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Most people feel Garfield County is moving along nicely in terms of growth rates and other measures, according to a survey released this week.
But a fair number would like to see the county government do more to balance scenic values with energy development and to put together a “balanced” transportation network, the survey showed.
Fewer than 100 people have shown up so far to help Garfield County's planning staff update its comprehensive land use plan, according to the survey results.
The planning staff, working with a consultant, has begun the process of updating the county's 2000 Comprehensive Plan, which it hopes to have finished by the fall of 2010.
The survey, which indicates that 83 people responded to a questionnaire, was given at meetings in Battlement Mesa, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, New Castle, Parachute, Silt and Rifle.
Of those who responded, the majority are 46 years old or older, have lived here five years or longer, and are either retired or working in construction or the service/retail sector of the economy, and 95 percent of them own their homes.
The largest number of people showing up from any single community, according to the survey results, were from the Battlement Mesa area, which was listed separately from the nearby town of Parachute.
Responding to a series of more conceptual questions, respondents generally felt that things are somewhat better in Garfield County now than when they moved here. Slightly more than 41 percent said the county is “somewhat better” now, while just over 29 percent felt is “somewhat worse.”
More respondents felt the county is “much worse” (16 percent) than “much better” (13 percent).
Concerning the pace of development, more than 40 percent of respondents said the growth rate in the county is “about right,” with 35 percent saying it is too fast and 11 percent characterizing it as “slow.”
The “quality” of growth, too, is “about right,” according to 53 percent of those who answered the questions.
Over the coming decade, the respondents overwhelmingly agreed (72 percent to 27 percent), the county should “manage/direct growth to most appropriate locations.” This can be done by “infilling vacant land within existing towns leaving rural areas open (large acreages),” believe nearly 44 percent of those responding.
And nearly 69 percent feel that it is “somewhat important” or “very important” that the county “continues to support and protect agricultural uses” throughout the county, while another 25 percent agree it is very important, but only for the “productive agricultural land” still in operation.
Turning to energy development and its potential conflict with “scenic quality,” more than 64 percent felt there should be an “equal balance between scenic quality and energy development” or a “somewhat higher emphasis on scenic quality.”
An even higher number, more than 67 percent, feel it is important for the county to work toward a “balanced (bus/bike/car) transportation network,” which was listed as a “main element of the 2006 Transportation Master Plan.”
Some 35 percent of those responding felt that “maintenance of existing roadways” is the major transportation problem facing the county today. A little less than 30 percent responded that the main problem is creating a public transit system, which nearly 62 percent feel is “very important” or “important” to the county's welfare.
County planners have said there will be another round of public meetings next year concerning the comprehensive plan update, and that there will be future online surveys at the website, www.garfieldcomprehensiveplan2030.com
jcolson@postindependent.com
But a fair number would like to see the county government do more to balance scenic values with energy development and to put together a “balanced” transportation network, the survey showed.
Fewer than 100 people have shown up so far to help Garfield County's planning staff update its comprehensive land use plan, according to the survey results.
The planning staff, working with a consultant, has begun the process of updating the county's 2000 Comprehensive Plan, which it hopes to have finished by the fall of 2010.
The survey, which indicates that 83 people responded to a questionnaire, was given at meetings in Battlement Mesa, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, New Castle, Parachute, Silt and Rifle.
Of those who responded, the majority are 46 years old or older, have lived here five years or longer, and are either retired or working in construction or the service/retail sector of the economy, and 95 percent of them own their homes.
The largest number of people showing up from any single community, according to the survey results, were from the Battlement Mesa area, which was listed separately from the nearby town of Parachute.
Responding to a series of more conceptual questions, respondents generally felt that things are somewhat better in Garfield County now than when they moved here. Slightly more than 41 percent said the county is “somewhat better” now, while just over 29 percent felt is “somewhat worse.”
More respondents felt the county is “much worse” (16 percent) than “much better” (13 percent).
Concerning the pace of development, more than 40 percent of respondents said the growth rate in the county is “about right,” with 35 percent saying it is too fast and 11 percent characterizing it as “slow.”
The “quality” of growth, too, is “about right,” according to 53 percent of those who answered the questions.
Over the coming decade, the respondents overwhelmingly agreed (72 percent to 27 percent), the county should “manage/direct growth to most appropriate locations.” This can be done by “infilling vacant land within existing towns leaving rural areas open (large acreages),” believe nearly 44 percent of those responding.
And nearly 69 percent feel that it is “somewhat important” or “very important” that the county “continues to support and protect agricultural uses” throughout the county, while another 25 percent agree it is very important, but only for the “productive agricultural land” still in operation.
Turning to energy development and its potential conflict with “scenic quality,” more than 64 percent felt there should be an “equal balance between scenic quality and energy development” or a “somewhat higher emphasis on scenic quality.”
An even higher number, more than 67 percent, feel it is important for the county to work toward a “balanced (bus/bike/car) transportation network,” which was listed as a “main element of the 2006 Transportation Master Plan.”
Some 35 percent of those responding felt that “maintenance of existing roadways” is the major transportation problem facing the county today. A little less than 30 percent responded that the main problem is creating a public transit system, which nearly 62 percent feel is “very important” or “important” to the county's welfare.
County planners have said there will be another round of public meetings next year concerning the comprehensive plan update, and that there will be future online surveys at the website, www.garfieldcomprehensiveplan2030.com
jcolson@postindependent.com
