What Does Sustainable Development Mean for Your Community?

Meeting the needs of people and the environment for today and tomorrow presents different challenges for every community. There are many pathways to a sustainable future and the Lower Des Plaines Ecosystem Partnership has developed a navigation tool to assist in the journey called Green Compass: Navigating the Way to Sustainable Communities. Green Compass is a seminar designed for community decision makers and others interested in learning more about the benefits of sustainable development practices and solutions to sustainability challenges.

Information is presented by local community administrators and planners, land developers and other innovators who have developed successful strategies from broad planning initiatives to targeted community programs. Topics range from how to engage local residents in stormwater management activities to the economics of conservation development. The seminar includes Q&A sessions with presenters and opportunities to share ideas with other local community representatives.

 

  


The Lower Des Plaines
Ecosystem Partnership Presents:


logo

Registration fee is $30.00
Please register online
and bring check or cash payment
to the event.

Thursday, October 9th
9:30am - 3:30pm

Lewis University
One University Parkway, Romeoville

Seminar will take place in the Dining Hall,
adjacent to the Academin Building. Visitor parking is
available in Lot D and overflow parking in Lot C.

SEE AGENDA BELOW
REGISTER HERE

Download Brochure

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Hosted through the generosity of Lewis University

Green Compass Planning Committee
Lynn Boerman, Tom Connolly, Marcia DeVivo, Bill Eyring,
Tim Good, Jeff Mengler, Lynn Rotunno, and Linda Yunker.

  
Agenda
8:30 – 9:30:
Registration

9:30 – 9:45
Welcome

Marcia DeVivo, Chair, Lower Des Plaines Ecosystem Partnership.
Ms. DeVivo will present information on the Lower Des Plaines Ecosystem Partnership and the role watershed planning plays in sustainable development.

Brother James Gaffney, President, Lewis University. Welcome from our host.

9:45 – 10:05
The Landscape: An Overview of Sustainability Tools for Communities

Lenore Beyer-Clow, Policy Director, Openlands.
This session will cover a brief overview of sustainability concepts and discussion of some of the economic, environmental and social benefits to communities that implement sustainable development practices. Learn about planning tools and other resources that are available to assist communities. At Openlands, a regional conservation organization, Ms. Beyer-Clow manages projects to protect water quantity and quality and advocates for the protection of land and natural resources across the region.

10:05 – 10:20
The Path to Sustainability: A Community Perspective/ Green Lemont Initiative

Jim Brown, Community Development Director, Village of Lemont.
The Village of Lemont has recently developed the Green Lemont Initiative. Mr. Brown will share his experiences with beginning this sustainability effort including challenges, solutions, and some success stories. He will review important issues that should be considered during the process such as engaging stakeholders and forming partnerships to best utilize existing resources. Prior to coming to Lemont, Mr. Brown worked at Teska Associates, an urban planning and landscape architecture consulting firm based in Evanston and Plainfield.

10:20 – 10:35:
Break

10:35 – 11:05
Biodiversity Solutions for Urban Communities

Martha Dooley, Senior Landscape Planner, Village of Schaumburg.
The Village of Schaumburg has developed a Biodiversity Recovery Plan that stresses the importance of preserving natural areas within an urban environment. Major components of the planning initiative include: retrofitting developments to restore native habitat; targeting protections for high quality natural areas; and revising ordinances to encourage the protection of natural resources. Ms. Dooley will discuss the goals of the Biodiversity Recovery Plan, the philosophy behind ecological restoration and management, steps to start the process, partnership opportunities, grant funding resources, incentives for community participation, lessons learned, and planning successes. Ms. Dooley has worked with the Village of Schaumburg for 12 years. Previously, she worked with the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe and has owned a landscape business

11:05 – 11:45
The Economics of Conservation Development: A Cost Analysis

John Haugland, Environmental Protection Specialist, USEPA.
Conservation development is a key component of sustainability. However, when communities and developers are making the important decision to support conservation development, they must first address its economic feasibility. John Haugland has been an economist, planner, and environmental protection specialist for the USEPA. He has worked on ecological economics, sustainable business practices, and smart growth concepts. Mr. Haugland will begin with a brief summary of the principles and practices of conservation development. He will then discuss study information on cost comparisons between conservation development and conventional development as well as downstream economic benefits of greater on-site storage of stormwater.

11:45 – 12:30
Lunch/Networking

12:30 – 1:00
A Local Example of Conservation Development: The Sanctuary of Bull Valley in Woodstock

Jack Porter, Jack Porter & Associates, Inc.
The Sanctuary of Bull Valley in Woodstock is a 300 acre conservation development. Over 50% of the land area is restored to natural oak-hickory savannas and prairies. Development standards protect high quality ecosystems while balancing the need for economic benefits to the city. Mr. Porter will discuss the design, development and long-term management approaches for this local innovative conservation development. Mr. Porter is also Managing Partner for Conservâre, LLC, LandKeepers, LLC., and a member of the City of Woodstock Plan Commission.

1:00 – 1:40
Developing Conservation Design Ordinances

Dennis Dreher, Director of Conservation Design, Cowhey Gudmundson Leder, Ltd.
Mark Willobee, Project Engineer,
Geosyntec Consultants
Lindley Ehlert, Planner, Village of Homer Glen

This panel discussion addresses common barriers to conservation development related to ordinances and regulations. Discussion will focus on tools to address these challenges including the development of conservation ordinances and revising existing ordinances to support conservation development practices. Learn about a local example of a conservation development ordinance in Homer Glen.

1:40 – 2:15
Managing Stormwater: Best Management Practices Overview/Planning Tools and
Practical Solutions

Howard Sloan, Assistant Village Administrator, Village of Frankfort.
Mr. Sloan will present an overview of stormwater best management practices and discuss sustainable solutions that can reduce soil erosion, improve water quality and groundwater infiltration, enhance the character of communities, and improve wildlife habitat. He will also discuss how the Village of Frankfort supports stormwater BMPs through ordinances, planning initiatives and engineering principles. Mr. Sloan is the designated Floodplain Administrator for the Village of Frankfort. He oversees all engineering services for the village and is the author of the Village of Frankfort Water Resource Management Plan and Engineering Design Standards.

 

2:15 – 2:30
Break

2:30 – 3:00
Managing Community Natural Areas/Funding Tools

John White, Director of Public Works, Village of Streamwood.
The Village of Streamwood manages wetlands and other community natural areas. Mr. White will discuss long-term strategies for natural area management. He will also discuss how to establish a permanent funding source for natural area management through special service areas. Mr. White is a licensed professional engineer in Illinois and has been the Village of Streamwood Director of Public Works and Village Engineer since 1980.

3:00 – 3:25
Gaining Community Support for Sustainability Initiatives/ Conservation @ Home Program

Jim Kleinwachter, Land Preservation Specialist, Conservation Foundation.
Mr. Kleinwachter will present information on the Conservation Foundation's Conservation @ Home program. This program focuses on homeowner education and watershed protection efforts. Mr. Kleinwachter will discuss how this program can encourage residents to support community stormwater management activities. He will also discuss using conservation easements as a tool for managing public natural areas. Mr. Kleinwachter coordinates the Conservation @ Home program for the Conservation Foundation, a land and watershed protection organization. He has also worked with government agencies and private landowners to negotiate open space purchases and facilitate land donations and conservation easements.

3:25 – 3:30
The Journey Forward

Lynn Boerman, Ecosystem Administrator, Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Learn about next steps, resources and networking opportunities that are available as we move forward down the path towards a sustainable future.