Conservation Community

By Chad Petri Reporter

It's a radically different concept in conservation and development. One new project in Whitehouse Fork is trying to do both. Conservation Community

Published: Thu, August 23, 2007 - 3:38 am Last Updated: Thu, August 23, 2007 - 6:19 am

Chad Petri

Call it development with a conscious. About 1,150 acres of land are being set aside for the Dauerwalden development in Whitehouse Fork. The project is the brainchild of Dr. Tommy Swearingen. He says it's becoming more difficult to preserve land with tax dollars alone. He says the private landowner needs to be bought into the process to keep open space around.

"The benefit of course is that you live in it," says Swearingen. "So it's not just an altruistic contribution to conservation, you get the perk of living in a preserved landscape." Even though it's a large chunk of land, only 17 home lots are being sold. The rest will be left in its natural state. Swearingen says he's particularly fond of the long leaf pine trees that populate the development.

"You're in it, you're surrounded by preserved land it's more like living in a private park," says Swearingen. The property's natural beauty is maintained through controlled burns once every couple of years to help keep overgrowth down.

"Basically it eliminates the jungle we associate with forest land in this area."