Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Comprehensive Plan Survey topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission backs two-track survey, aims for mobile-friendly outreach
Summary
The Town of Culpeper Planning Commission asked staff to prepare both a long-form open survey and a short multiple-choice version, set an initial 30—145-day response window, and discussed QR codes, events and light incentives to boost participation.
The Town of Culpeper Planning Commission on Wednesday reviewed two draft surveys for its comprehensive-plan update and directed staff to prepare both a longer open-ended questionnaire and a shorter, mobile-friendly multiple-choice version for public release.
The planning director told the commission the packet contained two drafts and said, "With the commission's blessing, I prefer to focus on number 2," referring to the draft that adds more multiple-choice options. The director said staff envisions a 30-to-45-day initial window for collecting responses.
Commissioners pressed staff on demographic questions and placement. One member argued for optional age brackets to help the commission gauge whether outreach reaches younger residents; another said those identifying questions should be optional and located at the end so people who stop partway through are not deterred.
A representative speaking for the Piedmont Environmental Council urged more multiple-choice and ranked-choice items and fewer short-essay prompts to increase response rates and create sortable data. The representative said a more "clickable" survey will be easier to complete on phones and yield clearer quantitative signals for planning decisions.
Staff described outreach plans that include a fillable GIS-based PDF or web page, QR codes at community events, booths at the farmers market and third-Thursday gatherings, collaboration with the town's media and economic-development channels, and targeted Facebook ads limited to town geography. Commissioners also discussed modest incentives (stickers or small swag) to encourage booth participation; staff said there is no current line item for promotional items but that Economic Development might be able to help or the commission could budget for swag next fiscal year.
The commission favored a hybrid approach: a short, easy track for broad participation and a detailed long-form survey for people who want to provide in-depth comment. The planning director said staff will prepare both versions and present them at the next work session for final edits.
