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JOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Pickens County and Cities of Jasper, Nelson and Talking Rock 2008 - 2030 Questionnaire Results 1) Pickens County is growing at a rate that is too fast. 80 41 13 34 269 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 2) Pickens County has unique characteristics that should be preserved. 103 88 14 141 113 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 3) The City of Jasper has unique characteristics that should be preserved. 73 139 136 10 55 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 4) The City of Nelson has unique characteristics that should be preserved. 25 40 365 15 7 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 5) The City of Talking Rock has unique characteristics that should be preserved. 92 127 232 8 1 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 6) The majority of future commercial development should be concentrated along SR 515 and SR 53 in and around the City of Jasper in order to leave other parts of the county rural. 230 134 5 20 68 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 7) Commercial development should be allowed along the entire length of SR 515 from the Cherokee County line to the Gilmer County line. 303 51 12 41 54 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 8) Development along SR 515 has been satisfactory in regards to traffic control, signs and billboards, tree preservation (or re-planting) and landscaping. 155 198 10 60 37 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 9) Commercial development is appropriate at other highway crossroads in the county. 300 63 18 54 24 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 08032012.004 CEDS PLANS PICKENS 1 ---PAGE BREAK--- 10) Rural and agricultural areas in the county are appropriate locations for large-scale residential development. 231 98 10 55 68 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 11) If large scale residential developments are proposed in rural and agricultural areas, they should be required to preserve some of the land as greenbelts, wildlife corridors, or open space rather than platting all of the land in residential lots. 175 110 62 115 0 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 12) In order to keep up with recreation needs in the county, large scale residential developments should be required to provide recreational areas that can support the new community. 80 80 41 84 174 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 13) Sprawl development is a problem in the county. 120 58 249 27 1 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 14 Mixed use developments where people can live, work, shop and play in the same community is a concept that should be explored in Pickens County. 201 180 16 49 13 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 15) Public water services should eventually be extended to all parts of the county. 172 249 10 23 6 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 16) Public sanitary sewer service needs to be expanded. 85 317 21 27 8 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 17) Public sanitary sewer service should be provided in the unincorporated areas of the county. 132 138 32 145 13 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 18) The expansion of public water and sewer should be done in an orderly, phased fashion consistent with the land use plan. 103 177 9 175 1 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 19) Since water resources and their efficient management are essential for future growth, should an independent, non-political authority be 08032012.004 CEDS PLANS PICKENS 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- established to govern the water resources contained within Pickens County? 121 62 138 127 12 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 20) New industrial developments should be located in the county to provide higher wage job opportunities. 198 187 12 45 16 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 21) The county and cities should aggressively recruit new industry that is compatible with local resources and consider offering incentives to attract industry. 199 182 13 47 20 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 22) More should be done to develop and promote tourism in the county. 222 185 22 19 11 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 23) Our downtown areas are in need of improvements. Jasper: 99 78 134 144 4 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree Nelson: 5 31 380 21 4 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree Talking Rock: 12 43 248 136 3 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 24) More effort should be made to preserve trees and greenways during the development process. 126 218 113 3 0 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 25) Steep slopes and high ridge areas require special regulations so that scenic views can be preserved. 115 50 155 138 0 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 26) Local land development regulations should be improved to protect important water resources like Long Swamp Creek, Talking Rock Creek and Cove Creek. 125 78 8 138 110 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 08032012.004 CEDS PLANS PICKENS 3 ---PAGE BREAK--- 27) More land should be set aside for nature parks and environmental preserves. 109 90 10 141 110 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 28) More effort should be made to preserve historic characteristics in the cities and county. 87 85 108 174 0 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 29) Public transportation services (MATS buses) should be expanded in the county to provide an alternative way for all citizens to get to work, shop, or meet other needs. 71 204 139 34 10 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 30) There needs to be more sidewalks and bicycle routes to connect neighborhoods to shopping areas, parks and schools. 80 197 148 29 5 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 31) All new developments should be required to install sidewalks, especially in the cities and surrounding neighborhoods. 106 202 19 131 1 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 32) Traffic congestion can be solved solely by more new roads or other major road improvements. 56 50 86 187 78 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 33) Special programs or incentives should be considered to provide more housing that is affordable to local residents. 39 117 24 260 18 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 34) The special housing needs of persons with disabilities, victims of domestic violence or with mental and physical disorders are being adequately provided. 6 105 292 45 9 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 35) There are older homes and neighborhoods that should be revitalized in the county and cities. 83 277 29 68 3 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 36) Intergovernmental coordination is being handled in Pickens County in a way that is in the best interest of its citizens. 22 19 39 160 219 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 08032012.004 CEDS PLANS PICKENS 4 ---PAGE BREAK--- 37) Services might be provided more efficiently if the county and cities cooperated more closely with each other as well as adjoining counties. 80 218 118 6 37 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 38) The county and cities should consider all alternative finance mechanisms (Impact Fees, special improvement districts, SPLOST, etc.) for financing water, sewer, recreation, roads, and other needed improvements 146 148 155 6 3 Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree 08032012.004 CEDS PLANS PICKENS 5