Land Development Today - July/August 2007 - (Page 8)

YOUR VOICE The Readers Respond People, Planet, and Profit May 2007 Doing the Right Things I’ve felt a little like the Lone Ranger for a long time, so I was pleased to read your May 2007, article, “People, Planet and Profit” by Tony Wernke, Terry Mock and Greg Yoko. As a land developer in northern Michigan, I believed from the start that we must ‘do it right’ the first time - and every time. Your article was the only one I’ve read anywhere that supported my thinking. I appreciated it. I am presently working on a 128-acre parcel which will be home to 47 residences and to commercial frontage along a major highway. Like my other developments, I choose to look at each project holistically and as part of a bigger picture. I examine the watershed it is in as well as the one it will impact. I strive to balance the site as much as possible by using most, if not all the materials needed from on-site – which can be less expensive than importing materials. My goal is that this site will never release untreated water – all non-point source pollution and stormwater runoff will be dealt with on-site with the installation of multiple, large bio-retention basins (natural filtration systems) on the property, with rain gardens on homeowner’s sites, with leaving riparian zones intact on waterfront property, and with utilizing trees on site - moving them, where necessary, but not removing them, with native plantings and much more. It takes more planning and investment, but it is the right thing to do. I invited MDEQ or the EPA to use this project as a pilot study for 10 or 15 years, but have not yet received a response to that invitation. I believe infrastructure issues are the key. Water quality improvement doesn’t happen by accident. It requires careful planning and attention to the impact on the entire watershed. My frustration occurs when I see other developers totally level a site and then ‘reshape’ it, putting in the absolute minimum effort they can, rather than considering the impact on the whole watershed – and getting away with it. You stated “as we move forward, we must do so in partnership with government, but ultimately, solutions must emanate from the bottom up, not the top down.” First, we as an industry must honestly face that reality and step up to the plate to ‘do it right.’ Second, the government needs to back down a little and work with us on a case-by-case basis, rather than unilaterally trying to apply rules that don’t fit a given project – holding up the process and driving up the costs. When government agencies don’t use reasonable flexibility to help make the right thing happen, they are anti-progressive. Unfortunately, that tends to be the rule and not the exception. Government agencies should be working with us and not against us. You said “Opposition to development is now stronger…and the obstacles that must be overcome today are larger and more complex than ever.” I have stated many times that growth is inevitable. How we handle growth demands change and makes all the difference. Now is the time to improve, not ignore, infrastructure issues. “Leaving things as God made them” as some propose, is naïve at best. God did not add the current influences now polluting our waterways. Therefore, man is obligated to properly care for and maintain what God has provided, even restructure where necessary, to correct and prevent deterioration. Cleanup has to start somewhere, sometime – why not with us, and why not now? Tim Searfoss, President/Owner Searfoss Developments West Branch, Michigan 2007 Land Development Visionary Project Award The Land Development Visionary Project Award recognizes not only the planning and design of projects, but also focuses on the complete development process. Project nominations for the Land Development Breakthroughs conference in Phoenix, AZ are due in October. For more information go to www.LDBreakthroughs.com, or contact Kimberely Feltes at kfeltes@futurus.biz. Send us your 2¢! This section is dedicated to comments from our readers Reader responses to articles in Sustainable Land Development Today are encouraged and may be sent via mail or email (Editor@LandDevelopmentToday.com), or online through LandDevelopmentToday.com. Mailing address: Sustainable Land Development Today, Attention: Editor, 275 East 10th St. Suite 200, Dubuque, IA 52001 © Entire contents copyright 2007, Land Development Today, LLC. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher. Views expressed by the bylined contributors do not necessarily represent the opinion of the publisher. 8 July/August 2007 Sustainable Land Development Today http://www.LDBreakthroughs.com http://LandDevelopmentToday.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Land Development Today - July/August 2007

Cover Contents Our Voice: Industry Advocates Your Voice: Reader Response Cover Story: Preparing Your Tax Strategy The Rules of the Game Historical Redevelopment Project Profile: Seattle’s High Point Retention: From Ravine to Road Land Use: Picatinny Arsenal Mixed Use: Florida Offices Industry News Products/Services Showcase Classifieds Recommended Reading Advertiser Index Editorial Board The Last Word: What? Me Plan… Urban Development

Land Development Today - July/August 2007

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