Articles | Case Studies | Concept Tour

In 1996, when the Countryside Program began, we recognized that the best way to help communities, developers, and citizens understand the benefits of Conservation Development was to show them real, successful projects. At the time, local projects mostly fell far short of the quantity and quality of open space we expect in a conservation development, and so we supplemented the couple that met our standards with examples from Illinois and Wisconsin. Six years later, we have a database of 25 local residential development projects that meet our minimum standard of 40% open space. Our “cluster” of exemplary development is significant enough to be attracting attention from other parts of the state and larger region. In August, I helped give a tour to a group of 40 visitors from the Miami Valley area; in October the Summit County Planning Commission and Soil and Water District are sponsoring a tour; and we have had interest from those in the Toronto area as well.

With all this interest and activity, I thought I would take a moment to introduce our readers to three of our most recent, most promising conservation development projects. As you will see if you visit them, each project has its own distinct, separate character, largely determined by its location and the underlying density of the homes that is provided. And yet each one goes much farther than conventional development in providing a high quality connection to natural space in the development, and reducing stormwater, visual and vegetation impacts on the environment.

Rolling Meadows, located off route 82 in Hiram Township, Portage County, is our lowest density project with 23 lots on 91 acres (3.9 acres per unit). Landscape Architect Craig Cawrse has worked out a plan which conserves 50 acres (55%) of rolling farmland at the front of the project, and a thickly wooded riparian zone along Silver Creek running through its middle. Careful attention has been given to siting of lots and roads to maximize the open, pastoral effect of the landscape, and to shield homes from view. Developer Mike Maschek is building most of the homes on the property, so a consistent quality and architectural style is provided. As the project is located in a nonsewered area, Mr. Maschek worked with the County health District to provide some of the individual leachfields in the common open space. This approach maximized the flexibility of the layout of the development. As can be expected, this project falls into the higher price range, with lots selling for over $60,000 and homes for over $300,000.

Wakefield Run, located at the corner of Broradview and Boston Roads in Hinckley Township, Medina County, is a larger project with 163 homes on 325 acres (2.0 acres per unit overall). By dedicating half of the homes as single family cluster type, and putting the homes on a range of lot sizes from ¼ to 1 acre, developer Petros Homes was able to set aside 211 acres, or 65%, as permanent open space which will be protected by a conservation easement. This arrangement will provide a large buffer for the East branch of the Rocky River, which runs across the bottom of the property. In the middle to high price range, homes are selling from $190,000 to 320,000. The project has available sewer and water.

Lexington Ridge, off Wadsworth Road in Montville Township, Medina County, represents a group of new projects in the area with moderate densities and a more moderate price range. Although providing 192 typical single family cluster or standard single family homes on 137 acres (1.4 units/acre), 43% of the land is set aside as open space. The project is well designed to provide good visual access to the open space throughout the project. Central sewer and water are provided. Ken Cleveland Builders is the developer, and Cunningham and Associates are the engineers/site designers. Home prices range from _______________ to ________________.

To conclude, I’d like to mention that we have an additional 50 projects on our “research list”, that have been identified as having open space. As we evaluate them they will either find a place with the group that meet our standards, or those that are at least worth noting. The evidence is in that Northeast Ohio is meeting with success in the implementation of conservation development. We hope that the trend continues – and that Countryside can continue to work with developers and communities in improving the quality of development in suburban and rural areas.