Restaurants, please: Highland residents make wishes for their city known in survey
According to a recent citywide survey, 73 percent of residents who answered the question said a library is "important" or "very important." Full-service restaurants also have above-average importance, the survey says.
Highland's City Council members commissioned the approximately $122,000 questionnaire as a step in updating the city's general plan. It's been 10 years since the plan was last updated, and because of unexpected growth, city officials say the plan might need some improvements.
"I always look forward to surveys because they kind of help us get a reality check," said Councilman Brian Brunson. "But there were some things that surprised me."
Of 3,200 surveys mailed with July's utility bills in Highland, 892 were returned. Brunson said he was surprised that 53 percent of respondents approved of commercial businesses moving outside their currently zoned areas.
Brunson said he was also surprised 80 percent of residents were "OK" with half-acre lots, as opposed to the city's traditional one-acre lots.
Though the survey results indicate residents would support an expanded commercial area, Brunson said the statistics are not a clear mandate to request more commercial business.
"I think (residents) have been anticipating that our town center would develop and that we'd have more commercial and retail in that area," said council member Claudia Stillman. "I don't think that is something they haven't thought would be convenient."
As for the majority response in favor of a library, the city already has planned a space for one in the new City Hall. Brunson said the space might be a temporary solution, as the library expands with time.
Though other council members said they weren't particularly surprised by the survey results, some did express concern that the questions were poorly worded.
Council member Kathryn Schramm said some important questions that should have been asked separately were instead grouped together. For example, in one question, the survey asked residents if they thought trails and sidewalks were important. Schramm said many residents think sidewalks are important but are opposed to trails.
"A lot of people have talked to me and said that they didn't understand (the questions)," Schramm said. "Therefore, I don't know how much credence to put in the answers.... I wanted and hoped for more specifics than we actually got."
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