Design Portfolio by Mike Conover

MIKE CONOVER Design Portfolio

OBJECTIVES TO ENGAGE AND EMPOWER PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH PARTICIPATORY DESIGN PROCESSES TO DESIGN AND CREATE BEAUTIFUL, PRODUCTIVE, AND ECOLOGICALLY-SOUND SPACES WHERE HUMANS AND NON-HUMAN ANIMALS THRIVE TOGETHER TO CO-CREATE A MORE RESILIENT REGIONAL FOOD ECONOMY BASED ON REGENERATIVE FARMING PRACTICES THAT RESTORE DEGRADED LANDSCAPES AND MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE

DESIGN APPROACH Listen to what wants to be. Context will provide clues: climatic, topographical, geological, hydrological, ecological, historical, social. Look to ecological systems for inspiration and guidance. Functioning ecosystems are the pinnacle of 3.8 billion years of trial and error, aka evolution. Align with the processes of life. Life wants to grow and thrive. Let’s work with it. Incorporate plants and design elements that serve multiple functions. Populate landscapes with food and medicine. Work with native plants. They are already well adapted to a bioregion’s soil and climatic conditions and have mutualistic relationships with local wildlife species. Make use of existing resources on site: the soils, sun, water, stone, structures. Partner with trees to sequester carbon and mitigate climate change. Work with the process of ecological succession. Nothing is static in nature. Look to other cultures, past and present, for examples of more harmonious relationships with the nonhuman world.

Ginkgo biloba

PAST WORK Creating a Productive Homestead in W. Massachusetts

Emerson Trinity Ecovillage 10 Residential Detail Designs 14 Master Plan for the Town of Bernardston

Photography 22 ResumĂŠ 26

Cover image: Thuja plicata (western red cedar)

CREATING A PRODUCTIVE HOMESTEAD IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS A Suitability Analysis and Site Design vision A beautiful and productive homestead in Plainfield, Massachusetts, where the Morrow family can grow their own food, work with draft animal power, raise sheep, and plant a fruit orchard. This project involved working with the Morrow family, who had recently purchased 25 acres of land in Western Massachusetts and who were planning on creating a passive-solar homestead for themselves. I worked with them over the span of four months, helping them articulate their vision and goals for the land. We then developed criteria to ensure their goals would be met. After surveying the site and creating a topographical basemap of existing conditions, I performed several site analyses, mapped them out, developed conceptual designs, and created a detailed design and planting plan.

Aerial photo

old well

p o nd

project goals

upper

field

2. Site a three-bedroom, passive solar house.

m i xe d forest ut i l i t

3. Site and determine optimal layout for farm outbuildings.

·· A workshop ·· A small barn to house at least five large animals ·· A separate sheep barn ·· A large barn

large upper field

·· A high tunnel ·· A greenhouse ·· 1/4 acre of farm plots ·· Wood storage 4. Determine the best access route between the upper and lower fields.

field

s ma l l

Assess the full property to determine the optimal location for the homestead.

low e r 2 2

ad hill ro west

Existing Conditions map

y l i ne

s to ne wa l l s

site analyses

Slopes

Soils

Solar exposure at winter equinox

Legal constraints

summary analysis

Access and views

homestead concepts

Ease of access to the large upper field, solar exposure, flatter slopes, and location of prime farmland emerge as critical criteria for determining the optimal location for the homestead.

Summary Analysis map

Best location for homestead

CREATING A PRODUCTIVE HOMESTEAD IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS Final Site Plan

6 5 1

CONCEPT DETAIL PAGE 8

1 biodiverse orchard polyculture This field is planted with a wide diversity of apple trees for cider production, interspersed with multifunctional plants such as nitrogen-fixing shrubs, nutrient accumulators, and pollinator and beneficial insect attractors to support a productive orchard ecosystem. Nut trees such as chestnut, oak, shagbark hickory, and pecan rise above the fruit trees at the northern end of the field, and provide yields of high quality protein for generations. Four parallel paths provide access through the orchard for a cart, tractor, or truck.

4 grazing pasture

and hay production The animals are rotated through the pasture on a regular basis through the late spring, summer, and early fall, improving the pastureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fertility. The areas that are not grazed are hayed for winter feed.

5 sustainable forestry 2 windbreak creates protected

microclimate A windbreak of coniferous trees planted 100 feet to the north of the homestead protects the space from cold winter winds from the north and northwest. Because it redirects the wind, it also reduces the snowfall on buildings. An unpaved farm road travels through a gap in the windbreak and connects the homestead to the orchard in the smaller upper field. 3 homestead centrally located

in large upper field The homestead is centrally located within the large field and sits at the northern end of the flatter land. An access easement is created in agreement with the neighboring family so the driveway can be accessed from the west. All buildings have full solar exposure year round. Deciduous trees are strategically planted through the site to provide shade when it is most needed during the summer, and letting in the warm sunlight during the winter once the leaves have dropped. An edible landscape encompasses and permeates the home space, which abounds with fruit trees, nut and berry-producing bushes, and perennial garden beds, Farm plots to the south of the buildings are planted on contour. The rest of the flattest section in that field (5-10%) is left open for pasture, haying, and potential future farming plots.

and forest farming The forest is managed for forest health and firewood is harvested sustainably to ensure long-term ecosystem function while still meeting fuel needs. Mushrooms such as shiitakes, oysters, and lionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mane are inoculated into hardwood logs, which continually produce highly nutritious mushrooms for years. Maple trees are seasonally tapped for syrup and a ginseng crop slowly matures on the forest floor to provide a potent medicinal plant and a highly valuable crop to help offset the cost of the future barn.

6 ram pasture The lower field is home to a ram, who is rotated through the field on a regular basis. The field is accessible by foot from the upper fields through the forest or down the powerline easement route. When vehicular access is needed, the field is entered from West Hill Road.

CREATING A PRODUCTIVE HOMESTEAD IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS Concept Detail: Homestead Layout

A’

sheep barn covered area

4 2

shop

house

carport

future barn kitchen garden

yard

windbreak

barn

future turn out paddock barn high tunnel

turn out paddock

farm plots

semi-dwarf fruit trees

A 5 0

FARM PLOTS

HEADLANDS

SECTION A-A’

STRAWBERRIES & RASPBERRIES

HIGH-TUNNEL

GREENHOUSE

patio

pergola

SHOP

10 20 30

WOOD PILE

DRIVEWAY

1 entrance from west

& north

The gravel driveway curves in from the western access road and splits in two, one route curving towards the carport to the southwest of the house and the other towards the farm space to the east of the house. A few scattered deciduous and evergreen trees and a hazelnut hedge along the driveway screen the view to the neighbor’s house and create a sense of privacy.

2 a connected passive solar house

and workshop create a warm home space The layout of house, shop, and barn creates a protected microclimate and a defined home space for a small yard, kitchen gardens, and patio. The house is oriented towards the south for passive solar heating, reducing the amount of firewood needed to heat the house and making for a bright and sunny home environment. A small mowed yard lies to the south as a open play space, surrounded by meadow grasses and wildflowers. Rainwater from the roof is captured in a 3,000-gallon cistern beneath the patio and is used to irrigate fruit trees, kitchen gardens, and farm plots when needed.

3 abundance right outside the

kitchen door Just beyond the patio, edible, medicinal, and multi-functional perennial plants intermingle, creating a thriving edible ecosystem. A cluster of semi-dwarf fruit trees provide a bounty of fresh fruit through the summer. Seedlings are started early in the spring in a small 8’x12’ greenhouse tucked into the garden beds, and a larger high tunnel provides fresh greens through the winter and heat-loving crops through the summer.

4 central farm space The shop, barn, and sheep barn all open up to a central farm area, lined with gravel and encircling a 25-foot-wide green space planted with a large downy serviceberry in the center. A future larger barn will further create this space, and with an east-west orientation will be passively heated by the sun through the winter. It also will offer a prime space for solar photovoltaic panels or a solar hot water system, should either be desired in the future. A 10’x30’ covered area at the southern end of the sheep barn receives solar exposure through the winter. The barn is oriented north to south and designed to be drive-through. Farm plots to the south are accessible through the barn or by a path that curves around the western side of the barn. The barn features a 60’x70’ turn-out paddock for the animals to the southeast of the barn. The barn and a small windbreak create a warm microclimate in the winter and a large linden to the south of the paddock provides shade in the summer. 5 draft powered farmland Four garden plots, 24’x48’ or 24’x60’, lie parallel to each other with a 20’ buffer on both ends for the oxen turn-around. The fields are alternated between production and lying fallow, during which they are cover-cropped. A chicken tractor is sized to allow for a regular rotation around the crop fields. For example, a 6’x3’ chicken tractor rotated every day through a 24’x48’ field would have occupied the whole field after 64 days.

EMERSON TRINITY ECOVILLAGE Concept Design for NE Emerson St.

The Emerson Trinity Ecovillage is a concept design for a resilient, eco-conscious community in the King neighborhood of NE Portland. Site development: Zone R2: Residential 2,000 5 additional dwelling units: 2656 sq ft 3 “detached bedrooms”: 360 sq ft 2 community buildings: 600 sq ft

Two basic unit prototypes, each at a modest scale. All homes feature optional elements to provide uniqueness.

B A

N 0’ 5’ 10’

20’

40’

Concept design created in collaboration with Mark Lakeman and Communitecture

community features A • Two community buildings with a root cellar and commercial kitchen • Outdoor community gathering spaces • Play areas for kids • Parking: 5 total spaces, (2 ADA, 3 car shares) B • Bike parking corrals (2)

sustainable development

• Solar orientation of all buildings, with south-facing windows • Photovoltaic systems and solar hot water • Small scale greywater systems in each unit • Rainwater catchment on all structures • Permeable pavement for parking and all paths

food production and ecological design • Edible landscape of fruit and nut trees and shrubs • Perennial polycultures, fruit tree guilds, and medicinal herbs C • Intensive annual garden beds • Plantings and habitat elements, such as nest boxes, to support local wildlife and pollinator species • Edible mushroom cultivation • On site composting • Garden shed

EMERSON TRINITY ECOVILLAGE Max Buildout Scenario

NOTE: This is not the recommended density. It is only provided to illustrate the max development potential (while showing only very modestly scaled eco-dwelling units at 504 and 640 sq ft). Site development: 8 additional dwelling units: 4168 sq ft 5 “detached bedrooms”: 540 sq ft 1 community building: 300 sq ft

0’ 5’ 10’

20’

40’

Concept design created in collaboration with Mark Lakeman and Communitecture

plant palette of edible, medicinal, and native plants The ma jority of plants at Emerson Trinity Ecovillage are edible and/or medicinal, providing fresh, nutrient-dense foods and medicinal herbs for the community. The community strives toward increased resiliency and a netpositive ecological impact. Trees, shrubs, perennials, and herbs are planted in guildsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;groups of plants that work symbiotically together as self sufficient polycultures, where plants provide beneficial ecological functions as well as food and medicine. Yarrow, Oregon grape, calendula, and columbine attract and benefit pollinators for example, while comfrey draws up nutrients and minerals from deep in the soil and makes it bio-available to other plants.

trees

shrubs

Asian Pear Chestnut Fig Ginkgo Hawthorn Mulberry Paw paw Pear Persimmon Plum

Aronia Blueberry Elderberry Goumi Hazelnut Huckleberry Oregon grape Sea buckthorn

perennials

Asparagus Columbine Comfrey Grape Lavender Ostrich fern Raspberry Rhubarb Sunchoke

herbs

Calendula Fennel Oregano Peppermint Rosemary Sweet cicely Thyme Yarrow

CHESTNUT

ELDERBERRY

FIG

GRAPE

PAW PAW

PLUM

RASPBERRY

SEA BUCKTHORN

RESIDENTIAL DETAIL DESIGN **THIS SOIL IN THIS CORNER IS LIKELY CONTAMINATED WITH VERTICIULM WILT ** TREAT THIS AREA SEPARATELY. DISPOSE OF ALL SOIL REMOVED FROM HERE. DO NOT SPREAD OR REUSE ON SITE. CLEAN AND DISINFECT SHOVELS AND SAW IN 10% BLEACH SOLUTION AFTER REMOVING THE TREE AND SHOVELING HERE

30 SQ FT WOODCHIPPED AREA (CEDAR HOG FUEL) OVER WEED FABRIC

ADD 2X6 BENEATH EXISTING FENCE TO FILL GAP (8'8")

SWORD FERN 2 HONEYBERRIES

TRANSPLANTED RHOD. 5'-1"

1 GOOSEBERRY

5'x 5' PLAY STRUCTURE 2' OFF PROP LINE

'KANZAN' FLOWERING CHERRY MONKEY BARS

5'-1 3/4" /4"

5'x

12'-6" 10'-7 1/2"

TRANSPLANTED RHOD.

ROCK WALL

PRUNE SIDE OF HEDGE 5'-5 3/4"

LADDER

28' STEEL EDGING

140 SQ FT PLANTING BED 7'-6"

8'-8 3/4"

2X4 JUNIPER EDGE FOR WOODCHIPPED AREA - 16'

2 HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRIES

EX. LAWN

2-BlBr

30 WOODLAND STRAWBERRIES AS GROUNDCOVER

RAISED BED 25' PLASTIC EDGING AROUND PAVERS

ACCENT BOULDERS THROUGHOUT

12'-0"

12' STEEL EDGING

7'-6"

8'-0"

60 SQ FT WOODCHIPPED AREA (CEDAR HOG FUEL) OVER WEED FABRIC

230 SQ FT PATIO OF 24'" CHARCOAL M.M. GLACIER SLATE ARCH SLABS - (61)

2'-3"

RAISED BED

RAISED BED x

3 SWEETBOX

ORDERED 7 1'x2' SLABS FOR HERE

2'-3"

11'-4"

xcx

30' PLASTIC EDGING 3 SWEETBOX

12' EDGING

HVAC

GAS

SINGLE ROW OF ARCH SLABS CONTINUE DOWN SIDE OF HOUSE UNTIL LANDING AREA AT FENCE - *SEE ADDITIONAL PAGE FOR DETAIL* - OFFSET PATTERN - 18 ARCH SLABS - APPROX 116 SQ FT

H2O

HOUSE

9 ARCH SLABS USED AROUND GATE TO CREATE A 6'X6' LANDING WHERE THE GATE OPENS TO THE SIDE YARD

intent Simple and beautiful outdoor living space with childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s play area and food production.

OLD EXISTING PAVERS FROM BACKYARD USED TO CREATE A LEVEL SURFACE FOR THE TRASH AND RECYCLING BINS x

LIGHT BOX E BOX DS

OUTLET SwFn

HVAC EX WALL 1' 11"

SwFn

3-SwFn

SwFn

SeSu RdCo AGMa 4-PrRo SeSu

RdCo

CrMa 3-PrRo

CrMa

RdCo RdCo

4-BlFl

12-WoTh

15-WoTh

RdCo

EX S FERN

SeSu

EX LAWN

SwFn SwFn

SeSu RdCo AGMa

EXPANDED LAWN

RdCo

CrMa

6-CaPo 19-Yarr

5-APCh CrMa

EX RED OAK CrMa

2-PrRo

SeSu

BOULDERS EMBEDDED INTO SLOPE TO CREATE PLANTING POCKETS: 8 1-MAN BOULDERS 3 2-MAN BOULDERS

CrMa

5-CaPo

CrMa SeSu SeSu

6-PrRo

CrMa RdCo

SeSu

RdCo APCh

RETAINMENT USING 9 3'x3'x3' CAMAS GREY BOULDERS 10-SaMG

RdCo

3-EvHuck

CrMa

8-CaPo 7-BlFl

RdCo

CrMa RdCo

AGMa CrMa

3 FLAT TOPPED BOULDERS FOR SITTING

RdCo

SeSu

CrMa

5-PrRo

CrMa

CrMa CrMa

AGMa

EX HUCK

SeSu

CrMa

8-WoTh 2-SaMG

EX NAN

12-Yarr

EX HUCK

EvHuck

EX PEAR 5-PrRo 17-BlFl

*SLOPE NOT TO 1 EXCEED 1:3 EXISTING BREAK

EXISTING FENCE

EX NAN

22-Yarr

SHED

NEW SLOP FILL

intent

EXISTING SOIL CUT FILL

EXCAVATE UNTIL LEVEL WITH EXISTING BOULDER - "0" AND FINE GRADE FOR LAWN

Retain slope with drought tolerant plants, focusing on natives.

LINE OF 3'X3'X3' CAMAS GREY BOULDERS

BOULDER SLOPE SECTION

Planting Plan BACK 1/4"

BREWER

Drawn by: M. Conover Date: 171030

4124 SW Dakota St Portland, OR 97221

SCALE: 1/4" = 1'

design

EX JASMINE

3' PATH: HERRINGBONE PAVERS /GRAVEL /BLUESTONE

EX CEDAR

3" PERF ADS PIPE

WRAPPED IN FILTER FABRIC 9"-12"

POTENTIAL FUTURE GARAGE EXPANSION

DSD

2" DRAIN ROCK

4"-6" DRAIN ROCK

3'-0 1/4"

LEAVE EX. BLEEDING HEART 4'-6"

'-0

EX NANDINA

PIPING FROM DOWNSPOUT INTEGRATED WITH EXISTING RAIN BARREL: OVERFLOW FROM RAIN BARREL TO RAIN GARDEN

DSD

SITTABLE BOULDER

GARAGE

FRENCH DRAIN DETAIL

EX. PER

SITTABLE BOULDERS

DSD

FIREPIT AREA W/ CLUB CHAIRS

GATE IN NEW FENCE

DECK CUT AT 45ยบ ANGLE AND STEPPED DOWN TO GROUND LEVEL WITH PLATFORM STEPS AND HAND RAILS

DSD

'-0

VANCOUVER BAY 2' X 1' CONCRETE ARCH. SLAB PATIO (ALL CUTS @ 45ยบ)

RESIDENTIAL DETAIL DESIGN

16 '-3

11 5/ 8"

-1

5'-0"

BENCH RETAINED ON N. AND W. SIDE OF DECK FOR A BREAKFAST NOOK

EXISTING TABLE MOVED TO DECK

55 SQ FT RAIN GARDEN INFILTRATES WATER FROM 3 DOWNSPOUTS

OUTLET OUT SLOPE INTO ALLEY

Transform backyard into a beautiful, outdoor living space and improve site drainage by making use of rainwater.

intent

NEW 6' TALL 42' LATERAL FENCE INSTALLED

EX CEDAR

5-BlSu

SwFn RdCo

RdCo

BlBr

Lup Lup Lup

LEAVE EX. BLEEDING HEART

GARAGE

JAP STEWARTIA: PLANT SLIGHTLY ABOVE GRADE- 2-3"

StJa

DSD

RdCo

SwFn

5-WiSt

EvHuck

SwFn

3-RdCo

DrFn Lup

EX NANDINA

50-BrBu

DrFn JaSt

DrFn

EX. PER

StJa

DSD

Lup

17-WiSt

DSD

84-BrBu

BlSu

Lup Lup

8-WiSt

Lir

ArFi

Lir

6-WiSt

DrFn

11-SeOa

BlSu

BlSu Lup

13-BEGr

Lir

Lup Croc

AuFn

EvHuck

SwFn

ArFi

AuFn DrFn

AuFn

DrFn

RdCo

DrFn

GrAr

3-Croc

SwFn

ArFi

ViMa

MASTER PLAN FOR THE TOWN OF BERNARDSTON As part of a team of five, I wrote a full Master Plan for the town of Bernardston, a rural town of about 2,100 people and 23 square miles in Western Massachusetts. The whole project spanned two years. In Phase I a team of three graduate students helped town residents articulate a vision for Bernardston and determine their primary goals. The team then completed the Introduction, Goals and Vision, Watershed Protection, Natural and Cultural Resources, and Land Use elements of the master plan, with accompanying recommendations. In Phase II, another student and I picked up where the first team left off and completed the Housing, Transportation, Services and Facilities, and Economic Development elements. We provided additional recommendations, and integrated these with the initial team’s recommendations. I was responsible for the Economic Development and Transportation elements.

Bernardston Town Hall

The project involved working closely with the Master Plan Steering Committee, facilitating multiple community meetings, conducting stakeholder interviews, and synthesizing information from a variety of local and regional studies and reports. In its entirety, the Master Plan comprised over 230 pages and concluded with recommendations for the town spanning the next several decades.

The western Massachusetts town of Bernardston, in northern Franklin County, has rolling forested hills, a rich agricultural history, and a rural character that many of its residents value. This master plan makes recommendations for how Bernardston can develop sustainably and with resilience in the face of a changing climate. The recommendations focus on the residents' goals to maintain the town's rural character, create a vibrant central village, and foster sustainable economic development. They also look to strengthen the sense of community and protect the ecological integrity of the town’s landscape. The plan includes chapters on watershed protection, natural and cultural resources, land use, housing, transportation, services, and economic development.

Initial community meetings revealed that Bernardston’s primary goals are to:

Master Plan

for the Town of Bernardston, Massachusetts

1. Preserve its rural character 2. Create a vibrant central village 3. Foster sustainable economic development

The Conway School is the only institution of its kind in North America. Its focus is sustainable landscape planning and design and its graduates are awarded a Master of Science in Ecological Design degree. Each year, through its accredited, ten-month graduate program students from diverse backgrounds are immersed in a range of real-world design projects, ranging from sites to cities to regions. Graduates play signiﬁcant professional roles in various aspects of landscape planning and design.

The Conway School

Fix what’s broken. Save what works. Design the future!

2015 - 2016

Hillary Collins, Mike Conover, Warren Lee, Rachel Lindsay, and Kate O'Brien

Number of vehicles travelling through Bernardston

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A significant number of vehicles travel through Bernardston with I-91 by far the most heavily travelled road in town.

¦ ¨ § 91

Bridges All the bridges in the Commonwealth that meet National Bridge Inventory (NBI) criteria are logged by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. These are publicly owned highway bridges longer than twenty feet, excluding pedestrian bridges, rail bridges, and bridges that have been closed for more than ten years. Bridges that do not meet these criteria are not eligible for federal bridge replacement funding. Fifteen bridges in Bernardston meet this criteria, twelve of which are functional and three of which were identified as being structurally deficient in FRCOG’s 2016 Regional Transportation Plan. Bridges are currently monitored every two years using the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) rating system.

Used town records and GIS mapping to plot all the bridges in town and their condition.

According to the 2009 Town of Bernardston Community Development Plan, for a bridge to be eligible for reconstruction it must have an AASHTO rating of less than 75 and for a bridge to be eligible for replacement, it must have an AASHTO rating of less than 50.

There are four bridges with AASHTO ratings under 75, one of which is under 50:

Route 5 over Shattuck Brook was rated a 15.8 and was rated structurally deficient.

Hoe Shop Road over Water Falls River was rated 63.4.

Route 10 over I-91 was rated 66.49 and was rated structurally deficient.

Route 10 over the railroad track was rated 74.

¦ ¨ § 91

Routes 5 and 10 are state roads so maintaining them is the responsibility of the state. The bridge over the Falls River is owned by the town and so this bridge should be monitored and repaired as needed.

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5 £ ¤

10 £ ¤

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AASHTO ratings above 75 Credit: Rachel Lindsay

AASHTO ratings between 50 - 75 AASHTO ratings below 50 Center Village

The historical stone arch bridge that crosses the Falls River was built in 1846 and is still in use today. 116

Credit: Bill Montiglio

Beyond passenger travel, railways play a significant role in regional freight shipping. Shipping freight by rail rather than by trucks reduces traffic congestion,

BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

greenhouse gases, and impacts to pavement, and can be more cost effective for some industries (FRCOG, 2013).

just to the west of the rail siding, is currently undeveloped but if developed, an agreement to use the rail siding in the adjacent parcel could be explored (FRCOG, 2013).

Rail Sidings Rail sidings are essentially access points to the rail line where train cars can be removed from the main track in order to load or unload freight. There are two rail sidings in Bernardston. FRCOG’s 2013 Rail Sidings Inventory Report for Franklin County provided an inventory for Bernardston’s sidings.

The second siding is located in the southeast of town at 472 Northfield Road where the CaroVail and Feed Commodities International Inc. facilities are located. It is in working order and both companies use it for freight transport (CaroVail, 2016).

The first is located at 31 Kringle Way, where Kringle Candle’s facility is currently located. It is not being used by Kringle and is adjacent to the Priority Development Site to the east of I-91. PDS 1, which lies

MassDOT estimates that the number of freight shipments will double over the next thirty years. Because of this, the ability to access the rail for freight shipping may be considered an important asset in the coming decades (FRCOG, 2016)

Rail Sidings in Bernardston

122

BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

7 TRANSPORTATION

Bridges

2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

Documenting the details of the railroad that runs through town, including the location and condition of rail sidings.

The railroad through town

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River Street

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Eden Trail

Nor thfield Road

Nelson Drive

C r o s s S t re e t

e Road

Main Road

Str eet

M ou

Dean

Road

pl ig

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r D e po t S t School

ad ter R o

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Street No r th f i e l d R o ad

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Har wood Dr ive

Chur ch

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Nor th M errifield Road

t r y Stree

D rive

St r

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h o olhouse

ik e

Road

Miller s Falls Road

S ou Cobb

Rail Service A railroad currently owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts runs through the southern portion of Bernardston and roughly parallels Route 10, entering from Greenfield to the south and traveling into Northfield to the east. This rail line is part of the “Knowledge Corridor” line, which runs from New Haven, Connecticut, to St. Albans, Vermont, along Interstate 91 and the Connecticut River. Amtrak stops in the region include Springfield, Holyoke, Northampton, Greenfield, and Brattleboro, once per day for each direction. At this point, there are no stops in Bernardston nor plans for a passenger stop to be built in Bernardston.

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~ 4,000 vehicles daily

Road

~ 8,200 vehicles daily

Route 5

Mid County

Route 10

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at M ead

~ 20,000 vehicles daily

Road East Hill

I-91

Saw M ill Lane

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Road

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A graphic of the ma jor roads through town and how many vehicles travel them per day.

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A few spreads and images from the Transportation section

Br attleboro

Road

transportation

123

MASTER PLAN FOR THE TOWN OF BERNARDSTON economic development –Excerpt from the introduction to this section– Unlike some of the other topics in this master plan— such as watersheds, land use, housing, transportation, and services—the topic of economic development requires some discussion of how the term is defined. A conversation about a community’s economic health can variously be about, for example, the town’s fiscal health or the ratio of incoming municipal revenues to outgoing expenditures. It can focus on average household incomes, real estate taxes, wage employment, or financial flows. It can be presented in terms of an inherent conflict between improving quality of life and protecting the environment, or it can be presented as the simultaneous and complementary improvement of both of those. For the purposes of this master plan, “economy” is defined as the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services and its purpose is understood to be the improvement of the wellbeing or quality of life of the community. There are various ways to assess Bernardston’s current economic conditions and this section will present analyses and recommendations based upon both conventional and non-conventional approaches. Conventional economic development studies typically assess, for example, demographics, workforce characteristics, ma jor employers, and the potential for industrial or commercial development. An example of a more non-conventional approach is called community economic development, which involves determining strategies to improve a community’s social, cultural, and ecological well-being in addition to its fiscal health. A second and related approach is known as asset based community development. This approach first determines what a particular town, city, or region’s key assets are and then develops strategies that capitalize on them. Rather than concentrating on the perceived problems or what a town’s needs may be, asset based community development focuses on a town’s unique characteristics and determines how they can be leveraged to achieve desired goals. This section will draw upon these various approaches to provide a holistic examination of Bernardston. All analyses and recommendations look to strengthen the community, improve quality of life for residents, and promote well-being in a ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable way.

summary and recommendations

B. Summary Analysis: Preserving Rural Character

Fostering Sustainable Economic Development

Hull’s Forestry C o r e

h a b i t a t

Satan’s Kingdom WMA

Dense residential

(SK)

Residential Priority Development Sites

Center Village

Major employers

Mostly forested

Prime farmland

Core habitat

Sparse residential

SK Mostly forested Sparse residential

Commercial cluster

Scattered farmland Some land in Chapter 61

Industrial cluster

Scattered farmland

Charity Lot SK

Some land in Chapter 61

Mixed use

Wetlands

Center

Prime farmland

Crumpin Fox

Village

Golf Club

Landfill Rail

Observations Observations

Residential development is mostly in the southern half of the town, and coincides with low-lying river valleys and wetlands. Most of the northeastern and northwestern sections of town are forested. The northwestern section of town has scattered residences and some farmland breaking up large blocks of forest. The primary block of core habitat is in the northeast section of town and is divided by Hucklehill Road. Residential development is intruding into large blocks of core habitat. Some woodland landowners use Chapter 61 to reduce their tax burden.

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Implications

Low-lying level areas use for residential development in Center Village create a conflict for proper septic system function in areas with a high water table and flooding from storm events. Continued expansion of residential development in forested areas in the northwest and northeast of town will further fragment forests, reducing their habitat value for interior forest dwelling species. Continued expansion of residential development in the center and southern portions of town could eat up prime farmland and reduce land for agriculture.

There is no municipal wastewater treatment in town.

Implications

There are two priority development sites along Route 10, near the capped landfill and Center Village.

The lack of a public sewer system limits the growth and development of business, industry and new housing in Center Village.

The most dense residential development is located in the southern central portion of town, along Route 5, Route 10, and I-91, and largely on what was prime farmland.

The capped landfill is available space for a solar array, a potential revenue generating venture for the town and source of electricity for municipal buildings.

Route 10 east of I-91 has a mix of commercial, industrial, and residential development. Between Satan’s Kingdom and Charity Lot, there are large tracts of forest in the northeast section of town that are either state or town owned. Hull’s Forestry actively manages a large swath of forest in the northern section of town. There is a lack of trail networks through the open space and forested land.

Active sustainable management of forested lands could help preserve this scenic landscape, provide revenue for landowners, and support the local economy. Public and private forested land is available for developing trail networks that could be part of an economy based in part on outdoor recreation and tourism.

10 CONCLUSIONS

BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

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Summary analysis pages for two of the town’s three goals

Key to Goals Preserve Rural Character = RC Vibrant Center Village = CV Foster Sustainable Economic Development = ED

E. Summary Table of Recommendations Recommendation

Responsible Parties Goals Met

Further Information

Element

The town of Bernardston should consider whether the currently zoned Center Village is the best place for future development of a central village that meets the goal of a vibrant space as put forth by the residents.

Planning Board, Board of Selectmen

RC, CV

All Chapters

Create public education programs to raise awareness about the importance of protecting surface water and wetlands for water quality and ecological integrity. With more knowledge of water systems and the services they provide, residents may be more motivated to take care of their natural environment. These programs should stress the role that intact watersheds and wetlands play in mitigating the detrimental impacts of increased storms from climate change.

Conservation Commission, Pioneer Valley Regional School

RC, CV, ED

According to the goal of a vibrant Center Village, and the restrictions of future development in the currently zoned Center Village, serious consideration should be given to whether or not the current iteration of Center Village makes sense for the future that the people of Bernardston desire.

Organize a series of educational and network-building events to promote regional and state resources for farmers and foresters. These should include farm and forestry best management practices that promote healthy ecosystems and edge habitats, protect wetlands, and prevent erosion; tax abatement and preservation opportunities; marketing strategies; and farm transition resources. Local land trusts should be invited to present to landowners about land conservation and stewardship opportunities through Estate Planning Outreach Grants.

Ag Commission, Conservation Commission

RC, ED

Continue to educate and involve residents in Charity Farm Lot with community work days. Encourage public participation in developing hiking trails, picnicking facilities, and removing invasive species. Construct signs with information about the lot’s history and potentially connect trails to the proximate site of the first settlement.

Recreation Department, the Highway Department, Planning Board, Bernardston Selectmen

RC, ED

Ag Commission, Conservation Commission, Town Webmaster

RC, ED

Investigate resources to involve the younger generation in town activities that improve the recreational opportunities and health of the natural environment in Bernardston.

Pioneer Valley Regional School District

RC, ED

Hold a community charrette to help establish Form Based Codes for new development, design walking paths through the Center Village, and site off-street parking. These guidelines should lay out materials, acceptable styles, sign restrictions, walking access, screened parking, and landscaping. Involving citizens in establishing the desired aesthetics for towns increases resident participation in the town and results in faster permitting processes and less conflict over new development. The conclusions of the charrette could be incorporated into the existing site plan review.

Planning Board, Historical Commission, Historical Society

Education and Outreach

Update information about the Ag Commission and Conservation Commission on the town website, including links to state and regional resources that provide technical and financial assistance for farmers and foresters. Efforts should be made to include announcements about relevant state and national policy changes and local farming or forestry events.

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The Massachusetts Watershed Coalition works with partners in communities to protect and restore watershed ecosystems, sustain healthy rivers and aquatic habitats. In order to reach these objectives, they sponsor workshops on watershed protection, LID, stream restoration for groups interested in watershed protection, town boards, and state agencies.

Watershed Protection

Since 2013, Bernardston resident and restoration ecologist and designer John Lepore has been working to improve the accessibility of this town property for the general public. He is leading the initiative to complete a Charity Farm Lot Conservation and Recreation Plan that will recommend a number of actions with an implementation time line.

Natural and Cultural Resources

Communities Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) offer Land Use resources for farmers including workshops, marketing support, technical assistance and emergency funding. MassWoods is an extension of the University of Massachusetts that offers a wealth of networking connections for land owners including surveyors, public and private licensed foresters, and conservation bodies. Franklin Land Trust and Mount Grace Land Trust offer a variety of ways for landowners to permanently protect their land.

More information about specific resources are detailed in Sections 4 and 5. The towns of Otis, MA and Ayer, MA have examples of well organized websites, with dedicated space for general announcements on the home page, and links for relevant information on individual pages for departments and committees.

Land Use

The Student Conservation Association offers stipends to students to partake in community service projects including trail building.

Natural and Cultural Resources

Design charrettes are series of workshops and activities with community members that serve to generate ideas and document a collective vision for future development. The National Charrette Institute offers tools, resources, and networks of trained charrette facilitators.

Land Use

10 CONCLUSIONS

BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

Excerpt from the Recommendations section

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PHOTOGRAPHY

Photographer for the past 10 years. Specializing in travel, landscapes, and nature photography.

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PHOTOGRAPHY

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MIKE Mike CONOVER Conover ECOLOGICAL DESIGN

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SUSTAINABILITY PLANNING

REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

OBJECTIVE To help individuals, organizations, and communities build resilience and a net positive environmental impact. To develop a local food-economy based on agroforestry, serving as a form of landscape-scale ecological restoration, climate change mitigation, and long-term regenerative food production.

EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

Edible Landscape Production Coordinator

M.S. in Ecological Design

McMenamins Edgefield: Troutdale, OR

The Conway School: Conway, MA 2015 - 2016

2018 -

• Developing a farm-to-table program at McMenamins Edgefield by coordinating with the winery, distillery, brewery, bars, and spa to source production ingredients from on site.

• 10 month intensive degree focusing on sustainable land planning and design

• Managing the growing, care, harvesting, and processing for over 60 botanicals from an on-site herb garden, fruit orchard, edible landscape, and vegetable garden.

• Involved three projects for actual clients at three scales: residential design, community planning, and commercial site design

• Integrated urban planning and landscape architecture

Skills: Site analyses, surveying, concept design, detail design, digital and hand rendering, grading plans, model building, facilitating participatory process, presentations and public speaking

Ecological Designer Blossom: Portland, OR

2016 - 2017

• Developed and co-managed the Design Shop at Blossom, a Portland-based landscape design-build firm specializing in ecological design, sustainable stormwater management, edible landscaping, and native plantings for residential and commercial clients.

Knowledge: Ecosystem services, agroforestry practices, natural plant communities, soil structure and health, surficial geology, glacial geomorphology, tree & woody plant ID, conservation planning

• Carried out design projects, product development, marketing, event planning, and created document templates and back-end processes. • Design projects involved meeting with potential clients, pricing design jobs, writing proposals, project management, client communication, site measurement, base-map creation, concept design, detailed design, plant/material selection, phasing, install costing, and handoff to the install team.

B.A. in Sustainable Development McGill University: Montréal, QC 2008 - 2012 • Courses on environmental management, urban planning, ecology, economics, geopolitics, geography, and plant propagation • McGill School of Environment w/minor in Anthropology

Town Master Planner

• Completed Barbados Field Study Semester

Conway project: Bernardston, MA 2016 • As part of a team of five, created a master plan for Bernardston MA to develop a vibrant central village, preserve its rural character, and foster sustainable economic development. • Facilitated community meetings and visioning exercises, interviewed stakeholders, consolidated information from local and regional studies.

• Mobility Award Scholarship

Agroforestry Practices Sterling College (audited): Craftsbury, VT 2014

• Synthesized findings and recommendations from two years of master planning.

26 MikeConover3@gmail.com

(609) 610-8141

• Created a handbook that details the five main agroforestry practices, their practical application, and the relevant agro-ecological tools

280 Creekside Ter., Fairview, OR 97024

MIKE CONOVER ECOLOGICAL DESIGN

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SUSTAINABILITY PLANNING

REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

EXPERIENCE (continued)

SKILLS AND CERTIFICATIONS

Site Designer for Mixed-Use Mill Building

Computer Skills:

Conway project: Easthampton, MA 2016

• Adobe Creative Suite - Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Lightroom

• Site design for a revitalized mill building being converted to mixed use.

• Vectorworks

• Designed rooftop areas for a restaurant, bar and lounge, and for storm-water mitigation; a green roof for food production; a beer garden; a living wall. Improved front and back entrances to be clearly identifiable and safe and created a management plan for a riparian buffer.

• AutoCAD • ArcGIS • Google Sketchup • Microsoft Office • Social media - Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn • Music production: Ableton Live & Logic Pro

Residential Homestead Design Conway fall project: Plainfield, MA 2015 • Performed a suitability analysis and a site design for a low-impact, passive-solar homestead and edible landscape on 25 acres • Surveyed, mapped existing conditions, performed a series of site analyses (waterflow, solar exposure, legal constraints, access, views, soil suitability) • Drew up conceptual designs and created a final design and planting plan

Backyard Habitat Contractor Certification • Completed course to become familiar with the criteria and requirements of Portland Audubon’s Backyard Habitat Certification Program as a landscape designer.

Permaculture Designer Certification Whole Systems Design: Moretown, VT 2014 • Learned and gained experience working with the permaculture design process: goals articulation, site analysis and assessment, design, and evaluation

MOFGA Organic Farming Apprentice Wild Folk Farm: Benton, Maine 2014 - 2015

• Created a conceptual design for a regenerative food system for a 175 acre permaculture demonstration site

• Assisted in managing and operating an off-grid, diversified permaculture farm • Managed annual beds, perennial fruit and nut trees, pastured hens, rotationally grazed sheep, and an agroecological rice system

Eagle Scout

Boy Scouts of America: Cranbury, NJ 2008 • For my Eagle Scout Project I designed, fundraised, and installed a sitting area for parents and teachers at my former elementary school

Sustainable Development Intern EcoStructure Barbados, St. Philips, Barbados 2012 • Helped create a self-sufficient, off-grid home

• Excavated, landscaped, installed benches, planted trees

• As part of a team of four, I helped to plant a fruit orchard, construct a solar-powered aquaponics system, and build a chicken coop • Conducted an economic analysis of the practically and applicability of these projects for Barbadian people

• Led a team of scouts to help execute the work

Other Skills: • Proficient in Spanish • Wilderness First Aid certified • PADI certified Rescue Diver

HOBBIES & INTERESTS • Writing & recording music, travel, dance, yoga, herbalism, photography, camping, woodworking

MikeConover3@gmail.com

(609) 610-8141

280 Creekside Ter., Fairview, OR 9702427

THANK YOU

Polystichum munitum (western sword fern)

MIKE CONOVER (609) 610 8141 mikeconover3@gmail.com