Blogs - MyNorth

Protect your land with a conservation easement

LandChoices interviews Tom Bailey, ex… Continue

Posted by Kirt Manecke, LandChoices on November 19, 2009 at 7:06am — No Comments

Conservation Planning: "You'd never drain a lake..."

We asked LandChoices' advisory group member and conservation developer… Continue

Posted by Kirt Manecke, LandChoices on November 5, 2009 at 11:17am — No Comments

Can landscape architecture preserve our environment?

Can landscape architecture preserve our environment? Landscape planner and La… Continue

Posted by Kirt Manecke, LandChoices on October 29, 2009 at 6:45am — No Comments

Video: Land conservation and developers

LandChoices interviews noted planner… Continue

Posted by Kirt Manecke, LandChoices on October 22, 2009 at 6:53am — No Comments

Green video: Why do most subdivisions look so bad?

This is LandChoices first video from our official… Continue

Posted by Kirt Manecke, LandChoices on October 15, 2009 at 4:36am — No Comments

Greener road design, part 2, with Randall Arendt

Infiltration or conservation meadows are a less expensive and environmentally superior alternative to deep “bombcrater” basin designs. In this example from Doylestown Township in Bucks County, the side slopes are so gentle that the entire meadow can be mowed with large equipment o… Continue

Posted by Kirt Manecke, LandChoices on October 1, 2009 at 7:35am — 1 Comment

Greener road design, part 1

Noted planner Randall Arendt has written the terrific article (PDF), "Enhancing Neighborhood Safety and Livability Through Greener Road Design". It's part 1 of a two-part series and I found it very informative. In the article Arendt writes "Road design in neighborhoods also provides an opportunity to incorporate environmentally friendly practice… Continue

Posted by Kirt Manecke, LandChoices on September 24, 2009 at 9:00am — No Comments

"Going Green" exhibit this weekend

If you are interested in “going green” head to the Michigan Magazine Museum for their“Going Green” exhibit. The exhibit runs from Friday, Aug. 28 through Sund… Continue

Posted by Kirt Manecke, LandChoices on August 27, 2009 at 10:54pm — No Comments

Conservation subdivisions get boost near Chicago

According to the article "Subdivisions designed for conservation get a boost" in the Chicago Tribune, conservation subdivisions are starting to bloom. The article includes the terms "cluster" and "clustering" which drives my crazy (learn the difference between c… Continue

Posted by Kirt Manecke, LandChoices on August 19, 2009 at 9:23pm — No Comments

Small borough acheives big conservation goals with estate

Arboretum quality trees, such as this dawn redwood, will be preserved as a result of development. Under the prior development regulations, these trees would most likely have been destroyed. At LandChoices we created a website for planners,… Continue

Posted by Kirt Manecke, LandChoices on August 13, 2009 at 8:11pm — No Comments

More on Wal-Mart vs. a battlefield

Below is the nice e-mail I received from Caroline Baker, Communications Coordinator for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. She was commenting on my blog posting at… Continue

Posted by Kirt Manecke, LandChoices on July 31, 2009 at 7:09am — 2 Comments

Wal-Mart vs. a battlefield

Photo courtesy Wal-Mart I'm off the topic of conservation subdivisions as this item is important and we need to spread the word. It seems Wal-Mart is proposing to build a super store near Orange, Virginia near land th… Continue

Posted by Kirt Manecke, LandChoices on July 23, 2009 at 7:41pm — 3 Comments

Local green development receives national recognition

Photo courtesy Cedar Valley Ridge Cedar Valley Ridge, a conservation development in Long Lake Township of Grand Traverse County, is certified as a Four Stars Green Subdivision by the National Association of Home Builders… Continue

Posted by Kirt Manecke, LandChoices on July 16, 2009 at 11:00pm — No Comments

First Green Bank: good deal for conservation subdivisions

I’m very impressed with First Green Bank. They promote positive environmental and social responsibility. Their progressive approach sets them apart. First Green Bank promotes environmental responsibility and green building by offering lower interest rates for commercial projects that meet LEED standards. Special incentives are offered to employees who meet green lifestyle housing and living standards. Loan officers will be required to be… Continue

Posted by Kirt Manecke, LandChoices on June 25, 2009 at 8:06am — No Comments

Visit Tryon Farm, a conservation community

Tryon Farm, in Indiana just over the Michigan border (southwest Michigan) is offering guided tours of the land and houses on the 1st Sunday of every month. I'd recommend you take a day trip and visi… Continue

Posted by Kirt Manecke, LandChoices on June 11, 2009 at 9:00am — No Comments

Wind turbines can help preserve land, but need a facelift

I'm going off the conservation subdivison topic today. Wind turbines provide one possible funding source for landowners looking for ways to conserve land that also offer a monetary benefit. And wind energy is important to our energy independence. But wind turbines can be really ugly on a rural landscape. In the article “Wind turbines are green, but their design blows”, Detroit Fr… Continue

Posted by Kirt Manecke, LandChoices on May 27, 2009 at 9:00pm — 8 Comments

Top 10 myths of conservation subdivisions

Here are the top ten myths of conservation subdivisions, or conservation development as it's often called. 1. "Clustering" is the same as conservation subdivisions. 2. Conservation subdivisions are one more type of "sprawl" and encourage development in fringe areas. 3. Conservation subdivisions are not needed as most people are "returning to the cities" (I wish this were true). 4. It costs too much to preserve land and trees… Continue

Posted by Kirt Manecke, LandChoices on May 14, 2009 at 2:30pm — No Comments

Shootin the Boardman

Show us your pictures of the Boardman River! No, we do not need your opinion of what to do with the dams, just your pictures. The Grand Traverse Conservation District (GTCD) is holding a digital photography contest to determine the future banners that will be displayed behind the Boardman River Nature Center’s welcome desk. The banner size is approximately 7’ by 15’ and cannot be missed as one walks into the Nature Center (come and check it out if you have not yet). Britten and TruckSkin have g… Continue

Posted by JonP on February 20, 2009 at 4:30pm — No Comments

Cleaner, Greener, Faster

It was my intention to explore Step 2: Going Green at Home, but during this morning’s run I was consumed by thoughts of our nation awaiting the outcome of the Chief Auto Executives plea for a bail out from Washington. As I splashed past driveways and cars driving too close splashed past me the mantra I couldn’t help repeating was that we are all Detroiters. Today as we anticipate the possible loss of approximately 3 million auto related jobs, we are all Detroiters. Whether we are Southern Republ… Continue

Posted by Janelle Coolich on December 11, 2008 at 10:30am — 2 Comments

Going Green at Home: Step I

I am excited by the notion that we may be entering an era where we truly regard our fellow Americans as brothers and sisters, one in which we are willing to unite to address issues that affect all of us, one that looks and behaves like a national village. It goes without saying that we are concerned as a nation about the economy. If you’re like me you are ready to act and you guess that there are others out there who are also ready to start acting locally towards making a difference. If the ans… Continue

Posted by Janelle Coolich on December 3, 2008 at 11:00pm — 4 Comments

All Blog Posts Tagged 'conservation' (20)