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DELAWARE COUNTY LAND CONSERVANCY: PRESERVING GREEN SPACE IN DELAWARE COUNTY AND BEYOND

Land Strategies and Objectives Overview

GOALS

 

Enable communities in Delaware County, Ohio to work cohesively to achieve effective conservation

outcomes through sustainable land use practices.

 

Achieve landscape-scale ecological restoration and connectivity by identifying gaps and opportunities to protect, enhance, connect, and extend existing valuable habitats to create functional networks of green spaces.

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STRATEGIES/TASKS/ACTIONS

 

  1. Map and Describe areas of higher ecological value using the county parcel fabric for boundaries.

  2. Identify gaps and evaluate opportunities to protect, enhance, connect, and extend existing valuable habitats, conservation areas, habitat corridors, and ecological connections.

  3. Prioritize areas for intervention with landowners to place conservation or farmland easements on their land rather than sell and convex to development.

  4. Use of national and local datasets in various mapping software to determine target areas through remote sensing and then perform ground truthing or a biodiversity survey to determine ecological value for prioritization.

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As we know, this is everywhere...

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From this....

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...to this....

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Examples of Land Protected - Licking County Land Trust

  • A forested corridor along Raccoon Creek and tributaries

  • Farmland in agricultural use, including production of soybeans, corn, hay, produce, cattle, sheep, and goats

  • Farmland held by families for many generations, including “Century” farms

  • Land of historical significance along the old Ohio and Erie Canal

  • Protected greenspace adjacent to new housing developments

  • Wetlands that are important amphibian breeding grounds

  • Scenic open space bordering parks, recreation areas, and roadways

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  • The development plan calls for 155 housing units to be built on 23 acres of former cropland with a natural wetland component that feeds into the adjacent Stratford State Forest Preserve.
    High density housing development is sheer out of place in this sub rural area. Delaware township zoning code states that the township in its entirety must be low density and preserve the topography of the land, wetlands, and watersheds. High density housing would negatively impact the water quality of Stratford’s stream, wetlands, and vernal pools. The additional traffic, noise, light, and air pollution from this type of development would be detrimental to the delicate ecosystems at work within the preserve as well as to the unique species who depend on them.
     

  • We are not against development but want it developed sustainably and using ecologically appropriate methods. We want to preserve open and green space, help restore wetland, and make sure that any further development is done with regenerative, innovative, and conservation oriented practices. At a minimum, an environmental analysis, an anti degradation flow study, and an environmental impact statement should be presented prior to any development on this parcel.
     

  • Let us do everything we can to preserve and enhance the unique quality of this parcel
    a quality synonymous with Stratford State Forest Preserve itself. This 236 acre preserve has not only improved the land, water, and biodiversity, but also education and enjoyment to our residents, for which no price can be named.

PETITION TO STOP DEVELOPMENT ON LIBERTY ROAD

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