The Center for Planning Research and Practice - The Countryside Program

Balancing Conservation and Development

Case Studies: Hidden Creek at the Darby

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Hidden Creek at the Darby (Robin Green, developer), a residential development located in West Jefferson, Ohio is an example of a Conservation Development in which design and construction focused on creating an environmentally sensitive development. Of its 604 acres, approximately 45%, or 270 acres, are preserved as open space. A 1-1/2 mile stretch of the Little Darby, a National wild and scenic river, runs through the property. Wetlands and meadows were preserved and constructed in order to filter and divert stormwater run-off from roadways and home sites. Due to the carefully designed wetlands, no stormwater run-off from the development will directly enter the Little Darby.

Efforts were made to leave trees and vegetation in place in order to maintain optimal temperatures for aquatic life indigenous to the riparian corridor. Native plantings of trees and other vegetation were part of the overall management of the project. Prairie burns will be practiced as part of a prairie management program in fields and meadows that were previously farmed. Trails that meander through the protected open space are managed as mowed grass in order to reduce soil erosion and increase water filtration processes.

A 230 acre nature preserve area is under a conservation easement so it will remain as protected open space in perpetuity.

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