Land Conservation Conference Examines Pedestrian-Friendly Community
More than 200 land conservation experts from Pennsylvania met for the 2004 Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference in Lancaster County, PA, earlier this month. The conference, presented by The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association, serves as Pennsylvania's annual training and networking event for those involved with private and public land conservation efforts throughout the state.
The conference featured a walking tour of Millcreek, the first Smart Growth neighborhood in Lancaster County. Built by Charter Homes, Millcreek utilizes Smart Growth principles to create a strong sense of neighborhood and preserve valuable land resources, including the creek after which it was named, which runs through the community.
Millcreek is a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood with a general store that reduces the need to drive and it features behind-the-home garages, sidewalks, walking trails, homes with front porches and acres of usable open space. In addition, single-family detached homes and townhouses are located on the same streets. The community includes carriage homes.
Rob Bowman, president of Charter Homes, provided the home builder’s perspective on designing, gaining approval for and selling a Smart Growth community in a conference panel discussion, “Growing Smarter: Guide Development, Conserve Land and Build Strong Communities.”
The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association promotes voluntary land conservation by supporting the missions of land trusts and building a positive climate for conservation in the state.