Poll finds views on growth conflict. People have not bought into the
"smart" growth ideas being promoted by planners. Californians aspire
to live in the suburbs.
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http://www.ppic.org/publications/CalSurvey32/survey32.pdf
The overwhelming majority of
those surveyed -- 86% -- said a single-family home would be their
housing style of choice, especially those currently living in an
apartment.
Two-thirds said they would prefer to live in a low-density
neighborhood where they would have to drive to schools, jobs and
stores. Only 31% said they would choose a
high-density neighborhood convenient to public transit. |
Californians are not happy with traffic congestion, but
aren't willing to abandon their ideal: a roomy house in a suburban
neighborhood where they have to drive almost everywhere.
An annual poll released Wednesday by the Public Policy Institute of California
concluded that state residents are deeply ambivalent about how to handle the
massive growth expected in California during coming decades.
They expressed a high level of concern about traffic, air pollution and other
issues, but also were largely satisfied with their lives.
Of the 2,010 people surveyed statewide, 82% said they
were either very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their commute???
"The results really point to the challenges that state and local
officials have with trying to change land-use patterns in the state,"
said survey director Mark Baldassare.
People have not bought into the
"smart growth" ideas being promoted by planners as the
antidote to suburban sprawl, Baldassare said.
The basic idea behind smart growth is to build a mix of houses, apartments and
businesses within walking distance of each other on vacant land in existing
neighborhoods, rather than continuing to erect so many car-dependent
residential subdivisions on farm fields.
"The case has not yet been made convincingly by the smart-growth
advocates that higher-density communities can be attractive, desirable places
to live," Baldassare said.
People dream of owning a roomy house with a big yard.
81% said traffic was at least somewhat of a problem in
their area.
Growth and development was listed as a problem by 63% of
those surveyed, and air pollution was listed by 60%.
They were generally pleased with their surroundings, however. 89% said they were either very or somewhat satisfied with the
neighborhood in which they live.
Safety was the primary criterion used to choose a
neighborhood, followed by living space.
Affordable housing in sunny California must ONLY be detached (mobile or
manufactured) on reasonably sized lots. Apartment dwellers will never settle
for apartment dwelling.
