[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6194325,"mediaKeyId","3864494-d6aa2461767c7e8f81c1ac60e382c2ec","parentId",3864494,"title","Committee notes survey participation skews older and whiter; schedules focus groups and visioning sessions to broaden input","audioSeconds",1823,"startMs",1557000,"endMs",3380000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3864494-d6aa2461767c7e8f81c1ac60e382c2ec&start=1557&end=3380","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3864494-d6aa2461767c7e8f81c1ac60e382c2ec/thumbnail_1557000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6194325/Auburn/Androscoggin-County/Maine/Committee-notes-survey-participation-skews-older-and-whiter-schedules-focus-groups-and-visioning-sessions-to-broaden-input","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6194325-fdb3cb3aa1527c17008d8bc41b1f4e23/orig.mp4?Expires=1775401267&Signature=o969QHd6QnRZXBwhWHmv51ONfFebGoK2eZeYMd3nICAhKfCSy7x09bqFDhOEx5UNSPcX3X9eaGip8gJQBXLjvo3qoVdmHVkop18qoBZdZvNE19-S3-7v7BtsS~5GgbxEO5SvU1MVxznKQFe2HD-p-lQXz2JRBeenjQvJxAqFPRdL~ainYBdeywsS26usYzbLC56hYAI7d0PTl2bLVwiACx3JZob-z0BVWguaXcAHYh00rMIuAWrPlOdgbbTztSH1gxcKi2XOzj4m6VFG6fIZw-23CmvdjWgBS4VmIcPbrYo5soNYaDT4y0hp14hx73aFD3e~c0vQyBnAjLwd3X4tsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-18T11:44:16Z","article","Allie and staff reported increases in community engagement but warned the pool of responses so far is demographically skewed. Staff said a postcard mailing produced a large response and that as of the meeting there were roughly 484 mailed postcards and 487 survey responses collected; social-pinpoint website activity showed 603 unique visitors, about 900 visits and roughly 1,000 inputs across the mapping, ideas wall and polls.

“All of those inputs so far today — we hit a thousand different inputs to the plan so far today,” Allie said when summarizing online engagement statistics. She added that the current survey sample “looks … mostly homeowners” and that the largest age cohort of respondents is in the 60–69 range; race and ethnicity responses are “mostly white or Caucasian” in the current results.

Committee members said staff should broaden outreach. Committee member Becky Conrad asked whether the project team would provide transportation, childcare, translation and food at in-person events; she said those supports help bring underrepresented residents to meetings. “It takes a lot to get them out,” Becky said, describing outreach to immigrant communities and urging trusted community members be present at sessions.

Staff outlined an outreach plan that includes an invited focus group on Wednesday, July 9, 6–8 p.m., at Edward Little High School (cafeteria); three open visioning sessions: a natural environment session on Saturday, July 19, 10 a.m.–noon at Lake Grove Park; a services session on Wednesday, July 23, 6–8 p.m. (Edward Little High School cafeteria); and a built-environment session on Wednesday, July 30, 6–8 p.m., at the senior community center banquet room in Penton Gill Park. The natural-environment session has a rain date of Wednesday, Aug. 6.

Staff described multiple tactics to increase participation: targeted focus-group invitations to community organizations, “meeting-in-a-box” packets for neighborhood groups, tabling at farmers markets, idea walls at service locations (including a month-long ideas wall at a local drop-in center for people experiencing homelessness) and short multiple-choice polls for quick responses. Committee member Riley Bergeron suggested poll questions permit ranking options so respondents could select multiple priorities.

Committee members volunteered to help staff with outreach and suggested inviting students to help welcome people at visioning sessions. Staff said the online survey would remain open through June 20 (staff noted that date when describing the postcard schedule), and that they would continue tabling and targeted outreach through the summer. No formal vote or ordinance resulted; the committee set dates and asked staff to implement the outreach plan.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Auburn, Maine, Comp Plan Meeting, June 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Allie and staff reported increases in community engagement but warned the pool of responses so far is demographically skewed.","taxTitle","Auburn , Androscoggin County, Maine","taxId",68143,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6194330,"Student survey: many Auburn high school respondents say they do not plan to stay; parks and walkability top priorities",453,506000,959000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3864494-d6aa2461767c7e8f81c1ac60e382c2ec&start=506&end=959","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3864494-d6aa2461767c7e8f81c1ac60e382c2ec/thumbnail_506000.jpg","/articles/6194330/Auburn/Androscoggin-County/Maine/Student-survey-many-Auburn-high-school-respondents-say-they-do-not-plan-to-stay-parks-and-walkability-top-priorities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6194330-ab958f615cad3efe369e8eeb524bd8df/orig.mp4?Expires=1775401267&Signature=Yailr-ZEkoGPI0LRzDfaVqIbY9DelCsZf8fSiKt5sj6Go0gPtVNwSNpIa4RJR1HQ6fyUc~oyf2JqKqd12Dy36PIwgaQWYw7cpZ4jNZsIA~9DVeK~ZBCcTCzE-HkE6SwC~gxlFougCUn2WdhsIol9RyKmIMiOuTwL7muSvWg9D5dm-EgC6P~G1q1GtCrnb4ppMoL7VdukqmdMsMy1a-TDGnb-s~Kld0QegO4MtAeL7EuAHnjmEXzhfcbNNfBDDorlXd55UFdecClbYMNiMiET4RY5LEQxwyILI5nKrPcW7XYau6Ewia9Lj61m5zC5yVewDNiJr3ai~YiYpcU9--JAqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Allie, a project staff member for the comprehensive plan, told the committee that 285 middle-school students and 143 high-school students completed the youth surveys and that the team converted open-ended answers into broad categories for analysis.

“The largest group represented in the survey are seventh graders followed by eighth graders,” Allie said, summarizing the middle-school sample, and adding that “for high schoolers … a larger percentage of ninth graders” responded. She reported that most student respondents said they had lived in Auburn more than 10 years and that adult rides were the most common mode of travel for both age groups; some students walked, biked, or — for older high-school respondents — drove themselves.

The surveys found differences in favorite places and priorities by age group. For middle-school respondents, the most-cited favorite place was “home,” followed by private recreation and retail; high-school respondents more often listed parks, trails and open space as their favorite places. When asked what they would change about Auburn, students most commonly cited improved infrastructure, more entertainment options and improved safety.

Allie said the majority of high-school respondents indicated they would not stay in Auburn after graduating. A follow-up clarification in the meeting made clear the figure discussed was 92 students, not 92 percent. Becky Conrad, a committee member who spoke during that clarification, said simply, “92 kids.”

Committee members pressed for context. John Cleveland, a committee member, said teenage responses about leaving are common but noted the figure is still useful when planning for future amenities and workforce retention. Becky Conrad and others said the survey results underscore a desire for more walkable, bikeable destinations and clustered amenities so that young people could more easily reach places they want to go.

Committee members noted limitations of the youth survey data and that interpretation should be cautious. Allie said full student responses and the detailed coding of open-ended answers are included in the meeting packet for committee review and that staff will use the results to inform upcoming visioning and outreach work.

The committee did not take formal action on the student-survey findings; members directed staff to use the results as input for a draft vision statement planned for an August workshop and for targeted engagement during summer visioning events.","Committee heard results from middle- and high-school surveys showing 285 middle-school and 143 high-school respondents, strong interest in parks, trails and walkability, and that many high-school respondents reported they would not stay in Auburn. Committee members discussed what the results suggest for planning and future outreach.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6194320,"Subcommittees flag data gaps, regional interdependence and natural-resource priorities for Auburn plan",1608,3488000,5096000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3864494-d6aa2461767c7e8f81c1ac60e382c2ec&start=3488&end=5096","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3864494-d6aa2461767c7e8f81c1ac60e382c2ec/thumbnail_3488000.jpg","/articles/6194320/Auburn/Androscoggin-County/Maine/Subcommittees-flag-data-gaps-regional-interdependence-and-natural-resource-priorities-for-Auburn-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6194320-536dbbc20b8ac8a15283b485f95e7875/orig.mp4?Expires=1775401267&Signature=WsIs3cMzU04qSo1TY73fMEbWFoV-nexiu3Z258pstMa3lODDYf4yr8cNUqkwp6rI4a0Mi5eOzEZ2rzNj4SJPmMsiVusDxz58gQWQbeZP9Wkyyentx7g4bCuAbOYTT5x6a-cQGsNB5Uj7VNRu79ztVVq9UyKpaUwqxmHzEkM-9gUHEQhhS2qCIWwhmuv72EgBybWhMQ8rmHHeC1a0Kh2f~Z27uQoFc7UQFZiAuNyTK~DBU8GwiKQ5ywkW6D4X-NqjrmBni9nef~SsHuoRDelrk7WbWSl4vHb-B2zkeuy3O6q~sstCndWLBv~BTqWbgOA-yPZLb0b-lWwNsQ52ys3o~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of three subcommittees summarized inventory reviews and flagged areas that need more data or clearer presentation before the committee finalizes the plan’s inventory and analysis sections.

Paul Jacques, summarizing the built-environment subcommittee, said the group discussed economy, housing and transportation and raised concerns about the usefulness and interpretation of some data. “The economies are so intertwined” between Auburn and neighboring Lewiston, Paul said, and committee members questioned how to account for cross-border impacts. The built-environment group also asked for more granular employer and workforce data (for example, whether workforce shortages are concentrated in trades, manufacturing or childcare) and requested information on remote work trends and the impacts of large venues such as Norway Savings Bank Arena.

Riley Bergeron, reporting for people, city and services, said the group discussed population trends, including a significant projected drop in the 10–19 age cohort, and requested clarity on how projections were derived. The subcommittee noted possible gaps including short-term rentals (Airbnb) in occupancy data, aging housing stock and the need to pair new-unit development with occupancy rates to improve projections. Riley said the group asked for more detailed industry-sector breakdowns and a deeper look at resident skills and training beyond educational attainment.

The natural-resources subcommittee reported detailed local expertise and corrections to inventory chapters. Members recommended an expanded agriculture and forestry inventory (including land in conservation easements and the new local cold/dry storage cooperative for food), clearer descriptions of current-use and tax programs that affect agricultural land, and better documentation of local food sources. They asked for a dedicated section on climate change impacts and resilience and proposed a clear inventory of dams (ownership and condition), stream crossings and culverts that have failed in recent storms. The subcommittee asked that the plan explicitly state current shoreland-zoning and watershed protections, reference the Lake Auburn overlay district and clarify which entities monitor lake water quality and how a drinking-water waiver could be affected by development.

Committee members emphasized the limits of municipal authority and the difficulty of planning in a region where infrastructure, labor markets and service populations cross municipal borders. Dennis Bergeron noted the statutory limit that comprehensive planning must focus on the municipality’s boundaries but said failing to acknowledge cross-border relationships with Lewiston would produce an incomplete plan. The subcommittees also requested that staff incorporate recent studies such as the HRNA study into housing analysis and obtain CMCC graduate retention data to understand local workforce pipelines.

No formal policy decisions were made; subcommittees recommended targeted data additions and clarifications for staff to incorporate into the inventory and analysis before the next round of workshops.","Three subcommittees reported inventory reviews that identified missing or unclear data (e.g., HRNA results, CMCC graduate retention, remote-work trends), the challenge of regional linkages with Lewiston, and detailed natural-resource topics including dams, Lake Auburn protections and emerald ash borer.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee notes survey participation skews older and whiter; schedules focus groups and visioning sessions to broaden input

Student survey: many Auburn high school respondents say they do not plan to stay; parks and walkability top priorities

Subcommittees flag data gaps, regional interdependence and natural-resource priorities for Auburn plan