MIDDLE SCHOOL RESOURCES

Sustainable Development... "Smart growth is a way to build a more sustainable community".

Some links for you: (None of these are really awesome, but the 10 principles are easy to follow...and it's way cool that the city of Portland Oregon has an office of sustainable development! )

Water Education Foundation - For Kids

Smart growth - 10 principles

Smart growth America - building better schools

Portland Oregon's Office Of Sustainable Development

E.P.A. Smart Growth Illustrated

Microclimate. What does that mean?

Propose a policy that would create an Office of Sustainable Development
This office should report directly to the Town Manager to minimize the conflicts that would be caused by putting this office under an exisiting department.

This office would be proposed through the creation of a Town Ordiance. Ordinances... what are they? Ordinances are rules that the town can vote in that support existing state laws. These are usually voted in to help protect our health, safety, and welfare; as well as to plan development and environmental protection.

Create an ordinance outlining an "Office of Sustainable Development".

NO NET LOSS!
• Open air streams (already in the comprehensive plan)
• wetlands (wetland mitigation)
• Green-space when brown space is available (only try to develop green-space that adjoins brown-space)
• pedestrian/bikeway corridors including:
- safe crosswalks
- alley conservation
- trail creation

• Develop by using existing buildings or existing developed lots...developed means that it has town infrastructure in place.

An office of sustainable development would understand the value of watershed conservation... not just stormwater management. For example, Stroubles Creek, Blacksburg's main stream, has been listed as "impaired" by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. This is due to the sediment run off caused by erosion due to poor storm water management especially during development of buildings on land. There is a group of professionals working to reverse the damage, but continued development and erosion could worsen the problem before it gets better.

Update! Cedar Run (another Blacksburg stream) which is a tributary of the Roanoke River, is now also listed on the state's impaired listing.

Only one left that is not listed as impaired, that is Tom's Creek... but it is close.