Results of Issue Survey
October 2007

Immediate Priorities: Three things rose to the top of the immediate agenda.

• 94% of you listed Maine Downtown Center Funding as an immediate priority.
• 88% think Building Code Reform is an immediate priority.
• 82% also support the Historic Preservation Tax Credit as an immediate priority.
• Additionally, 65% agreed an educational effort to demonstrate the economic return from downtown revitalization efforts is an immediate priority.
• Funding for capital investment in downtowns (facades, signs, etc): 58% listed it as immediate, 41% said it’s long term.

Long Term Priorities:  There was general agreement that the following are long term priorities for the coalition.

• 81% said Funding for parking & infrastructure needs is a long term priority.
• 82% said funding for greenways/parks/trails
• 70% Increase capacity for local and regional planning
• 65% identified funding for smart growth challenge grants
• 65% agreed funding for transportation improvements, particularly pedestrian oriented
• 61% Develop a tool kit with model ordinances
• 59% Education effort to promote public/private partnerships
• 53% for training for local officials and planning boards
• 53% to promote the adoption of historic preservation ordinances

For further discussion/clarification:

• Increasing local adoption of the model rehab code: 50% said immediate priority and 50% said long term priority.
• Funding for code improvements had a similar split at 47% identifying it as short term and 47% saying it’s a long term priority.
• Funding for a Quality Places program that combines land and downtown investment got 40% immediate priority and 40% long term. (2 also said this isn’t important, and 1 said it needs more discussion.)
• Expanding the Maine Downtown Center was a confusing one:  37% said it’s an immediate priority, 31% said long term priority, and a few people said it’s not important or needs more discussion.
• Promotion of the informed growth act was also confusing: 29% said needs more discussion, 17% said not important, 35% identified as a long term priority and 17% said it’s a short term priority.