Posted by Joe Barnes on May 21st, 2009

I recently had the opportunity to be a speaker at a conference sponsored by Williamsburg Land Conservancy titled “Preservation & Profit:  The Value of Conservation in Development”.  In addition to myself, there were a number of engaging and enlightened speakers talking about topic ranging from “Planning for Nature Friendly Communities” by UVA Professor Tim Beatly to “Conservation Design for Storm water Management by Doug Beisch of Williamsburg Environment Group.

My talk focused how Preservation Development can be used as a market based tool for rural land preservation.  After providing a summary of how we are losing more and more productive farm land each year and giving an overview of some of the most widely known/used tools for rural preservation, I highlighted some of the key stakeholders involved in what happens with our rural landscapes – the farmers, environment groups, the development community and municipalities.

Using Bundoran Farm as a case study, I walked everyone through the efforts we undertook to study land and figure out what is most important from an agricultural, environmental, visual and cultural perspective.  From that I described how individual homesites were carefully selected to permit the enjoyment and preservation of the inherent qualities found in a place as beautiful as Bundoran Farm.  I ended by sharing one of my favorite newspaper headlines that appeared in the Daily Progress the day after our public hearing before the Albemarle County Planning Commission.

“Bundoran Farm enjoys Wide Support.  County Officials, Neighbors support Unprecedented Project.   Something strange happened at the Albemarle Planning Commission Tuesday night.  A development was proposed that all involved actually like”

Our distinctive concept to preserving productive agriculture land, stewarding the environment and creating opportunities to live in and experience the countryside of Virginia, was as well received at this conference as it is by those who come out to tour Bundoran Farm in search of land to buy and build their homestead in the country.

Filed under: Education and Inspiration, General, Nature/Environment