Saturday, January 12, 2008
Just any easement won't make the city green
From the RoundTable blog
Read the latest entries
Gail Burruss
Burruss lives in Roanoke and is a spokeswoman for the Mill Mountain Conservancy.
A conservation easement on Carvins Cove is a fine thing, but the timing is interesting. As a result of supporting this easement, Valley Forward and some Roanoke City Council members seek to acquire "green credentials" as advocates for the environment. The timing coincides with Valley Forward's very ungreen proposal to develop a large commercial structure and additional parking on Roanoke's premiere greenfield, Mill Mountain Park.
Carvins Cove, as a primary city water source, is among the most protected land in Western Virginia -- without an easement. Until a few years ago, mountain biking was not allowed and hikers encountered "no trespassing" signs from the Bennett Springs access road. Those who use the cove for recreational purposes must acquire a permit.
While the easement on Carvins Cove is an additional and welcome measure of protection, it is not, unlike Mill Mountain, a target for development. Green credentials cannot be ascribed to anyone as a result of supporting a conservation easement on the cove.
Valley Forward also presents its support of local greenways as further evidence of its green credentials. Being green is about more than greenways. It is inconsistent to proclaim green credentials while seeking to undermine the natural environment of Mill Mountain Park.
Valley Forward has promised Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification for the proposed development. LEED is a point-based system through which projects earn points for satisfying specific green building criteria in each of six categories. The first category is site selection, with the stated intent of avoiding development of inappropriate sites. The LEED manual for new construction states: "Do not develop buildings, hardscapes, roads or parking areas on portions of sites that meet ... the following criteria: ... Land which prior to acquisition was public parkland."
LEED's manual for new construction also states: "Channel new development to urban areas with existing infrastructure; protect greenfields, and preserve habitat and natural resources." Valley Forward's proposal would do none of these things.
I contacted one of the Rockledge proposal's architects to ask questions about the proposed parking lot. Valley Forward's second proposal eliminated the parking garage contained in its first proposal, but the alternative is equally distasteful. About a third of the beautiful hill that flows from the picnic shelter to the existing parking lot would be sliced and regraded to a 22-degree slope, and 4-foot retaining walls would be built to keep the sides intact. Again, this is not consistent with the intent of LEED.
Even if Valley Forward's proposal could achieve LEED certification despite the inappropriate site, the spirit of environmental stewardship promoted by the U.S. Green Building Council, which developed and administers LEED certification, can never be achieved by commercial development on Mill Mountain Park.
I encourage Valley Forward to redirect its energy to a project that holds real promise of achieving its objectives. Gregg Lewis, a young professional, LEED-certified architect, recommends consideration of developing something similar to the Rockledge proposal in the Gainsboro area. The Patrick Henry Hotel could once again be a prominent feature of a thriving downtown. There are several sites adjacent to the Roanoke River, near the Carilion biomedical complex, where a well-designed LEED-certified restaurant would be a tremendous asset. Diners could look up at Mill Mountain and praise Roanoke's forward-thinking refusal to commercialize it.
I encourage Roanoke City Council to refuse further consideration of any development proposals until the following recommendation from the Mill Mountain Management Plan has been acted upon:
"The time is now ripe to develop and implement a sound management plan for Mill Mountain Park -- one that is consistent with the emerging concept of the sustainable park and respectful of the unique features of this urban oasis. With the development of a clear vision for the park and the enumeration of the management strategies needed to accomplish it, Mill Mountain Park will continue to be a unique and cherished presence in the City of Roanoke for the generations to come."
City council approved the Mill Mountain Management Plan less than two years ago and incorporated it as an addendum to the city's comprehensive plan. Both of these documents reflect public sentiment for keeping the mountain green. They should not be ignored.
