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COMMUNITY SERVICE HONOR AWARD
The Hills Project
Joseph Marwil, Student ASLA, Jack McGlasson, Student ASLA, Darren Ramler, Student ASLA, Casey Counce, Student ASLA, Brock MacKay Student ASLA, Greg Combs, Student ASLA, Heidi White, Student ASLA, Corey Wilson, Student ASLA, Jenna Bockey, Student ASLA, Marc Bond, Student ASLA, Justin Cotton, Student ASLA, Travis Edelen, Student ASLA and Jeff Chase, Student ASLA
, Lexington, Kentucky
Faculty Advisors: Dr. Brian Lee |
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Project Statement:
The Hills Project was conducted in partnership with
the Northern Kentucky Area Planning Commission. The
purpose of the Hills Project was to generate ideas,
guidelines, and recommendations for both the development
and preservation of Northern Kentucky’s hillsides.
The study specifically addressed the dilemma of whether
hillsides should be used to maximize development opportunity,
be left in a more natural vegetative state to serve
ecological functions, or have a balance of both. An
essential component was to involve stakeholders throughout
the entire planning process.
Project Narrative:
The Hills Project was completed over the
course of four months and included three public meetings
at which stakeholder participation and survey activities
were used to gather ideas and feedback. Throughout the
course of the study, the stakeholders showed passionate
interest, concern, and diversity of thought regarding
the hillside dilemma.
Essential issues in the debate included
health, safety and welfare; private property rights;
common pool resources; tax base; water management; wildlife
management; viewsheds; economic growth; and the quality
of life. Stakeholder input was crucial in the conceptualization
of ideas that will influence a range of policy and physical
approaches involving incentive/disincentive as well
as regulatory and voluntary actions in the community
and region.
Information was gathered to inform and
educate both the study team and stakeholders about the
breadth as well as depth of issues related to hillside
development and preservation. While hillsides were the
primary focus, the scope of the study also included
planning and design recommendations on a comprehensive
level. The originally posed focal question was, “Should
the hillsides be developed, preserved, or have a balance
of both?” The comprehensive questions that evolved
through research and public interaction were, “What
types of development and preservation are desired, where
are they desired, why, and how can they be achieved?”
The goals for the Hills Project included
documenting and understanding the stakeholder’s
perceptions, particularly their visual preference about
landscape issues and values. The planning process utilized
an enhanced McHargian approach in the identification
of critical and threatened hillside areas as well as
local experts and stakeholder inputs for analysis.
A key project component was the series
of build-out scenarios on six sites identified by stakeholders
across the landscape in urban to rural conditions. Each
of the six sites had four site plans generated. Each
plan was evaluated using the U.S. Green Building Council’s
LEED for Neighborhood Development and a sprawl to smart
growth evaluation framework originally published by
Hasse (2004) in Landscape Journal. Finally,
the stakeholders also evaluated how they liked or disliked
the site design ideas across the 24 scenarios. This
project component has already impacted how the community
will be modifying the existing zoning and subdivision
regulations. In addition, several other project components
were completed such as the green infrastructure system
across multiple counties. This project component utilized
least cost path analysis in GIS with stakeholder input
during model construction. An outcome of this already
has been a discussion on modifying the system for generating
public funds to implement a green infrastructure plan
in the coming years.
What is depicted in this submission is
a series of brochures developed during the project.
The brochures are intended to be widely distributed
by the community partner to continue the project. In
addition, a 100-page report was also authored by the
project team, which documents the entire process as
well as expands on recommendations. As part of the project
submission to the community partner, all of the public
participation materials were delivered so that the process
materials can be used in the on-going community dialogue.
The project team has strived to
build the awareness of the landscape architecture profession
in the community by using analysis, planning, design
in the stewardship of natural and built environments
through this educational process. The Northern Kentucky
landscape will change; however, the what, where, and
how can be influenced by stakeholders. The Hills Project
provides the basis on which stakeholders can build on
informed solutions and continue a community wide dialogue
into the future.
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