FFH Survey Results Favor Recreation, Economic Development

By Kendra Bobowick

Housing “didn’t fare well, generally speaking,” based on a preliminary look at the recent Fairfield Hills public survey results, said Master Plan Review Committee member Paul Lundquist this week. Regarding the survey and upcoming committee recommendations concerning its master plan review, both he and Chairman Mike Floros agreed, “There is a lot to digest.” The committee now moves into its recommendation phase, which will rely on the committee’s past months of work and research and public input, including the 1,041 survey responses.

Popular campus reuses among those who took the survey point to Fairfield Hills as “someplace to spend the day,” Mr Lundquist said. Both municipal and public recreation uses are among ideas coming out, he said. Sporting events, recreation, and “a place to have lunch” are among themes he is seeing.

People also are interested in economic development. To what degree “needs to be teased out more,” Mr Lundquist said. “Few are interested in using all of the campus for economic development, and fewer are interested in using none of it for economic development.” There is a broader support to have some, he said.

Nothing in the public feedback surprised Mr Lundquist, but instead “reinforced things we have heard along the way and are in line with our general research.” The committees’ job now is to “overlay our learning with public opinion results.” Mr Floros also felt that the survey is consistent with “everything we have been learning for a period of time.” He looks back to the feelings expressed months ago at smaller public interactive sessions where ideas were used in part to inform the survey questions.

Although Mr Lundquist feels his committee “isn’t quite there” in completing a final report of recommendations, members have had time to review the results and will “soon begin to articulate thoughts” and form recommendations for possible changes and revisions to the Fairfield Hills Master Plan for reuse. In coming weeks he anticipates a series of meeting to share ideas, then prepare a final report for the Board of Selectmen.

Mr Floros believes the coming weeks’ meetings “will be interesting,” as members offer their thoughts on the committee’s recommendations. “Now it’s time to distill all the information,” he said, adding the coming weeks will be both interesting and challenging for the group members. He does not know how closely the committee’s recommendations will match the survey results.

The group aims to complete a final report by the end of June. The committee has meetings scheduled for June 9 at 7 pm in Town Hall South, June 13 at 7 pm in the Senior Center, June 15 at 7 pm in the Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall, and June 20 at 7 pm in the Senior Center.