PERU – Many residents say they want to continue working with area towns to bring economic development to the area. Most also appreciate the town’s natural beauty and want to preserve it, while some are concerned about the lack of activities for the town’s teenagers.

These were some of the responses from the 400 households who returned a six-page survey conducted by the town’s Comprehensive Plan Committee. About 1,500 surveys had been distributed so that’s a 26 percent return rate.

The survey results were released just a few days ago, giving an eight-person committee some raw data to work with. Any Peru resident is invited to attend the committee meetings. The next one will be 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13, at the Town Office.

Committee Chairman Bill Hine said this will be the town’s first comprehensive plan.

“Without a written plan, it’s hard to keep continuity of where we want to go,” he said.

He said the committee hopes to complete a proposed document in time for resident action at the 2005 March annual town meeting.

He said he was most surprised by the number of people who may have a tolerance for some kind of zoning.

“By a 3-to-1 margin, they favored zoning ordinances to direct the location of new commercial and industrial activity, which many felt should be confined to the Route 108 corridor,” said Hine. “Almost 72 percent said that the town should enact subdivision and/or site review ordinances to establish standards for new development.”

Other results include:

• 91 percent favored bringing new employment to the town, with many citing the former Diamond mill complex as a site for new jobs.

• 32 percent favored temporary state tax exemptions, 35 percent favored temporary exemptions from local taxes, and 26 percent favored no tax breaks for new businesses.

• Almost 80 percent of parents expect their children to move away from Peru, largely because of a shortage of jobs.

• 65 percent believe there is a need for housing for older people.

• 97 percent feel protected from fire, and 96 percent are satisfied with emergency medical services, while only about 66 percent feel safe from theft and vandalism.

The complete results are on www.rivervalleyconnection.com

The town received about $20,000 from the State Planning Office for development of a plan.

In June, residents approved kicking in another $8,000 for the project. Androscoggin Valley Council of Government’s John Maloney helped develop the survey. Hine believes the regional planning organization will also work with the committee throughout the process of writing the Comprehensive Plan.

eadams@sunjournal.com

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