Watab Township Community Survey
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1.0 General Questions.....................................................................................................2

1.1. Residency............................................................................................................ 2

1.2 Length of Residency ........................................................................................... 3

1.3 Location of Dwelling .......................................................................................... 3

1.4 Proximity to U.S. Highway 10............................................................................ 3

1.5 Community Appeal of Watab Township ............................................................ 3

1.6 Feel Safe in Watab Township............................................................................. 4

1.7 Use of Land.......................................................................................................... 4
2.0 Land Use Questions ...................................................………......................................5

2.1 Satisfaction with Current Growth ....................................................................... 5

2.2 Various Growth & Development........................................................................ 5

2.3 Land Use Desirability ......................................................................................... 6

2.4 Residential & Housing Development ................................................................. 6

2.5 Commercial & Industrial Development.............................................................. 8

2.6 Natural Resources & Open Space....................................................................... 8

3.0 Facilities and Services Questions.............................................................................. 10

3.1 Level of Service ................................................................................................ 10

3.2 Community Website ......................................................................................... 11

3.3 Zoning Administration...................................................................................... 11

3.4 Need for a New Town Hall............................................................................... 11

3.5 Comprehensive Plan Development................................................................... 11

3.6 Annexation, Special Districts, and Incorporation............................................. 12

3.7 General Comments............................................................................................ 12

Introduction to the Watab Township Community Survey

In the summer of 2005 the Watab Township Board of Supervisors secured the professional services of the Region Five Development Commission to conduct a township-wide community survey. Rather than a limited sampling of property owners, the Township Board chose to submit a survey questionnaire to all 1,184 property owners on record with the Benton County Assessor’s Office. The Watab Township Community Survey yielded an excellent overall response rate with nearly 43%, or 507 of 1,184 property owners responding to the survey.

Important Note on Survey Data

It is important to note that all percentages corresponding with these findings are calculated based on the collected responses of all survey participants whom indicated a response for that particular question on the survey questionnaire and that not all answers will add to 100% due to rounding and missing responses.

1.0 General Questions

1.1. Residency

Respondents were asked to indicate their residency status or business ownership within the Township according to one of the four following classifications:

1 Permanent Resident (Reside in Township over 6 months out of the year)

2 Seasonal Resident (Reside in Township under 6 months out of the year)

3 Recreational Resident (Dwelling primarily for recreation, weekends, etc.)

4 Business Owner (Own or operate a business within the Township)

The vast majority of all property owners responding to the survey reported themselves as permanent residents with 89% reporting as such. Six percent of survey respondents identified themselves as owners of business within the Township. Table 1.1 provides a distribution of survey respondents by status of residency.

Table 1.1: Residency Status Reported by Respondents

Type of Residency	Number	Percent (%)
Permanent	452	89%
Seasonal	11	2%
Recreational	29	6%
Business Owner 1	30	6%

¹ Respondents to the survey had the option of selecting “Business Owner” with any of the residency types listed within the survey questionnaire. As a result, the percentages provided will be greater than 100.

1.2 Length of Residency

The average length of residency reported by Watab Township landowners is nearly 19 years with the median response being 15 years.

1.3 Location of Dwelling

The majority of respondents to the survey indicated they owned property off of the lakeshore and riverfront areas of the Township with 58% indicating non-lakeshore property ownership. Conversely, 24% indicated they owned lakeshore property within the Township and 16% indicated they owned property immediately adjacent to the Mississippi River. Of the respondents indicating lakeshore property ownership, most reported the location of their property as “Little Rock Lake” and “Harris Channel.” Table 1.2 shows the distribution of property locations reported by survey respondents.

Table 1.2: Lakeshore vs. Non-lakeshore Property Ownership

Location of Dwelling	Number	Percent (%)
Lakeshore	122	24%
Mississippi River	83	16%
Non-Lakeshore	295	58%

1.4 Proximity to U.S. Highway 10

When asked if they own property adjacent to U.S. Highway 10, 19% indicated they did own property adjacent to the Highway and 80% indicated they did not.

1.5 Community Appeal of Watab Township

Survey participants were asked to select the most appealing aspects of Watab Township from a list of nine possible attributes. Participants were asked to also write in community attributes they found most appeal if not included within the list. It is important to note that percent results will not add to 100% since participants were asked to “check all answers that apply.” Table 1.3 shows the results of respondents’ opinions on the most attractive qualities of Watab Township.

Table 1.3: Watab Township Community Appeal

Attribute	Number	Percent (%)
Location	445	88%
Community Atmosphere	159	31%
Lakes & Natural Resources	231	46%
Employment Opportunity	22	4%
Recreation	99	19%
Size	142	28%
Services Available	33	7%
Business Opportunity	11	2%
Schools/Youth Programs	84	17%

Other responses provided by survey participants included various qualities of the Mississippi River, and the peacefulness and rural qualities of the Township.

1.6 Feel Safe in Watab Township

Overall survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, “I feel safe in my township.” Table 1.4 shows the distribution of results of this question.

Table 1.4: Public Perception of Safety

Question: “I feel safe in my township”	Number	Percent (%)
Strongly Agree	137	27%
Agree	328	65%
Disagree	25	5%
Strongly Disagree	12	2%

1.7 Use of Land

Survey participants were asked to indicate in what ways they used their land based on a list provided within the survey questionnaire. Table 1.5 shows the distribution of the responses provided.

Table 1.5: Use of Land

Land Use Type	Number	Percent (%)
Lakeshore residential	146	29%
Less than 2.5 acre residential	187	37%
Greater than 2.5 acre residential	136	27%
Agriculture with farm or pasture	28	6%
Commercial or small business	19	4%
Industrial or storage	2	0%
Open space including forest	20	4%
Wildlife Management/Wetlands	11	2%
Other	9	2%

The majority of “other” responses indicated property owners use their land primarily for rural residential or recreational purposes.

2.0 Land Use Questions

2.1 Satisfaction with Current Growth

Overall, respondents to the survey reported they were generally satisfied with current growth within Watab Township. This response was based on a distribution of answers with 1 being “very satisfied” through 4 being “not satisfied.” The distribution shows the average response was 2.4 with the most common response being 2.0.

2.2 Various Growth & Development

Survey participants were also asked to provide their opinion on a variety of growth issues including community change, new subdivision development, installation of private versus centralized sewer systems for new development, restriction of housing development to areas adjacent to existing cities, and unrestricted housing development. Table 2.1 provides the responses to these questions based on a ranking with 1 being “strongly agree and 4 being “strongly disagree.” ²

Table 2.1:

Statement	Mean 3	Mode 4	Definition
I am pleased with the type of change occurring within Watab Township	2.5	2	The mean indicates an even split between “Agree” and “Disagree.” The mode suggests respondents tend to agree with the statement.
I think new sub-divisions, whether residential or commercial, should be encouraged to be close to existing city limits.	2.2	2	Both the mean and mode suggest respondents tend to agree with the statement.
I think privately owned and managed central sewer systems are fine for new housing developments.	2.1	2	Both the mean and mode suggest respondents tend to agree with the statement.
New housing developments should only be permitted near existing cities where public sewer and water are available.	2.2	1	The mean suggests respondents tend to agree with the statement. The mode suggests respondents strongly agree with the statement.
I feel that a person should be able to put a housing development anywhere in the township if they have suitable soils.	3.1	4	Both the mean and mode suggest respondents tend to disagree with the statement.

² Note: The original survey questionnaire stated this information conversely which may have impacted the data provided within section 2.2. The data provided within section 2.2 should be used for general discussion purposes only.

³ Mean refers to the average of all responses.

⁴ Mode refers to the most frequently indicated response.

2.3 Land Use Desirability

Survey participants were also asked to provide their opinion on a variety of growth issues including community change, new subdivision development, private versus centralized sewer systems for new development, potential restricting of housing development to areas adjacent to existing cities, and unrestricted housing development. Table 2.2 provides the responses to these questions based on a ranking with 1 being “strongly agree and 4 being “strongly disagree.”

Table 2.2: Land Use Desirability

Land Use Type	Mean 5	Mode 6	Definition
Lakeshore residential	2.1	2	Both the mean and mode suggest respondents feel the use is somewhat desirable.
Residential under 2.5 acre lot size	2.4	2	Both the mean and mode suggest respondents feel the use is somewhat desirable.
Residential over 2.5 acre lot size	2.0	2	Both the mean and mode suggest respondents feel the use is somewhat desirable.
Agriculture	2.2	2	Both the mean and mode suggest respondents feel the use is somewhat desirable.
Commercial	2.6	2	The mean suggests respondents feel the use is somewhat not desirable. The mode suggests respondents feel the use is somewhat desirable.
Open Space	1.7	1	The mean suggests respondents feel the use is somewhat desirable. The mode suggests respondents feel the use is very desirable.

2.4 Residential & Housing Development

In the first of a line of questions related to residential growth and development, respondents were asked if they would like to see increased residential development within Watab Township. Of the survey participants responding to the question, 39%

⁵ Mean refers to the average of all responses.
⁶ Mode refers to the most frequently indicated response.

indicated they would like to see increased residential development within the Township while 57% indicated they would not.

Respondents were further asked to indicate in what ways new growth should be addressed based on the following ranking system:

1 = Increased Growth

2 = Slow Growth

3 = Limited or Restricted Growth

4 = Need Redevelopment of Existing Homes

Tables 2.3 through 2.9 provide survey participants’ responses to the need of various types of residential development within Watab Township.

Table 2.3: Single-family Housing Growth & Development

Single-family Housing	Number	Percent (%)
Increased growth	165	33%
Slow growth	177	35%
Limited or restricted growth	111	22%
Need redevelopment of existing	25	5%

Table 2.4: Town Home Growth & Development

Town Houses	Number	Percent (%)
Increased growth	49	10%
Slow growth	95	19%
Limited or restricted growth	249