CONSERVATION Learning, Living and Leaving a Legacy Winter 2007 Volume 1 Number 2 Newsletter of the Woolwich Conservation Commission www.woolwichme.com
The Brookings Report (Charting Maine's Future) How It Relates To Preserving Open Space In Woolwich "Charting Maine's Future: An Action Plan for Promoting Sustainable Prosperity and Quality Places" This recently published Brookings Report was commissioned by Grow Smart Maine. People live in Maine because of its attractive quality of life. Sound familiar?  The Brookings Report calls this Maine's "brand" and suggests strategies for protecting our "quality of place".  In the visioning sessions we held in Woolwich last year, Woolwichers repeatedly said that what they want most is to preserve our "rural character".  Both of these sentiments come together in the Brookings Report recommendations that focus attention and money on revitalizing our cities and towns to absorb future growth and reduce pressure on rural areas; protecting and preserving forests, farms and working waterfronts; improving public access to traditional fishing, hunting and boating areas; and increasing tourism promotion (as a revenue stream), particularly on a regional basis. To print short versions and find out more about this report and this concept, go to www.growsmartmaine.org or www.brookings.edu .	The Brookings Report Charting Maine's Future How It Relates  To Preserving Open  Space In   Woolwich
Conservation Development Designed To Protect Open Space Conservation Development is a well practiced strategy of development designer Randall Arendt. A workshop attended by WCC representatives was all about "how to do it" with examples of how it has been done elsewhere, and the benefits that flowed from it, such as better protection of wetlands and wildlife, better protection of water quality through improved buffers, greater aquifer recharge through improved storm water management, community-wide greenways and trails, environmentally sensitive sewage treatment and disposal. There are advantages for the developer such as an environmentally oriented marketing strategy capitalizing on the amenities which have been preserved, lower costs, faster value appreciation, a smoother review process.	Conservation Development  Designed  To Protect Open Space

Woolwich has already taken many of the steps required to make use of this kind of process designed to protect open space. We came away from the workshop with a well-written and detailed how-to-do-it manual ("Growing Greener: Putting Conservation into Local Plans and Ordinances" by Randall Arendt). We are sharing this information with the Planning Board. The Woolwich Conservation Commission and the Woolwich Planning Board are now doing joint site walks and collaborating on proposed developments in Woolwich. Workshop by Friends of Midcoast Maine www.friendsmidcoast.org	Conservation Development Continued
Revitalizing Cities and Towns Designed To Protect Open Space The "Great American Neighborhoods", as explained in a workshop by Friends of Midcoast Maine, are really the traditional compact residential neighborhoods we see around us in the older villages, towns, and small cities in Maine - such as Bath, Brunswick, Rockland and Belfast. Features of these neighborhoods are: walkability, mix of uses and community gathering places as well as identity, diversity, connection to nature, public and private space, and limited traffic and reduced reliance on the automobile. The Maine Department of Transportation (DOT) also promotes a compact neighborhood approach as told by Evan Richert in a DOT workshop.  He discusses problems of growth through sprawl and suggested concentrating housing growth in new small "villages" or neighborhoods.     The Brookings Report" Charting Maine's Future" (mentioned in the first article) ties this concept to the preservation of open space.  Think about it! FMI, see The Great American Neighborhood - A Guide to Livable Design published by the Maine State Planning Office and Grow Smart Maine.  Go to www.state.me.us/spo/landuse/pubs/ . Workshop by Friends of Midcoast Maine www.friendsmidcoast.org . .	Revitalizing Cities and Towns   Designed To Protect Open  Space
Meeting Day Change - Until further notice, the Conservation Commission will be meeting first and third Wednesdays from 6-7 pm at the Town Hall. Please join us. Our meetings are open to the public.	Meetings 1st and 3rd Wednesdays
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