Open space planning will become increasingly important to a community as it grows and develops. The scale of open space is important when planning for growth and development. “It won’t work if a small residential lot is left undeveloped so three trees and a couple birds can live there,” says (name of person). “So more residents can benefit, we must plan for and fund open space creatively within the context of the entire municipality.”

Planning for open space cannot work without an effective land-use planning process, the commission notes. “Our zoning and subdivision ordinances must be written so they can implement the philosophies of open space conservation expressed in our comprehensive plan,” says (name of person).

“In order to prepare for including open spaces in our municipality, we should establish a natural resource inventory that identifies important resources for the entire municipality and a comprehensive plan supported by zoning and subdivision ordinances that considers and supports the use of open space.

“We should also consider municipal partnerships to establish open space plans collectively and to distribute the expense of acquiring land or properties to be used for open space.

Multi-jurisdictional alliances work if there is strong leadership and careful planning, adds (name of person). “The longer we wait, the more unchecked growth will occur, which makes it much more expensive and difficult to acquire land to use for open space.”

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NEWS RELEASE

GREENSBURG ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE—Date

CONTACT: JOHN MAPLE, ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN, 000-6216

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DEVELOPERS, BUILDERS SHOULD PRESERVE TREES DURING CONSTRUCTION

“When planning a new subdivision or commercial development, building a single house, or even adding to an existing home, native or historic trees can be preserved in the landscape without incurring major added costs,” says (name of person with title or name of commission). “In the past, builders and developers usually bulldozed a site and planted new trees to create a landscape. Developers and builders should recognize the great value of preserving groves of trees, historic or unique individual trees and riparian areas.”