Salem — Residents who responded to the town's Vision and Planning Survey made it clear that they want to preserve the town's distinct rural character but desire more businesses in order to lower their taxes. Those responses and others were presented to the Board of Selectmen last week. The survey was conducted by the Salem Vision Committee, Economic Development Commission and the Plan of Conservation and Development Committee.

Those responses and others were presented to the Board of Selectmen last week. The survey was conducted by the Salem Vision Committee, Economic Development Commission and the Plan of Conservation and Development Committee. The survey was designed to collect information on key town issues such as finance and education, services, recreation, natural resources, economic development and regionalism.

The survey was designed to collect information on key town issues such as finance and education, services, recreation, natural resources, economic development and regionalism. Elected officials and town committees will use the results to create a vision statement for the town, optimize the tax base composition and shape the plan of conservation and development.

Elected officials and town committees will use the results to create a vision statement for the town, optimize the tax base composition and shape the plan of conservation and development. "It'll be a tool for the Economic Development Commission, Planning and Zoning and the Vision Committee," First Selectman Kevin Lyden said. "A tool for looking back on what the people want."

"It'll be a tool for the Economic Development Commission, Planning and Zoning and the Vision Committee," First Selectman Kevin Lyden said. "A tool for looking back on what the people want." About 10 percent of the town's approximately 4,000 residents participated in the survey, which took about 30 minutes to complete.

About 10 percent of the town's approximately 4,000 residents participated in the survey, which took about 30 minutes to complete. The survey reported that residents were satisfied with the town's current form of government and that they want to maintain services in the budget, but weren't overly enthusiastic about paying for additional infrastructure such as a community center or senior center or services such as public transportation, garbage collection, and town sewer and water.

The survey reported that residents were satisfied with the town's current form of government and that they want to maintain services in the budget, but weren't overly enthusiastic about paying for additional infrastructure such as a community center or senior center or services such as public transportation, garbage collection, and town sewer and water. About 312 people said the town is too dependent on residential taxes and doesn't generate enough through commercial development. The ratio for taxes generated in Salem is 94 percent from residents and 6 percent from businesses. Residents said they favor development such as family restaurants, drugstores, those with a "green" focus, grocery stores, agriculture/plants, small corporate headquarters, organic restaurants, agriculture/animals and village-style shops.

About 312 people said the town is too dependent on residential taxes and doesn't generate enough through commercial development. The ratio for taxes generated in Salem is 94 percent from residents and 6 percent from businesses. Residents said they favor development such as family restaurants, drugstores, those with a "green" focus, grocery stores, agriculture/plants, small corporate headquarters, organic restaurants, agriculture/animals and village-style shops. Though survey responders said they were open to expanding the town's commercial base, many said they wanted it done with specific design regulations so that it would create a visually attractive area for businesses.

Though survey responders said they were open to expanding the town's commercial base, many said they wanted it done with specific design regulations so that it would create a visually attractive area for businesses. Economic Development Commission Chairman Frank Sroka said the commission wasn't surprised with the survey results, but it did reaffirm its approach on how to go about economic development. Members are going to continue to meet and talk about the results.

Economic Development Commission Chairman Frank Sroka said the commission wasn't surprised with the survey results, but it did reaffirm its approach on how to go about economic development. Members are going to continue to meet and talk about the results. "We wanted to get a feel on what (residents) were willing to entertain as far as commercial development in town," Sroka said. "They said that they liked the rural nature of the town but wouldn't mind having a slow approach to balancing the taxes in town."

"We wanted to get a feel on what (residents) were willing to entertain as far as commercial development in town," Sroka said. "They said that they liked the rural nature of the town but wouldn't mind having a slow approach to balancing the taxes in town." People also were asked:

People also were asked:• What the town should use the Gadbois property for.

• What the town should use the Gadbois property for.• Whether it needs more affordable housing.

• Whether it needs more affordable housing.• The importance of a village center in Salem.

• The importance of a village center in Salem.• How to protect natural, historic and archeological resources.

• How to protect natural, historic and archeological resources.• Their willingness to participate in regionalization.

• Their willingness to participate in regionalization.The demographics of those who took the survey weren't available. More detailed survey results are scheduled to be released on the town's Web site in a few months when the executive summary is completed by the various groups involved.

The demographics of those who took the survey weren't available. More detailed survey results are scheduled to be released on the town's Web site in a few months when the executive summary is completed by the various groups involved.