In March 2006, the Conservancy presented Red Wing Development and Keefe Real Estate with the Excellence in Conservation Development Award for their work on Sugar Creek Preserve, a conservation community off Bowers Road in Lafayette Township northeast of Elkhorn. The idea behind the award was to advance the concept that conservation and good development are not mutually exclusive and to set a standard for conservation development in the lakes area.

Why conservation development? First, it represents an opportunity for sustainable development that minimizes the dangers and damages of continued urban sprawl. In doing so, conservation development identifies and then protects the primary, secondary, and even tertiary environmental elements of any site. Additionally, the economics of conservation design have been proven through a variety of market fluctuations and have strengthened considerably in the last 10 years.

Because conservation subdivisions are, as long-time conservation development advocate Randall Arendt says, "twice green," the promise of riches has driven some developers to slap organic imagery such as "preserve" or "conservation" onto any development that vaguely resembles the superficial elements of a conservation subdivision.

What is in a name? Many housing developments are named for the very things they have destroyed. Ever pass the Happy Valley Orchard subdivision and wonder what happened to all the apples? What then is the standard; what defines a conservation development? Who has the privilege to brand a development a conservation community?

Land and water resources first
If a conservation subdivision follows the parameters established by Arendt, then early in its infancy the developers will present to the wider community a site analysis map that details the existing natural and cultural resources. This site plan identifies all areas worthy of conservation - those that are mandated by law (wetlands, floodplains, and steep slopes) and those not protected by law but essential nonetheless, including mature woodlands, wildlife habitats, groundwater recharge areas, greenways and trails, river and stream corridors, historic sites and buildings, and scenic views.1

Once these areas are established, conservation developers situate their house lots in and among these areas, respecting the boundary between people and nature, and maximizing the land to its potential within these boundaries.

Maximize open space
Perhaps one of the most confusing aspects of conservation subdivisions is that their variations are as diverse as the nature they strive to protect. Just as with snowflakes, no two conservation subdivisions are alike. That said, open space is a conservation development's primary goal. How that open space occurs in any given development changes depending on the project.

The development setting - urban or rural - is a primary consideration to determine the project's density. Density determines if the development will look like a village hamlet, with the homes clustered on acre lots or smaller, or a collection of country estates with 10-acre-per-dwelling lots.2

Clustering alone is not conservation
Cluster development is often confused with conservation development, and the two do share similarities. Both cluster homes to create open space zones, and much like cluster development, conservation subdivisions minimize infrastructure costs.

Denser development means fewer roads, less re-grading of the land, and fewer curbs and gutters (which catch and concentrate pollutants. Rain gardens, bioswales, and cisterns are better for stormwater management).

Unlike cluster development, open space in a conservation subdivision is more than the swaths of unusable land (usually only 25-30 percent)3 the developers consider too costly or troublesome to work with

Is it protected?
How do developers ensure that not all their work at protecting 50-70 percent of a site is undone at some point in the future? The most notable difference between a conservation community and one in name only is the protection agreements struck between the developer and a local conservation agency. Covenants and deed restrictions are one way, but many developers have elected to protect the open space in perpetuity with voluntary land protection agreements (conservation easements). The Conservancy holds two such easements - on Sugar Creek Preserve and on its smaller counterpart in Linn Township, Woodstone Prairie.

What makes a subdivision worthy of the name "conservation community?" It is more than a name - it is an awareness that the development is part of a wider community process that makes natural and cultural conservation a priority. True conservation developments are known first for what they protect and thereafter for what they develop.

~ Katie Sullivan

Next Issue…
"Twice Green" the economics of conservation development

1, 2 &3 Arendt, R. (2001, September). Growing greener: conservation by design. Natural Lands Trust.

Executive Director graduates from Woodland Leadership Institute

This past summer once every month or so GLC Executive Director Jim Celano would bow out of the office with a certain look of glee. And who could blame him? He was off to one of his weekend seminars in various parts of northern Wisconsin to complete his Woodland Leadership Institute curriculum. To express their jealousy over his luck, some staff members would announce to callers in the know that he was out communing with the trees.

On August 25 at the just-completed Aldo Leopold Legacy Center in Merrimac, Wis., Jim received a certificate indicating he successfully completed the program. The ceremony was also a way to recognize his and his fellow woodland stewards' enduring commitment to provide leadership at the local, regional, and statewide levels on issues affecting the sustainability and stewardship of Wisconsin forests.

When asked how he plans to incorporate this into his work at the Conservancy, Jim replied, "Aside from my never-ending joy of a good walk in the woods, I can honestly say that this program was a remarkably effective experience, allowing me the opportunity to more fully comprehend the overwhelming importance healthy forests and woodlands play in our daily lives."

Hummel Project

The GLC has been working with the developer to encourage conservation development concepts including as much open-space preservation as possible. These discussions have met with some success, and open space in the plan has increased to just more than 50 percent. The number of homes has been reduced, and the current proposal calls for environmental studies to assess water-flow issues.

The Mirbeau Spa project is the only higher density development on the property. While concern has been expressed regarding the possibility of "access" to the lake, the developers have assured us that, given the nature of the spa, lake access is not of interest to them.

Despite the community's concern over the annexation of the land and the inception of the project, the current development represents a considerable improvement from the original concept.

There is concern that if the current plan is rejected the property will be split up and sold in smaller parcels to numerous developers. This would fragment the sensitive natural areas and diminish their ecological value to us all. We have always believed in the need to do what is right from a long-term perspective. We are pleased with what has been accomplished so far.

It would be wrong to believe we are caving in to the developers, as some may think; rather, we are encouraging them to do more for the environment than they would have considered had they been left alone. There still is a long way to go before this project is approved.

Jackson Creek

The Conservancy has been influential in efforts to raise community awareness on the risk of overdevelopment on the Delavan Lake inlet. We have also attempted to highlight the potential costs to the communities if the development of the size proposed (4,768 homes, three schools, a village center, and commercial and industrial areas) were to become a reality.

The Conservancy and other community and political leaders were able to encourage a joint
discussion regarding the benefits and costs of the development and avoidance of conflict between the municipalities. The result was a delay in the project and the need for broader planning considerations. This is good news for the area. The time and effort to influence these situations are significant, and credit should go to all those involved. Future proposals for the area should be more sensitive to the lake and more balanced in terms of density and its location.

Yerkes Observatory

The Conservancy has continued to monitor reports from the University of Chicago and the group studying Yerkes regarding the observatory property. On August 22, The Yerkes Study Group issued their preliminary report, available on their website. GLC Board member Chuck Ebeling's response to the preliminary report was that the study group, while skillfully evaluating the science center possibilities, left open the question of adequate funding. The GLC continues to be active in supporting the preservation of the observatory and surrounding grounds to the maximum extent.

There are more than 100 great stores (including Macy's, Target, Best Buy, Nordstrom's, Staples, and Amazon) to choose from, and log-ins are not required! So, the next time you are looking for that New York Times bestseller at Amazon, a pair of fabulous shoes, or a DVD, go to GoodShop first. You will be supporting a great cause!

The Conservancy's Watershed Education Program is designed to educate the municipalities of Lake Geneva, Williams Bay, Fontana, Walworth, Walworth Township, Linn Township, and Geneva Township as well as the public about the sensitive nature and importance of the Geneva Lake watershed.

The watershed itself is a donut-shaped oval of land - 13,121 acres in all - that drains into the 5,238 acres of Geneva Lake. The watershed and nearby lands are not defined by political borders but by the physical geography of the land.

Robert W. Klockars, Fontana resident and Geneva Lake Conservancy Board member and Vice Chairman, is also the Executive Vice President and director of Walworth State Bank, a 100-year-old community bank.

Married with three daughters, Bob is Swedish-American and a native of Glen Ellyn, Ill. His family has been coming to Lake Geneva since the early 1950s when his church denomination purchased Covenant Harbor Bible Camp. Bob says he recalls many fond family memories of Covenant Harbor and Lake Geneva as campers, staff members, board members, and volunteers.

Bob and his wife Jane became permanent Fontana residents in 2002, and Bob joined the Conservancy Board in July 2003. Bob's 30-plus years of experience in nearly all aspects of the community financial industry is a considerable boon to his service on the Conservancy Board.

When asked what made him join the Conservancy and his thoughts on the community and the Conservancy itself, Bob responded, "I was honored to be asked to join the Board of directors of the Geneva Lake Conservancy. Their mission parallels our family values and beliefs about conservation and measured growth. When done properly, conservation practices can be incorporated into a community growth strategy without damaging the unique characteristics of the environment."

We are happy to have Bob with us not only as Vice Chairman but as a member of the communications and finance committees. In both positions he is able to apply his vision of community growth and conservation to the Conservancy's vision for sustainable growth in southern Walworth County.

Botanica: Danniel Ward-Packard caught up with Terry Quinn, our Development
Specialist, one day and determined that the Conservancy's headquarters in the historic Mill House in Fontana would be a prime location to do a little bit of volunteer work. Botanica brings an organic approach to common landscaping techniques - a comfortable fit with our concern for the lake and its watershed. Thank you, Danniel and Botanica, for all your help this past summer!