questionnaire and a cover letter explaining the survey and asking for their cooperation. The cover letter was signed by Ray Smith, Chairman of the Pound Ridge Coalition. Also included in the mailing was a postage-paid return envelope addressed to Research USA, Inc. in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Research USA Inc. tabulated the returns and prepared this report.
Results are predictable within a range of ± 4.3% (with 95% confidence) for most of the tables that follow. Results are shown for all respondents and those who are registered Pound Ridge voters.
Summary of Results
Over three-fourths of those responding (
78.6%) believe that the town of Pound Ridge needs to permanently preserve more open space from future development compared to 21.4% who feel that Pound Ridge has enough permanently preserved open space.If additional land were to be preserved, the type of land residents feel are most important to preserve are wetlands and pure drinking water. They place the least importance on preserving active recreation areas. A few respondents named a variety of land other than those listed in the survey that they felt were important to preserve.
A strong majority of respondents (60.6%) believe the town of Pound Ridge should consider using taxpayer money to buy and/or protect open spaces if all other options for preserving these designated tracts of land are insufficient.
Of the approximately 60% of residents who would support a tax increase for the purpose of funding an Open Space Preservation Fund, the largest number would only support a tax increase of $1.00 per $1,000 of Assessed Value. The percentage of residents who oppose a tax increase drops to 24.2% if there is a time limit on the number of years this tax increase is imposed.
Two-thirds of those responding (66.7%) believe that this issue is sufficiently important to warrant conducting a referendum this fall in conjunction with the general election to see if residents would want the Town Board to authorize a tax increase to fund the Open Space Preservation Fund.
Demographic Characteristics
Question by Question Responses
(Below are the questions as they appeared on the survey questionnaire as well as the results for ALL respondents.) (click here for responses broken out for registered voters only)
1. In your opinion, the Town of Pound Ridge:
% Category 21.4 has enough permanently preserved open space 78.6 needs to permanently preserve more open space from development
2. Regardless of your answer to question #1, if additional land were to be preserved, whether by gift or conservation easement, etc., please rank —in order of importance to you — the types of land you would hope to see preserved.
Category % Wetlands & Pure Drinking Water 47.4 Town aesthetics 16.9 Wildlife habitat 16.6 Views from the roads 11.4 Passive Recreation (walks/trails) 5.5 Active Recreation (playing fields, tennis courts, etc.) 3.4 Other types of land important to you: Rock outcrops 12.5 Ponds/brooks 10 A person’s own property 7.5 Parks/the town park 5.0 Residential Acreage Requirements 5.0 Horseback trails 5.0 Land for senior housing 5.0 Buffer zones between property 5.0 Maintenance of existing land 5.0 Golf courses 5.0 Nature preserves 5.0 Place to walk dogs 5.0 Connecting parcels together 5.0 Land for emergency services 2.5 Farmland 2.5 Original stone waIls 2.5 Hemlock groves 2.5 Swimming pools for dogs 2.5 Inclines 2.5 Old stand woods 2.5 Scotts Corner 2.5
3. If all other options for preserving these designated tracts of land are insufficient, (donations/conservation easements, etc.) do you think the town of Pound Ridge should consider using taxpayer money to buy and/or protect these open spaces?
% Category 60.6 Yes 39.4 No
4. How much of tax increase would you be willing to support for the purpose of funding an Open Space Preservation Fund? Based on the examples, please check the amount of the tax increase per $1,000 of Assessed Value you would support.
Category % Zero 40.1 $1.00 33.2 $2.00 18.3 $2.00 + 8.4
5. If there were a time limit on the number of years that this tax increase were imposed, would you be more likely to support the establishment of an Open Space Preservation Fund?
Category % 10 years 24.1 20 years 20.5 No time limit is necessary 31.2 I still would not support a tax 24.2
6. Do you think that this issue is sufficiently important to warrant conducting a referendum this fall in conjunction with the general election, to see if residents would want the Town Board to authorize a tax increase to fund the Open Space Preservation Fund?
% Category 66.7 Yes 33.3 No
7. How long have you lived in Pound Ridge?
Category % Less than 5 years 20.9 5 to 9 years 15.6 10 to 19 years 21.0 20 or more years 42.5
8. I am a:
Category % Full-time resident 93 Part-time resident 7
9. I am :
Category % Married 84.0 Single 3.6 Divorced 6.2 Widowed 6.2
10. Do you have children living at home?
Category % Yes 42.9 No 57.1
11. What is your age?
Category % under 30 2.2 30 to 39 13.5 40 to 49 23.9 50 to 59 25.5 60 or above 34.9 Average age of respondents is 54.
12. Where is your place of employment?
Category % work in PR 16.8 work outside of PR 61.0 retired 22.2
13. How many members of your family are employed full-time?
Category % none 18.3 one 43.6 two or more 38.1
14. How many members of your household are registered to vote in Pound Ridge?
Category % none 9.8 one 13.8 two 64.5 three 7.7 four 3.5 five .7
