Question title

1. Please select the options that best describe you. (select all that apply)

I live in the Town of Bethlehem
97%
I work in the Town of Bethlehem
14%
I own a business in the Town of Bethlehem
6%
I used to live in the Town of Bethlehem
1%
I own a farm in the Town of Bethlehem
1%
Other
1%
I have not lived or worked in the Town of Bethlehem
0%
Closed to responses | 1,581 Responses

Life in the Town

Question title

2. Why do you choose to live in or visit the Town of Bethlehem? (select up to three (3) of your top reasons)

Schools
60%
Neighborhood and local community
55%
Location within the Albany region
51%
Relatives and friends nearby
29%
Walkability
29%
Rural character and active farmland
20%
Recreation options
15%
Vibrant hamlet area
13%
Housing options available
13%
Historic character
11%
Employed in Bethlehem
7%
Other
6%
Commercial amenities
4%
Closed to responses | 1,552 Responses

Question title

3. How would you rate the quality of life in the Town of Bethlehem?

Good
51%
Excellent
42%
Fair
6%
Not sure
1%
Poor
0%
Closed to responses | 1,712 Responses

Question title

4. What factors led you to select the quality of life rating?

Closed for Comments

Question title

5. Of the following, which are the most important characteristics that are found in the Town? (select all that apply)

Safety/low crime
70%
Schools
68%
Parks and Recreations services and programs
58%
Lack of large malls and overbuilt commercial areas
56%
Neighborhood appearance
49%
Sense of community
48%
Town services
47%
Local/small businesses
47%
Diversity of landscapes: rural, businesses, homes, parks/preserves
45%
Reputation of neighborhood/area
39%
Rural character and active farmland
34%
Housing quality
31%
Transportation options: walk, bike, bus, drive
28%
Historic architectural character
21%
Hamlet areas
17%
Senior community (people age 65+)
11%
Arts and culture
9%
Public transit access
8%
Other
2%
Closed to responses | 1,549 Responses

Question title

6. What are the most important challenges you see for the Town during the next ten (10) years? Please select your top five (5) from the list below and feel free to identify others.

Property taxes
52%
Preservation of rural character and active farmland
49%
Traffic Congestion
46%
Neighborhood connectivity and walkability
39%
Conservation of natural resources
38%
New housing developments
33%
Social issues and racial diversity
31%
Sustainability/resiliency to address climate change
26%
Affordable housing
24%
Preservation of historic and cultural resources
20%
Business attraction
17%
Availability of shopping and amenities
16%
Property owner rights
16%
Equitable delivery of services to all parts of the town
15%
Business expansion opportunities
14%
Housing for senior citizens
9%
Other
3%
Closed to responses | 1,515 Responses

Question title

7. What Land Uses would you encourage or discourage in the Town?

Loading question...

Question title

8. What other land uses would you encourage in the Town?

"Add point" with your comments to the below map to specify the location and preferred land uses. Suggested land use categories: residential, mixed-use, commercial, and industrial

Question title

9. What types of businesses and services do you routinely use that you wish were closer to your home, neighborhood, or located in the Town?

Closed for Comments

Question title

10. When planning for future housing/residential development, which of the following should the Town prioritize?

Drag and drop the options below into the “Top Priority” box to rank them.

Closed to responses | 1,184 Responses

Question title

10a. If you selected "other" for Q10, please provide details in the space below.

Closed for Comments

Question title

11. During the next ten (10) years, what things would you like to see get additional emphasis in the Town? Please select as many as apply (the following list is not in any order of priority)

Investment in sidewalks and bicycle facilities
70%
Working with interested landowners to conserve open space and farmland
60%
More emphasis on creating a sustainable community
51%
Traffic calming
50%
More parks and recreational facilities
49%
More variety of stores, restaurants and other commercial services
44%
More active farms/agricultural businesses
37%
More emphasis on creating an inclusive community
37%
Historic Preservation
34%
More housing available for individuals, families and senior citizens supporting a variety of income levels
33%
More youth programs
29%
More businesses and jobs
21%
More senior citizen programs
17%
Hamlet development
17%
More public transit
16%
Other
4%
Closed to responses | 1,391 Responses

Question title

12. In fifteen (15) years, what three words would you like to be able to use to describe the Town of Bethlehem to your friends/children/grandchildren?

Closed to responses

Question title

13. Do you have any other comments for the project team?

Closed for Comments

About You

Help us better understand who is answering this survey. Your responses will help ensure we are capturing a representative cross-section of the community and will remain anonymous and confidential.

Question title

14. Please select the option that best describes you:

Renter
Homeowner
Live outside the Town
Other
Closed to responses

Question title

15. In what type of dwelling do you live?

Single-family detached
93%
Single-family attached (townhouse)
3%
Apartment/multi-family
3%
Condominium
1%
Closed to responses | 1,444 Responses

Question title

16. What factors led you to choose to live in this type of housing?

Closed for Comments

Question title

17. How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected you and your current/future needs in your neighborhood, the town, and the larger community?

Closed for Comments

Question title

18. How many people live in your household?

1
2
3
4
5
6 or more
Closed to responses

Question title

19. How many children under the age of 18 live in your household?

0
1
2
3
4 or more
Closed to responses

Question title

20. What is your annual household income level?

Less than $15,000
$15,000-$24,999
$25,000-$34,999
$35,000-$49,999
$50,000-$74,999
$75,000-$99,999
$100,000-$149,999
$150,000-$199,999
$200,000 or greater
Prefer not to answer
Closed to responses

Question title

21. What is your age?

Under 14 years
15-19 years
20-24 years
25-29 years
30-34 years
35-39 years
40-44 years
45-49 years
50-54 years
55-59 years
60-64 years
65-69 years
70-74 years
75-79 years
80-84 years
85-89 years
90 years and over
Prefer not to answer
Closed to responses

Question title

22. What is your race/ethnicity?

White
Black or African-American
Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish
Asian
American Indian or Alaska Native
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
Other
Prefer not to answer
Closed to responses

Question title

23. How do you get news about the Town of Bethlehem? (select all that apply)

Town Newsletter
Town Website
Social Media
Attend Meetings
The Spotlight Newspaper
Times Union Newspaper
Our Towne magazine
Radio or television
Neighbors and friends
Other
Closed to responses

Question title

24. Which hamlet do you live in?

Delmar
Elsmere
Glenmont
North Bethlehem
Selkirk
Slingerlands
South Bethlehem
Other
Closed to responses

Question title

25. Which school district do you live in?

Bethlehem
Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk
Guilderland
Other
Closed to responses

Stay Updated

Question title

26. If you would like to provide your name and contact info to the survey responses, please complete the following (optional):

If you would like to stay informed on the Comprehensive Plan Update, please complete the “Sign Up For Updates” section (email and text alerts) at the top–right side of this survey webpage.

Question title

27. May we contact you about future engagement opportunities?

Yes
No
Closed to responses

Thank you for taking the survey! We greatly appreciate your feedback. Your responses and contact information will be kept anonymous and confidential. 

For more information about the process or associated public outreach efforts, please visit the project website at www.BethlehemForward.com or email us at bethlehemforward@townofbethlehem.org.

SIGN UP FOR UPDATES

 

SOCIAL MEDIA FEED