Barrington Farms

Conservation Design Features

The land plan for Barrington Farms incorporates the principles of conservation development in all aspects of the project. There are several basic themes of conservation design that run throughout. These are:

Respect the natural landscape: The topography and natural features of Barrington Farms are special amenities. The development is designed to follow natural contours, avoiding wetlands and other low areas, steep slopes, and remnant natural areas. Mass grading is kept to a minimum, thereby preserving intact large areas of native soils.
Treat water as a resource: While conventional development designs often regard water as a waste product to be disposed through pipes, a different approach is taken at Barrington Farms. Both wastewater and stormwater are "treated" with cutting-edge best management practices. The cleansed water is then returned to the landscape to recharge local aquifers while protecting sensitive wetlands and streams.
Preserve open space: Remarkably, well over 50 percent of the project site is preserved as functional open space. The open space plan is intended to preserve existing view sheds along township roadways and to link proposed neighborhoods via trails and corridors, to the benefit and enjoyment of new and existing residents. Not only are wetlands protected, meeting and exceeding the standards of the County ordinance, irreplaceable woodlands, savannas, and buffer zones also are preserved in perpetuity.
Enhance and restore natural areas: While most developers are satisfied with protecting natural areas in their existing state, this development proposes to substantially enhance and restore existing degraded wetlands and woodlands. Such enhancement improves the scenic beauty of the property, restores habitat for wildlife, and boosts the diversity of native plants.
Manage sustainability for the long-term: It is the intent of this development to maintain the long-term viability of water systems, open space, and natural areas for future residents, without burdening existing tax payers. To accomplish this, progressive institutional and funding arrangements, including homeowner's association covenants and special service areas, are being developed and put into place.

In summary, the Barrington Farms project incorporates the following Best Management Practices to achieve true conservation design:

Preservation of wetlands, woodlands, buffers and depressions: over 57% open space
Clustering of residential neighborhoods to minimize soil disturbance and reduce impervious areas
Reduced street widths
Natural landscaping
Land application of treated wastewater
Swales and bio-swales to filter and infiltrate runoff, where allowed
Naturalized stormwater detention to store, filter, and recharge treated runoff
Restoration and enhancement of degraded woodlands and wetlands
Assured long-term management of natural areas

In conclusion, the Barrington Farms plan provides a new, cutting-edge model for conservation based residential projects in McHenry County and the broader region. The proposed land plan and project design have been informed by several cutting-edge resources, including:

Conservation Concepts for Development, developed by McHenry County Soil and Water Conservation District;
Guiding Development to Protect Our Natural Resources developed by the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission and referenced in its recent 2040 Regional Framework Plan;
Sustainable Development Principles for Protecting Nature in the Chicago Wilderness Region, prepared by the Campaign for Sensible Growth and Chicago Wilderness; and
Conservation Development in Practice, developed through the Nature Conservancy and Chicago Wilderness.

Summer 2006
	A Conservation Planned Community Conservation Design Features The land plan for Barrington Farms incorporates the principles of conservation development in all aspects of the project. There are several basic themes of conservation design that run throughout. These are: Respect the natural landscape: The topography and natural features of Barrington Farms are special amenities. The development is designed to follow natural contours, avoiding wetlands and other low areas, steep slopes, and remnant natural areas. Mass grading is kept to a minimum, thereby preserving intact large areas of native soils. Treat water as a resource: While conventional development designs often regard water as a waste product to be disposed through pipes, a different approach is taken at Barrington Farms. Both wastewater and stormwater are "treated" with cutting-edge best management practices. The cleansed water is then returned to the landscape to recharge local aquifers while protecting sensitive wetlands and streams. Preserve open space: Remarkably, well over 50 percent of the project site is preserved as functional open space. The open space plan is intended to preserve existing view sheds along township roadways and to link proposed neighborhoods via trails and corridors, to the benefit and enjoyment of new and existing residents. Not only are wetlands protected, meeting and exceeding the standards of the County ordinance, irreplaceable woodlands, savannas, and buffer zones also are preserved in perpetuity. Enhance and restore natural areas: While most developers are satisfied with protecting natural areas in their existing state, this development proposes to substantially enhance and restore existing degraded wetlands and woodlands. Such enhancement improves the scenic beauty of the property, restores habitat for wildlife, and boosts the diversity of native plants. Manage sustainability for the long-term: It is the intent of this development to maintain the long-term viability of water systems, open space, and natural areas for future residents, without burdening existing tax payers. To accomplish this, progressive institutional and funding arrangements, including homeowner's association covenants and special service areas, are being developed and put into place. In summary, the Barrington Farms project incorporates the following Best Management Practices to achieve true conservation design: Preservation of wetlands, woodlands, buffers and depressions: over 57% open space Clustering of residential neighborhoods to minimize soil disturbance and reduce impervious areas Reduced street widths Natural landscaping Land application of treated wastewater Swales and bio-swales to filter and infiltrate runoff, where allowed Naturalized stormwater detention to store, filter, and recharge treated runoff Restoration and enhancement of degraded woodlands and wetlands Assured long-term management of natural areas In conclusion, the Barrington Farms plan provides a new, cutting-edge model for conservation based residential projects in McHenry County and the broader region. The proposed land plan and project design have been informed by several cutting-edge resources, including: Conservation Concepts for Development, developed by McHenry County Soil and Water Conservation District; Guiding Development to Protect Our Natural Resources developed by the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission and referenced in its recent 2040 Regional Framework Plan; Sustainable Development Principles for Protecting Nature in the Chicago Wilderness Region, prepared by the Campaign for Sensible Growth and Chicago Wilderness; and Conservation Development in Practice, developed through the Nature Conservancy and Chicago Wilderness.