Delaware County, PA — There is far more to creating a quality residential development than grading a property and putting up homes. Conservation design looks at natural features, site constraints, and stormwater management — long before construction begins.

When Trilogy Investments bought one of the last remaining large parcels of property in Thornbury Township, they envisioned building 458 residential units on large lots throughout the tract–exactly what the township’s zoning allowed. When Trilogy’s President John Lynch saw that the township had other hopes and concerns–and was willing to be flexible in finding a solution that was beneficial to all–he realized it was a whole new game. The Cherry Creek cluster development became a model of conservation design that preserved woodlands, wetlands, and fields — and ended up holding 241 homes.

Says John Lynch:

I guess there’s a question of whether I’m doing this type of development for altruistic reasons or not. The answer is I’m not. First and foremost it’s a business. So normally when I  get involved in new projects, I look at them pretty analytically–what are my rights under law–and I then try to do better. When there are people on the other side of the table who share the goal of doing something better, so that there’s a win-win scenario, then it’s all green lights and I will pursue that with more vigor and more gusto than you can imagine…

The video is also available on the StormwaterPA YouTube Playlist and will be StormwaterPA.org with more project details soon. Check it Out and add it to your Site!

admin Low Impact Development buffers, clean water, environmental site design, flood control, infiltration, LID, non-structural BMPs, rain garden, rainwater collection, stormwater best management practices, stormwater runoff, water quality, watershed protection, wetlands

The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts has unveiled its 2009 Annual Legislative Report, the result of discussions held at a strategic planning meeting last summer.  PACD will utilize the report in various capacities to showcase conservation district activities.  PACD plans on sharing the project with the Governor and his staff, various state agencies, and all members of the PA General Assembly.  PACD believes the report will show lawmakers how vital conservation districts are to their communities.

To read the full report, go to PACD Legislative Report.

Upcoming Events

2010 NACD Annual Meeting - Registration is open for the National Association of Conservation Districts 64th annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, January 31 - February 2, 2009. The meeting theme is “Committed to Conservation”. Information here.

Listening Session Webcast - EPA will hold a “virtual” listening session as a webcast on February 3, 2010 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm Eastern time to discuss the proposed national rulemaking to strengthen the national stormwater program.  After a presentation from EPA, this webcast will allow members of the public to call in and give brief (3 minute) statements. Audience members will be able to listen to the webcast and all public statements using their computer speakers. Click here to register.

For more information on this proposed rulemaking and these listening sessions, the potential rule and instructions for submitting written comments, see last week’s Blog entry.

From the Rooftop to the Bay: Implementing Stormwater Management Strategies in the
Chesapeake Bay Watershed
March 9-11, 2010 (Registration deadline is February 5, 2010)
Stonewall Jackson Hotel in Staunton, VA

Click here for more information.

Online Resources…

For interested readers, remember to visit US EPA’s website for stormwater training resources and archived webcasts:

§  Public Education and Public Involvement;

§  Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination;

§  Construction; Post-Construction;

§  Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping;

§  Green Infrastructure;

§  Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations;

§  Combined Sewer Overflows; Aquatic Pesticides;

§  Pretreatment; and

§  General NPDES.

admin General conservation district, stormwater legislation

A recent article published by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay suggests that it is possible since proposed actions are backed up by regulations, funding and consequences.

The hope stems from two new initiatives the federal government is undertaking. One is the total maximum daily load, better known as a TMDL, which is being developed by the EPA this year and will set limits for how much pollution a waterway can accept from stormwater, sewage treatment plants, agricultural runoff and other sources. The other is a multi-agency response to President Barack Obama’s executive order, which declared the Bay a “national treasure” and called for a strategy to restore and protect the Bay, its watershed and resources-all while providing more public accountability than in the past.

You can find the full article written by Karl Blankenship online at the Bay Journal.

admin Chesapeake Bay, Stormwater Regulations Chesapeake Bay, clean water, Nonpoint source pollution, stormwater legislation, TMDL, water quality, watershed protection, wet weather, wetlands