By Allison Perrine | aperrine@tworivertimes.com
FAIR HAVEN – Over 900 community members weighed in on an online survey designed to analyze what people do and do not want to see in Fair Haven’s future.
The 35-question survey drew 913 responses before it concluded Jan. 5. The town has over 6,100 residents in its 1.6 square miles, according to the school district. But the survey was open to residents, visitors and employees.
Some questions were open-ended and others were multiple choice. Residents could take the online survey on their phones or computers or at the library if they did not have access to their own devices. Topics ranged from the business district to restaurants, development, residential neighborhoods, signage and much more. Most people who took the survey have lived in Fair Haven for more than 20 years and are in the 46 to 55 age group.
“On behalf of the Fair Haven mayor and council and the borough’s restaurant zoning subcommittee, I want to thank all of our residents who took the time to complete our most recent community survey,” said Theresa Casagrande, borough administrator. She said the number of returned questionnaires showed an “excellent” response percentage. “We are very pleased to have reached our goal of achieving a high rate of community input.”
The idea for the survey was borne out of the borough’s restaurant and land use committees. It follows months of contention over plans to bring a Dunkin’ coffee shop to River Road. Some argued that it was a fast food restaurant and it wouldn’t fit in with the charm of the town.
Some also were concerned that it would create safety and traffic hazards on the heavily trafficked road during peak hours. Others disagreed. Ultimately, the application was approved.
To avoid such controversy in the future, parts of the survey focused on different types of food establishments and dining options for the town. Most people who took the survey said they want casual sit-down restaurants and outdoor dining options in town and they do not want fast-food chains or quick-service restaurants.
The fast-food chain restaurants were broken down into five different categories, including chains of five or fewer, six to 15, 16 to 30, 31 to 100 and 100 or more. Chains with a higher number of stores received lower scores; chains in the five or fewer category received 345 “1” scores, the lowest possible, versus 718 “1” scores for 100-store chains.
High marks were given for the
business district’s ease of access by sidewalks and bikes and the
appearance of its streetscape.
Additionally, the survey showed that most people are partially satisfied with the current business district. Of 898 people, 41.3 percent said they were partially satisfied; 36.97 were satisfied; 10.13 percent were more than satisfied; 6.79 percent were very satisfied; and 4.79 percent were not satisfied at all.
High marks were given for the business district’s ease of access by sidewalks and bikes and the appearance of its streetscape. It scored lower in the tallies for business variety, however. And results show that the most in-demand businesses in Fair Haven are grocery stores, restaurants and pharmacies. Other options, like banks and professional offices, scored lower.
Most people said they frequent the business district in town several times a week and want the town’s business district to be a destination for neighboring community members. About two-thirds of people who took the survey, or 593 individuals, voted in favor of the business district being a destination for nonresidents versus the 297 individuals who disagreed.
And when it came to signage questions for those businesses, community members seemed to be on the same page, generally, on the dos and don’ts in town. Most people voted in favor of awnings and canopies, routed wood and window graphics. As a whole, they voted strongly against digital or electronic signs, building wrap-around signs, pylon signs and residential lawn signs.
Thinking about the residential part of town, 59 percent of people – or 532 community members – said they felt newer homes in their neighborhoods appear to be too large when viewed from the street. Most do not want the town’s zoning laws to limit utilizing basements, attics or areas above attached garages as usable living space.
In late December while the survey was being administered, The Two River Times asked Fair Haven community members their thoughts on the existing business district. That’s when resident Pat McGuire and Fair Haven crossing guard Pat Powers said the business district is “pretty good” as is. McGuire said he wanted to see more locally owned shops in town, rather than large chains and corporations. “We don’t need anything else,” he said. “We don’t need chains.”
The article originally appeared in the March 5-11, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
