Report of theNewtown Planning Survey

Survey responses and comments from “thepeople” regarding future development inNewtown

September 2009

Compiled by residents group Newtown 21st Century Voice:Survey was conducted from April 24-July 23, 2009

Newtown Planning Survey Results – September 2009

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Table of Contents

Introduction page 3Background page 4Executive Summary page 5Results in Bar Graph Form page 6Comparison of Results for All Respondents, NewtownTownship Respondents, Newtown Borough Respondents page 12Recommendations page 16Recommendations Based on Respondents’ Comments page 18Appendix A – Detailed Results Overall with Comments page 19 Appendix B – Detailed Results for Newtown Township page 48Appendix C – Detailed Results for Newtown Borough page 56

Newtown Planning Survey Results – September 2009

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Introduction

During a period of great interest in land use and development, residents of Newtown Township andBorough met to discuss shared concerns about the future of the former Acme site, located on SycamoreStreet in Newtown Township. On January 24, 2009, a public meeting was held to learn more about theopinions of residents and explore ideas for citizen involvement in land use and planning. The non-partisanresidents group “Newtown 21

-Century Voice” was formed as an outgrowth of that meeting; in addition, aweb log (blog) was launched to disseminate and exchange information related to land use anddevelopment -www.NewtownsVoice.org.The members of the group collaborated to develop an opinion survey through the respected web-basedtool, Survey Monkey.com. Residents gained access to the survey through the blog, and upon request, viapaper copy.Approximately 330 respondents completed the survey between April 24 - July 24, 2009: 68% wereresidents of Newtown Township; 23% from Newtown Borough; and, 9% were residents of othermunicipalities. The group is pleased with the level and range of resident participation in the survey; itexceeds the 1% of 2000 Census population (18, 200 Township; 2,300 Borough) that was our target samplesize. The results will be distributed electronically to those who participated in the survey, to the NewtownTownship Board of Supervisors, the Newtown Borough Council, the local Planning Commissions, the localmedia, and to Bucks County and Pennsylvania State officials.Survey participants appreciated the opportunity to have their voices heard and respondents with diverseopinions expressed their thanks for the survey. Newtown 21

Century Voice hopes that this survey willencourage community-based groups and officials to design other instruments that will directly assess andrecognize the opinions and ideas of “the people.” The residents of Newtown have a lot to say and areconcerned about development in the area.Please direct questions or comments about this survey to the website of Newtown 21

-Century Voice:www.NewtownsVoice.orgor to our e-mail address:newtown21stcenturyvoice@gmail.com. Newtown 21

Century Voice would like to thank all those residents who responded for their participationand interest