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WCEL
> Issues > Urban Growth and
Development > Smart Bylaws Guide > Part
8 > Gain Community Support > Public
Surveys
Smart Bylaws Guide – Gain Community Support – Public
Surveys
Public surveys serve two primary purposes. They provide
information to a local government on what citizens think about
particular issues, and they can help to educate the public about the
tradeoffs inherent in any land use decision. Most
municipalities survey residents as part of doing business.
However, more targeted and extensive surveys can assist a
municipality to solve contentious issues and help residents to
understand the on-the-ground effects of growth management goals.
For
example, in 2002, Kelowna conducted a survey
of residents living in single unit houses to find out “if life in
a neighbourhood with only single unit houses is actually different
or even better than life in a neighbourhood with a mix of
housing.” Most residents of single unit households in
neighbourhoods with both mixed and uniform housing types expressed
similar feelings – that they were pleased with the quality of life
and that factors such as property values and the friendliness of
neighbours had increased or stayed the same over the years.
Residents from neighbourhoods with a mix of housing forms indicated
that their neighbourhoods are convenient, and closely located to
schools, parks, shopping and work. The City concluded that
“the good news here is that you can live in a neighbourhood with a
mix of housing and enjoy all the benefits of a convenient location
without sacrificing your quality of life. All that - and you can
contribute to creating a more liveable community!”
Finally,
municipalities and developers are entering into partnerships with
the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to test consumer
receptivity to smart growth development. The Town
of Okotoks and the Simon Fraser University Trust both conducted
consumer interest polling in sustainable neighbourhood design.
Examples of Public Surveys
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