Open space is preserved in a number of ways in our community including through the purchase of property, obtaining easements, and the preservation of farmland. 
How can we as a community further incorporate land conservation into our goals for the future?Give us your thoughts -- click "comments" below:
17 comments:
Top priority should be to renovate existing structures with minimal structural damage. Next would be to use sites where existing structures need to be deconstructed, reusable materials used onsite, the rest recycled. Use the many unoccupied sites that are already developed first.
Luckily there is still a lot of undeveloped land in the county and we need to keep it that way for future generations. We have ample parks and decent farmland. Open space could be transformed into fruit tree crops for possible financial gains.
Let's definitely have more fruit trees, along with all the pesticides that would be put into the atmosphere for all of us to breathe.
A better solution is to work a park system into any new development.
Open space is becoming a scarce resource in Forsyth County, and much of the open space that exists is unavailable, being fenced off or posted property. This has prevented many potentially beneficial projects such as river access, and bike, walking and equestrian trails. A high priority should be to reserve the use of open space for current and future generations, connect open spaces and parks and other points of interest through green corridors.
We need to think creatively how to make easements beneficial to current property owners so that they not only allow use, but welcome it. We already know asking politely doesn't work.
-Bruce Hermann
I think open space is very important to be protected. For us, for our kids, for wildlife, for water quality and for air too.
Chapter 7, Page 56, Box. I do not understand the use of the phrase "...rare plants and animals", Use "native" instead of "rare".
Page 59, last paragraph, Trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, they do not provide it.
We need to conserve existing open agricultural space in NW, NE, & SE parts of county as parkland (passive & active) as this land faces future residential & commercial development
Parks are an essential part of quality of life for these new bedroom communities. We also should adopt conservation easements & other strategies to support greenways & walking trail along stream, utility, & other open corridors before they are developed on as part of approval for future development.
Downtown needs park land too to sustain continued attraction of residents & visitors. We also lag behind countless other communities in bikeway & walking trails.
Establish composting program for food waste - use product for community gardens & sell to individuals
Use locally sourced AG products for all Gov't functions
Encourage/incent the use of local food/AG products
Site schools in densely populated areas
Incent rehab of brownfields so there is no need to sprawl
Set up "green zones" with community gardens, green space, renewable energy, LEED building, walkable, livable
Use state funds & supplement with local funds to acquire, plan for developable lands vs. agriculture & enforce zoning, establish strong growth management limits.
Set limits on the amount of greenspace developed per year
Short-term look at existing real estate market for housing options. There are hundreds of houses on the market that are in viable communities. There are also many existing urban residential properties available & in development in our downtown.
Long-term more urban & high density residences need to be developed. We have 3 large empty large buildings currently in our downtown - utilize existing structures before building new.
Mandate that trees cannot be clear cut for economic gains. If lots have to be cut, make sure they are selectively cut. Instead of cutting down all trees for a new building and then planting back new ones, trees should be incorporated into the plan.
Provide funding for land banking purpose
Conservation easements
Do not allow any more urban sprawl
Develop only in already developed areas
Land conservation incentives
Greenbelt on edges of city
QUIT building more roads through it that encourages sprawl & disrupts large areas for wildlife
More agricultural overlay zones.
We are moving along with our greenways. The more our communities can be interconnected by greenways the better. In the present economy, it is hard to spend tax dollars on land acquisition, but the price of land will seldom be better. Open space, "view shed" protection (Beaufort, SC has purchased areas of salt marsh to preserve the view), and pocket parks (a park bench and trees)do not need the expense of brick and mortar facilities to be a benefit to our county.
We should further develop and expand our greenway system, connecting to existing, as well as planned parks and green space areas, whenever possible.
We can fully fund a Farmland Preservation program, and we can work cooperatively with land conservancy groups to identify and coordinate protection of valuable ecological areas and open space. We need to place a priority on planning for future parks and setting aside funds for their purchase.
Buy local produce and products to be greener and reduce carbon footprint.
Educate folks about the immense environmental and economical benefits of streams, trees, open spaces and green spaces, including farmlands and fallow areas.
Cities should amend yard maintenance ordinances to allow management of ecosystem and wildlife enhancement activities that benefit environmental quality and well as provides habitats for songbirds, etc. Reduce mowing along roadways in a manner to provide prairie like habitats where possible. Three year rotational mowing should suffice to keep maintained. This reduces maintenance costs plus enhances watershed protection and songbird habitats. It is strange that communities declare themselves “bird sanctuaries” while destroying bird habitats on a grand scale.
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