Poll Predicts Referendum Will Approve Utopia
Undecided voters could make difference
By Stephen Kurczy
A Times poll of 100 residents revealed significant support for Utopia Studios, setting the stage for an approval of the proposed $1.6 billion entertainment complex when it faces a town-wide referendum May 23.
The poll showed 47 percent of those polled voting in favor of the project. But 18 percent of those polled said they are unsure how they will vote.
“So the informational meetings will be very important,” said First Selectman Robert Congdon.
Those who oppose the project live, on average, a half-mile closer to the Norwich State Hospital, the poll revealed.
Of the 100 people polled last week between Monday and Wednesday – before the Hospital Advisory Committee voted 6-5 to send the development agreement on to the Board of Selectmen – 47 voters they will vote yes to Utopia at a referendum, while 35 said they will vote no, and 18 voters said they are still undecided.
The poll took a random sampling of about 3 percent of the town’s eligible voters.
The town appears less sure of the project than last March, when voters approved a negotiation agreement by a 6 to 1 margin.
A bit more than half of the town’s 3,434 registered voters voted in that referendum; 1,508 people said they wanted the negotiations with the Long-Island developer to continue, while 256 said they did not.
The margin of approval is far narrower now and a greater voter turnout for the upcoming referendum has the ability to shift the popular vote in either direction.
Though many residents may have already made up their minds on the project, those voters who are undecided could be the swing vote.
If the undecided voters are wooed by those who object to Utopia building on 419 acres of former Norwich State Hospital property, it would tally the majority vote needed to deny the project.
This would permanently end negotiations with the developer, whose bumpy road to trying to secure the rights to develop the property began in 2003.
It is that 18 percent of undecided voters that Utopia will be wooing during their two public forums, on Thursday, May 4, and Saturday, May 6.
The Hospital Advisory Committee will also be informing the town on how to vote during three information sessions leading up to the referendum: Tuesday, May 9; Saturday, May 13; and Thursday, May 18, the final informational meeting.
The referendum will take place Tuesday, May 23, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
A significant finding from The Times’ poll is that the majority of residents seemed to have already made up their minds on the project. Many answered with a definitive yes or no, implying that their minds are dead-set no matter how many information meetings are held over the next month.
“Some people make up their minds early, either for or against,” Congdon said. “Our job as the Board of Selectmen is to make sure that for those who are uncertain that they have enough information.”
Many of the people polled offered unsolicited remarks.
One person said, “To me, they ruined the whole area when they brought the incinerator in and the casinos in. It’s all garbage now.”
Other comments included, “I’m always for progress,” “You’ve got to do something with the property,” and “We’ve already got the two casinos, what’s one more thing?”
Though many people hung up without completing the poll, only one person said he would not be voting. He did not say why.
Comments against the project included, “Even though I’m pro-union, I don’t think it’s the thing for the unions.”
One person pointed out that though Utopia Studios has proposed a theme park to rival Disney World and Universal Studios, the firm has no films to its credit.
“Every other theme park that has movie studios has a film library to build on,” he said.
Another woman said she’d only vote yes if Utopia Studios promised to build a monorail to Foxwoods Resort Casino.
“I’ve lived in town for over 70 years and I’ve seen a lot of changes, some for the better and some not,” said an older woman. “I like the country air, but I think I’ll probably vote yes.”
By Stephen Kurczy
A Times poll of 100 residents revealed significant support for Utopia Studios, setting the stage for an approval of the proposed $1.6 billion entertainment complex when it faces a town-wide referendum May 23.
The poll showed 47 percent of those polled voting in favor of the project. But 18 percent of those polled said they are unsure how they will vote.
“So the informational meetings will be very important,” said First Selectman Robert Congdon.
Those who oppose the project live, on average, a half-mile closer to the Norwich State Hospital, the poll revealed.
Of the 100 people polled last week between Monday and Wednesday – before the Hospital Advisory Committee voted 6-5 to send the development agreement on to the Board of Selectmen – 47 voters they will vote yes to Utopia at a referendum, while 35 said they will vote no, and 18 voters said they are still undecided.
The poll took a random sampling of about 3 percent of the town’s eligible voters.
The town appears less sure of the project than last March, when voters approved a negotiation agreement by a 6 to 1 margin.
A bit more than half of the town’s 3,434 registered voters voted in that referendum; 1,508 people said they wanted the negotiations with the Long-Island developer to continue, while 256 said they did not.
The margin of approval is far narrower now and a greater voter turnout for the upcoming referendum has the ability to shift the popular vote in either direction.
Though many residents may have already made up their minds on the project, those voters who are undecided could be the swing vote.
If the undecided voters are wooed by those who object to Utopia building on 419 acres of former Norwich State Hospital property, it would tally the majority vote needed to deny the project.
This would permanently end negotiations with the developer, whose bumpy road to trying to secure the rights to develop the property began in 2003.
It is that 18 percent of undecided voters that Utopia will be wooing during their two public forums, on Thursday, May 4, and Saturday, May 6.
The Hospital Advisory Committee will also be informing the town on how to vote during three information sessions leading up to the referendum: Tuesday, May 9; Saturday, May 13; and Thursday, May 18, the final informational meeting.
The referendum will take place Tuesday, May 23, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
A significant finding from The Times’ poll is that the majority of residents seemed to have already made up their minds on the project. Many answered with a definitive yes or no, implying that their minds are dead-set no matter how many information meetings are held over the next month.
“Some people make up their minds early, either for or against,” Congdon said. “Our job as the Board of Selectmen is to make sure that for those who are uncertain that they have enough information.”
Many of the people polled offered unsolicited remarks.
One person said, “To me, they ruined the whole area when they brought the incinerator in and the casinos in. It’s all garbage now.”
Other comments included, “I’m always for progress,” “You’ve got to do something with the property,” and “We’ve already got the two casinos, what’s one more thing?”
Though many people hung up without completing the poll, only one person said he would not be voting. He did not say why.
Comments against the project included, “Even though I’m pro-union, I don’t think it’s the thing for the unions.”
One person pointed out that though Utopia Studios has proposed a theme park to rival Disney World and Universal Studios, the firm has no films to its credit.
“Every other theme park that has movie studios has a film library to build on,” he said.
Another woman said she’d only vote yes if Utopia Studios promised to build a monorail to Foxwoods Resort Casino.
“I’ve lived in town for over 70 years and I’ve seen a lot of changes, some for the better and some not,” said an older woman. “I like the country air, but I think I’ll probably vote yes.”
posted by Stephen C. Kurczy at 9:52 AM
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