How does residence time of respondents affect openspace valuation?

A longitudinal analysis of residence time was conducted to see if people who have lived in Charlestown for different amounts of time share similar values and positions on openspace. As seen in the graph at the right, this question yielded five residence cohorts. For the sake of running a more robust analysis, the third and fourth cohorts were consolidated into one 11-20 years residence cohort.

By focusing on residence time, we find that newer residents support openspace acquisition more than older ones. However, newer residents are less likely to support their positions by paying more in local taxes. While most respondents agree upon the same primary objectives for openspace acquisition, decreasing the rate of land development is more important to people who have lived in Charlestown over 20 years and for those who have moved to the community within the last three years. Below are four components of this analysis.

Position

A question in Phase I of the survey asks respondents to identify with one of three position statements on openspace The graphs at the right show the percentage of respondents for each position.

The three openspace position options for this question are as follows:

a) I believe that Charlestown needs to acquire more land to be preserved as open space.

b) I do not believe that Charlestown needs to acquire more land to be preserved as open space.

c) I am not sure whether Charlestown needs more preserved open space, but I like the way it looks now. I think efforts should be made to keep it looking as it does right now.

Finding

A strong correlation exists between residence time and openspace positions. As seen in the graphs, the degree to which residents support openspace acquisition efforts decreases in a linear fashion as residence time increases. Furthermore, opposition to openspace acquisition increases with residence time. Preservation of Charlestown as it looks right now is most important to those who have lived there the longest.

Town Openspace Objectives

When analyzing tiered results for openspace objectives,

• Regardless of residence cohort, the top three objectives are some combination of protection of water resources, preservation of Charlestown's unique character, and slow the rate of land development. However, it is interesting to note the order and intensity of each.
  
  
• Protection of water resources is consistently valued as the top priority. Preservation of Charlestown's unique character is most supported by residents who have lived in town for 3-20 years. Slowing the rate of land development is an objective with an interesting finding. It is ranked as the second priority for residents who have lived in Charlestown for over 20 years and by those who have just moved to the community. While long term residents have lived in Charlestown long enough to witness the course of development in their community, new residents appear to embrace the notion of shutting the door behind them as they enter the community.