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For
the past few weeks this column has been concerned with continued growth
and development in Oldham County, and the impact these trends are having
on our schools and community as well as considerations for the future.
Now, the results of an independent survey of Oldham Countians provide a
clearer picture of what we say we value in our community. What follows is
a summary of survey findings as provided by Horizon Research
International.
Oldham Ahead, a non-profit citizens group with about 550 members,
contracted with Horizon Research International to conduct a survey of
Oldham County residents and assess opinions regarding quality of life,
growth management, economic development and future development of Oldham
County. The survey was conducted between Nov. 15 and Dec. 4, 2001, and was
completed by 400 adults over 21 years old with a mix of incomes, ages,
gender and length of residency in Oldham County. The survey had a 5
percent margin of error.
Horizon Research International offers a wide array of market research
services to more than 1,500 companies worldwide. Located in Louis-ville,
the firm has undertaken thousands of studies at the national, regional and
local levels over the past 20 years. Its client list includes the
University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, state government,
Greater Louisville Inc., Metro United Way, Brown-Forman Corp., Humana and
Churchill Downs.
An initial summary of major results from the survey is below and was
presented at a press conference this week. Detailed analyses of the
results, along with statistical and demographic data will be available in
mid-January.
When asked about issues of importance facing Oldham County, the following
were ranked as extremely or very important:
• Maintaining the high quality of public schools - 92 percent
• Protecting individual property rights - 86 percent
• Fighting crime and drugs - 83 percent
• Dealing with school overcrowding - 83 percent
• Managing growth to ensure a higher quality of life - 81 percent
• Improving roads - 73 percent
• Encouraging economic development and creating jobs - 66 percent
• Improving water quality - 63 percent
• Improving air quality - 59 percent
Assessment of the pace of growth:
• Residential growth: Too fast, 70 percent; about right, 28 percent; too
slow, 2 percent
• Commercial growth: Too fast, 16 percent; about right, 45 percent; too
slow, 39 percent
Perception of how growth should be handled:
• Continued only if infrastructure is in place to accommodate growth -
62 percent; slow residential but accelerate commercial and industrial
growth - 18 percent; continue following practices - 13 percent; adopt a
"no growth" policy for the county - 7 percent.
Those who rate the following goals of land-use planning extremely or very
important:
• Respecting the rights of landowners - 91 percent
• Protecting the value of homes - 89 percent
• Conserving open spaces and preserving natural resources - 76 percent
• Protecting historic and cultural resources - 74 percent
• Preserving farmland - 73 percent
• Supporting agriculture and agribusiness - 65 percent
• Meeting recreational needs of citizens - 61 percent
• Promoting business and industrial development - 48 percent
• Providing additional affordable housing - 45 percent
Those saying they strongly, mostly or somewhat favor these measures
related to development and land-use policy:
• Increase coordination among county towns, school board, and water and
sewer districts to plan for growth - 97 percent
• Maintain public services, such as roads and schools, in existing
communities rather than encourage new development in rural areas lacking
roads and facilities - 90 percent
• Establish zones for green space, farming and forest that would be
off-limits to developers - 90 percent
• Requiring builders and developers to bear a reasonable share of the
costs of schools, services and roads made necessary by new development -
87 percent
Percent of those who strong, mostly, or somewhat favor levying a real
estate transfer tax:
• To improve schools - 75 percent
• To improve roads and utilities - 75 percent
• To create a program to compensate landowners who agree to keep their
land undeveloped - 66 percent
• To acquire parks and open space - 63 percent
• To create a non-specific General Revenue fund - 43 percent.
A community forum, "Challenges and Opportunities" is being
sponsored by the Oldham County Board of Education tonight (Thursday) at 7
p.m. at Oldham County High School. The forum panel includes state Sen.
Ernie Harris, state Rep. Tim Feeley, county Judge-Executive John Black,
Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Kevin Eldridge, Planning and
Zoning Administrator Jim Urban and myself.
The purpose of this forum is to give community members an opportunity to
ask questions of these elected and appointed officials about the future of
Oldham County. I urge you to attend and participate in this community
exchange of ideas for the future of Oldham County.
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