Dublin’s planning board met Thursday in a public meeting to discuss the town’s new master plan.
Over a dozen residents joined the nine-member board, which will spend much of the rest of 2016 devising the master plan.
“We’re here to talk about our view for the next 10 years or so for Dublin,” planning board chair Bruce Simpson said to open the meeting.
No decisions were made nor any conclusions reached.
To initiate discussion, the planning board issued a survey to get an idea of what residents’ visions are for Dublin.
While many of the people in attendance came to voice the changes they would like made, Simpson used the survey to open the meeting on an optimistic spin: “The most common response is that ‘It’s just right.’”
The results from the first 79 respondents suggest that the biggest draws to life in Dublin are its rural character, environment, scenic areas and low crime rate.
The survey says the least significant draws to life in Dublin are its educational system, proximity to jobs and job opportunities.
When asked what they would most like to change, respondents were fairly concordant. Nearly 74 percent said that there is not enough internet access in Dublin.
“That’s a major issue that the town has very little power over,” Simpson said.
Dublin simply is not densely populated enough to make it attractive to businesses that can bring in internet. It is the only town in Cheshire County without cable, according to Selectman Sturdy Thomas, and that’s a problem.
“I compare it to what we did with the interstate system,” he said. “That’s what we have to do with the internet.”
Interestingly, most of the things respondents want more of reflect a desire to modernize – internet, youth activities to draw young families, and so on – but they also want more farms.
One survey question asked what other communities respondents would like to see Dublin aspire to be more like. The most popular responses, by far, were Harrisville and Hancock. Several responses even said both, including this one: “Socially: Harrisville. Visually and Architecturally: Hancock.”
They also recognized that the biggest reason they cannot be more like Harrisville or Hancock is Route 101 carving through the center of the town.
Residents reported that the lack of a true community center and danger of walking on Route 101 prevent a sense of camaraderie and neighborliness. The survey showed that about 53 percent of respondents think Dublin needs more pedestrian and bicycle safety.
Comments about wanting to be more like Hancock also reflect envy over that town’s “walkability,” “accessible village,” and “real main street instead of a throughway.”
Residents want more youth sports and gatherings, or town-sponsored community events to keep people from bringing their business to Peterborough on weekends.
The planning board has its next public meeting July 21.
The September meeting, planned for the 15th at the town hall, will be Saturday, Sept. 17, so that more people will be available. fl
The planning board is hoping more people continue to fill out the survey. The link can be found in the Dublin Advocate, and hard copies are available at the Dublin General Store, library and town hall.