Environmental Commission

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE - Results

The Township Environmental Commission surveyed the residents of Franklin Township to help us prioritize our Mission Statement based on your interests and concerns about our local environment. 

Using our numerical rating system (0, which means low priority/concern to 5, which means high priority/concern), we asked township residents that they circle the priority they think the Township and the Environmental Commission should give to the listed questions:

Of the 77 respondents seven areas of concern evoked the most distinct responses as indicated below.  Loss of farmland/open space led the way with 65% indicating this to be the highest  (“5”) priority and a total of 97% indicating this to be a “3” or higher priority.  This concern was reiterated in question 23 that asked; If you would agree to a tax increase to help preserve Open Space?  Over 74% of the respondents polled affirmative to an increase in taxes for this purpose.   Traffic congestion, Public Water concerns, Loss of Wildlife Habitat, Illegal dumping, the Impact of Added Housing Development and General Township Environment rounded out the questions evoking responses as the highest areas of concern.  

 

Survey Questions Percentage Level Of Concerns Total
  3* 4* 5*  
         
1.Well Water 25% 14% 34% 63%
2. Public Water 12% 14% 58% 84%
3. Water Conservation/drought 25% 29% 36% 90%
4. Storm water/management 19% 30% 35% 84%
a. Neighborhood drainage 26% 18% 38% 82%
b. Flooding in heavy rain 16% 29% 39% 83%
c. Ponding in heavy rain 22% 19% 34% 75%
5. Air Pollution (general) 18% 27% 32% 78%
a. From local auto traffic 30% 23% 23% 77%
b. From local industry and commerce 21% 23% 30% 74%
6. Noise pollution (general) 38% 19% 21% 78%
a. From motor vehicle 42% 16% 14% 71%
b. From local industry and commerce 43% 16% 14% 77%
c. From neighboring residential sources 30% 13% 17% 60%
7. Loss of farmland/open space 13% 19% 65% 97%
8. Traffic congestion 14% 23% 58% 96%
9. Loss of wildlife habitat 10% 27% 57% 95%
10. Illegal dumping 12% 21% 55% 87%
11. Roadside litter 21% 31% 39% 91%
12. Litter in/from commercial parking lots 25% 26% 36% 87%
13. Retention basin litter 31% 30% 21% 82%
14. Property maintenance 31% 25% 34% 90%
15. Abandoned buildings 27% 18% 19% 65%
16. Loss of Township's suburban & rural 31% 25% 34% 90%
17. Impact of added housing development 31% 13% 45% 90%
18. Impact of added development 32% 21% 34% 87%
19. Hazardous spills and discharges 27% 16% 34% 77%
a. Industrial 19% 10% 35% 65%
b. Commercial 25% 10% 39% 74%
c. Transportation 31% 21% 32% 84%
d. Residential 26% 8% 12% 45%
20. General township environment 21% 31% 47% 99%
21. Which of the following do you recycle See Below      
22A. Bicycle paths 21% 21% 36% 78%
22B. Hiking trails 21% 21% 39% 81%
23. Would you accept an increase  YES NO    
in taxes to preserve Open Space?  74% 23%    
         
Individual Hand Written Comments/Concerns        
         
Motorists speeding on Main Street between Route 27 and Hamilton Street.        
Would like to see the promotion and implementation of energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.        
Need to improve and maintain grass vegetation buildup on major roads.        
Dead end roads are not wide enough to have cars parked on them.        
Air pollution from local traffic.        
Loss of farmland/open space.        
Traffic congestion.        
Loss of wildlife habitat.        
Loss of townships suburban and rural character.        
Impact of added housing development.        
Impact of added industrial or commercial development.        
Concern about taxes.  Don't mind a small increase if it will benefit open space and conservation.        
The 77 respondants indicated that they recycled as follows:
 Glass 70, Plastic 70, Newspaper 68, Cardboard 67, Paper 65, Aluminum 54, Batteries 45, Consumer Electronics 23.
*These numerical ratings are based on "0" equaling a "Not Concerned" rating through "5" equaling "Extremely Concerned."   We have provided you with the responses indicating a "3" or higher sense of concern.
      

 

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