As part of the Town’s ongoing effort to include the thoughts of as many residents as possible in the plan, the July Town utility mailing included a plan policy questionnaire - a third “Mini-poll” about four key topics and potential related policies.

Here’s an on-line version of the same questionnaire, along with a downloadable version you can print and return. Either way, your thoughts will help shape the policy framework in the draft long-range plan now being developed. Thanks in advance - we look forward to hearing from you!

Questionnaire (on-line) (Weblink)
Questionnaire (for print) (160 Kb, Acrobat® file)

Early this year, we began offering residents free cameras, asking them to photograph favorite - or not so favorite - things about Southern Pines.

Since then, we’ve received nearly 300 images of things residents cherish or think the plan should address, including (in most cases) captions to explain and add detail to the photos. We’ve even heard from some how much fun and informative the exercise has been for them, too - "This is MY Southern Pines," one person wrote.

Haven’t taken part yet? We’ll be wrapping up things soon, so better hurry - check this link for more, and for an instruction sheet about the exercise. Use your own camera, or grab a free one at the Downtown Drop-in Center, but send your photos in right away!

Camera Exercise Gallery (Flash™ gallery)

Volunteers and Long-Range Plan consultant staff met a lot of folks during downtown’s recent Springfest.

One of the main activities included at the Springfest project booth was the “Penny-Poll,” an informal questionnaire that asks participants to prioritize important issues by allocating a ten-penny budget among ten topic areas.

The files linked below provide results from that day’s polling, plus results from other events through May 6th. From Springfest, for instance, “Downtown” and “Open Space Preservation” ranked just ahead of “Jobs & Economy” among issues provided. “Housing” was far more important to folks attending the workshop at the Douglass Center than it was to participants at either of the workshops held at the Recreation Center.

While results are non-scientific, they do help illustrate preferences among those taking part in the Long-Range Plan.

Penny-polls will be made available at upcoming events such as First Friday and West Southern Pines’ Black Art Festival. Of course, the exercise is available at the project Drop-in Center, too. Check back for results from future events as work on the plan continues!

Penny Poll: Springfest (448 Kb, Acrobat® file)
Penny Poll: Workshop 3 (628 Kb, Acrobat® file)
Penny Poll: AC Charrette (356 Kb, Acrobat® file)

Early this year, we began offering residents free cameras, asking them to photograph favorite - or not so favorite - things about Southern Pines.

Here’s a gallery of the initial results, including the captions each participant included. It’s great stuff for us, since it helps tell the story of what residents cherish most and what needs to be addressed in the Long-Range Plan. But we’ve heard from those that have taken part that it’s enjoyable and beneficial for them, too - "This is MY Southern Pines," one person wrote.

Haven’t taken part yet? There’s still plenty of time (and great weather) to do so. Check this link for more, and for an instruction sheet about the exercise. We’ll keep updating the gallery as new ones come in, so check back often.

Camera Exercise Gallery (Flash™ gallery)