Dennis Grimes





	Ramona Survey Online Ramona Community Planning Survey (Text of the June/July 2006 survey. Volunteers are presently combining the hundreds of mailed-in/paper copy surveys for use by the RCPG and County. We hope to have this volunteer effort completed soon. We especially thank you for your time spent on the survey and the countless heart-felt, hand written letters expressing your issues of concern impacting RAmona's future. RCPG members Helene Radzik and Andrew Simmonds were key supporters for conducting this survey - Hats off to them! Section 1. WELCOME!!! and introduction to this survey Please read both the survey introduction and instructions below. Click "Next" to get started with the survey. If you'd like to leave the survey at any time, just click "Exit this survey". Your answers will be saved. This survey takes 7-10 minutes to complete. You can complete it in sections if needed, it will begin where you left off when you revisit the survey. The General Plan 2020 Subcommittee of the Ramona Community Planning Group is soliciting informal input from concerned Ramona Community residents on planning issues that will determine the future character, growth, and development in the unincorporated community of Ramona. The Ramona General Plan 2020 or a follow-on plan will provide guidance to San Diego County on land use planning and development that will occur within the unincorporated Ramona area. Should Ramona incorporation efforts be successful, these inputs will be considered in the incorporated Ramona General Plan. Please begin this survey by reading the below “vision statement” written by Dennis Grimes, a Ramona resident and published last year as a Guest Commentary in the Ramona Sentinel newspaper. You do not have to agree with this statement, it is supplied for your consideration. Please provide your answers to several questions below that will be considered/used by the planning subcommittee in developing the future General Plan for Ramona. Thank you in advance for your participation!!! What Ramona is about Ramona is about the American Dream - independence, opportunity, and freedom. Ramona is a unique rural community and way of life that we must protect and foster. Ramona is about owning a piece of land - your very own piece of dirt. Land sufficient for families to have horses, goats, chickens, and emus. Land sufficient to start a small nursery, vineyard, or the garden of your dreams. Land sufficient to need a pick-up truck or tractor to maintain it. Land to have that "granny flat" nearby so grandparents play a major role in your children's lives. Land to enjoy and love your neighbors but not be on top of them like city folks. Land that protects and respects both the rural countryside and native wildlife habitats. Land that prevents the sprawl of cookie-cutter suburbs, high-rise dwellings, and oppressive traffic. Ramona is about a rural heritage reflected in the architecture and western flavor of Old Main Street that forms the key theme for the new Ramona Town Center . Ramona is about traditional family values, and children with rural 4H projects. Ramona’s values are reflected in its many Churches. Ramona is about the Rodeo, the Country Fair, youth sports, owning and riding horses. Ramona’s rural character is reflected in numerous feed and farm supply stores. Ramona’s equestrian and walking trails will form threads that hold its patchwork quilt of rural properties together - in the unique experience… …we call Ramona. Click "Next" to get started with the survey. If you'd like to leave the survey at any time, just click "Exit this survey". Your answers will be saved. Section 2. General questions: Please tell us a little bit about your ties to the community of Ramona and why you chose to live here. *Question 1. What is your Ramona street address and zip code? Street Address Zip Code Question 2. Why did you choose to live in Ramona? (Check all that apply) More land and opportunity to have animals, agriculture, small rural business More land for children to play Land to have/use/ride off-road vehicles More land for privacy, peace, and quiet Wanted rural/country environment Larger residence More affordable property/residence Back country views Family and friends No answer, not a resident Other (please specify) Section 3. Ramona “Character” Questions Please provide your input about community characteristics that are important to you. Question 3. Should Ramona retain its “rural character” or should Ramona development follow higher density urban models such as Poway and other areas of San Diego and outlying areas? (Rural means country/non-city/urban) Retaining Ramona’s rural character is very important Retaining Ramona’s rural character is somewhat important Rural character is not important, pursue an urban/city high-density model with urban town center Question 4. What elements of Ramona’s rural character are most important to you? (Please rate w/scale: Most important, Very important, Important, Somewhat important, Not important) Agriculture, nursery, vineyard, large scale gardening Equestrian (horse) and/or farm animal ownership Old Town Ramona character and architecture Opportunity to own/live on large rural parcels versus sub-acre urban/city lots Opportunity to have multiple residences/family on your property Rural business opportunities Privacy, peace and quiet of large country parcels Close access to riding and hiking trails and parks Open space and views of undeveloped land/valleys/hills/mountains Preservation of natural formations Preservation of wildlife habitat Preservation of archeological artifacts and sites Preservation of historic Ramona buildings and sites Question 5. What should the minimum size lot in areas OUTSIDE the immediate Ramona town area be designated? (Choose one) one acre two acres four to five acres five to 10 acres 20 or more acres Other (please specify) Question 6. What should the minimum lot size within or near town be designated? (Choose one) 1/8 acre 1/4 acre 1/2 acre Other (please specify) Section 4. Housing, parks, trails, and recreation: Question 7. Does Ramona have enough affordable housing? If more affordable housing is needed, how should this be provided? Yes - We have enough affordable housing No - Need more High-density apartments in town center No - Need more housing by encouraging 2nd residences on private parcels sized/zoned for them Question 8. Does Ramona need more open space, trails, and parks? If Ramona needs more open space how should it be acquired? No- We have enough open space, parks, and trails Yes- Acquire by voluntary donations or easements by private property owners Yes - Acquire by purchase by County at fair market value price Yes - Acquire by seizure using eminent domain and compensated at a government determined value Section 5. Land Use/Traffic/Transportation/Utilities/Environment: Question 9. Land Use/Traffic/Transportation/Utilities/Environment: Should the Ramona planning area allow “environmental subdivisions” that allow “clustering” of homes on 1/8 to 1/4 acre lots with surrounding balance designated open space? (Note: Typical urban/city homes are on 1/8 acre or less parcels/lots.) (Yes or No) Should the Ramona planning area allow “Smart Growth” aspects of urban/city planning be applied to the rural Ramona? (Note: Smart growth seeks to prevent urban sprawl, by encouraging higher density/compact/mixed use (apartments & business) development, increased public transportation options, walkable neighborhoods, etc.) (Yes or No) Overall, are local area roads sufficient to meet community and adjoining area needs? (Yes/No) Do you feel Ramona town center traffic is congested? (Yes/No) Should surrounding roads and infrastructure be improved before allowing the start of new residential developments (Yes/No) Do you feel the road design and traffic routing within the Ramona town center traffic is effective? (Yes/No) In the area of your home, are local area roads adequate to meet your neighborhood needs? (Yes/No) In the future, should private roads be allowed within the town of Ramona? (Yes/No) In the future, should unpaved roads be allowed in the town of Ramona? (Yes/No) Are area highways sufficient to support community and adjoining area traffic? (Yes/No) Does Highway 67 need to be widened to four lanes between Lakeside and Ramona? (Yes/No) Are improvements to Highway 78 needed? (Yes/No) Should major roads and bypasses be routed through existing neighborhoods? (Yes/No) Should major roads and bypasses be routed through environmental sensitive areas? (Yes/No) Should the southern bypass be a designated priority project to ease in-town traffic congestion and improve access to the San Diego Country Estates/Ryland Homes? (Yes/No) Should a northern bypass through the Ramona Grasslands be constructed despite the environmental sensitivity of the area? (Yes/No) Should a northern bypass connecting westerly to I-15 be pursued? (Yes/No) Does Ramona have adequate public transportation services (e.g bus service)? (Yes/No) Should power-lines and utility easements/rights of way be allowed in residential or environmentally sensitive areas? (Yes/No) Do you support the $1.4 billion dollar SEMPRA/SDG&E Sunrise Powerlink through Ramona? (Yes/No) Does Ramona have adequate municipal water supplies and services? (Yes/No) Does Ramona have adequate municipal sewer services and access? (Yes/No) Does Ramona have adequate electrical power supplies and services? (Yes/No) Does Ramona need more outdoor sports facilities? (Yes/No) Do you support the Ramona Grasslands initiatives? (Yes/No) Is it important to protect Ramona’s geological features e.g. boulders, and landforms? (Yes/No) Is it important to protect Ramona’s mature trees and environmental features? (Yes/No) Is it important to protect Ramona’s wildlife? (Yes/No) Is it important to protect Ramona’s archeological and historical artifacts? (Yes/No) Is the appearance and development of the Ramona town center appropriate or to your liking (Yes/No) Is the "Old Town Ramona" area appropriate or to your liking (Yes/No) Do the types and locations of Ramona businesses meet your personal needs? (Yes/No) Are there sufficient local employment opportunities? (Yes/No) Is enough being done to attract businesses and employment to the Ramona area? (Yes/No) Are there enough light-industrial or industrial use zoned areas within/near Ramona? (Yes/No) Is the County operated Ramona Airport and surrounding enterprise zone an appropriate use of area land resources? (Yes/No) Do you feel County zoning, land use guidelines, and building permits are restrictive of your property rights? (Yes/No) Do you feel County, State and Federal environmental restrictions infringe upon the use and enjoyment of your property/your property rights? (Yes or No) Do you know what the County Transportation Impact Fee (TIF) is and what its intended purpose is? (Yes/No) Do you know what the function of the Ramona Community Planning Group is? (Yes/No) Do you know who can participate on Planning Group Subcommittees? (Yes/No) Section 6. Thank you for your time and answers to this survey. Your Ramona Community Planning Group representatives and volunteer sub-committee members will use this valuable information to develop the next Ramona General Plan - the road map for our community's and your family's future. Question 10.** Thank you!!! We appreciate your time and answers. (Free text entry section) If there are any Ramona community planning issues we have not addressed, or you feel strongly about, please type your comments here. Also, if you need additional information or would like us to contact you, please provide your name and telephone number.