The Potomac Highlands Watershed School 

Stream Cleaner Environmental Forum 2008

Points of View & Thoughtful Questions - Developer

 

Developer POV & TQ Navigation

MRGS CONTRACTORS  Muffins   CDM Bulldozers   DEVELOPERS MISION JW

LG 1   Anti-Wilderness Progressive Movement   We Care, As Long As You Care

 the mountain developers   TA developing co.   Snappy developing   urban camo

Navigation to other POV pages 

Bay Ecosystem  •  Recreation/Tourism  •  Farmers  •  Watermen  •  Local Governments

Homeowner  •   Developer  ▪  Chesapeake Bay Program  ▪  Others

Comments for All Developers

 

 

Developer

MRGS CONTRACTORS                                                              Massanutten Gov. S.-Newcomer

                                                                                                                                3/31/2008

     With the current state of the Bay, we as developers find ourselves in a particularly

delicate situation. As the population continues to increase around the Bay area and the

demand for housing and other amenities also increases.  In order to revert damage the

Chesapeake Bay has already suffered drastic steps need to be taken, including Education,

better practices in construction areas, and better management practices in pre and post

construction phases.  As developers, we need to find a cost efficient way to implement

these actions in order to improve the health of the Bay.    

 

Our first goal is to enhance building regulations.  As construction projects continue to thrive

 around the Chesapeake Bay area and areas in the watershed, new guidelines and rules need

 to be implemented in order to reduce the flow of harmful waste products from entering

into the bay.  During the construction of new homes in the Bay’s watershed BMPs need to be

 practiced with utmost perfection.  By grading land to reduce slope and runoff from areas,

constructing collection ponds, implementing buffer zones around streams and rivers, and

using conservative methods in and around a job site would dramatically reduce the

developer’s impact on the Bay and the pollution it suffers from. Using such materials as

porous pavement, bamboo, and other Eco-Friendly building materials, developers can reduce

 their impact of the Bay pollution…     

 

Secondly we need to educate the public like homebuyers and existing homeowners in the

Chesapeake Bay watershed.  By promoting better environmental practices we can tackle the

 issue from the source.   Through education the ultimate solution can be found, by

promoting “greener” living and teaching its benefits to those living in or near the Chesapeake

Bay Watershed.  With this small step, so much could be accomplished.    

 

Though education is a very keen tool, it does not stop there… In order for the Bay to see

dramatic changes, it needs to be regulated by all parties, by all members, by all civilians,

anywhere at anytime in the watershed area.  By informing those people, businesses, and

industries of their environmental impacts they are forcing onto and into the Bay, they are

truly destroying the pristine, diverse life that thrives in the Bay. Without that said life, how

would it change our lives? How are we hurting ourselves?  Is it too late? Of course not, we

can enact change, starting with contractors, but the waves of change need to branch out to

 all regions of society. As a group we can bring change, we can work together, we can SAVE

 the BAY!

 

 

 

Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond


Thoughtful Questions

  From:   Anti-Wilderness Progressive Movement - developer - JWHS(T)                Statement

                                                                                                                                      4/11/2008

     I like your POV but it doesnt seem like your writing from a real developers point of view.

     Your proposals in regards to how development should be regulated would not benifit you

     whatsoever.  ttthink that you need to rethink your stance so it would better benifit you.

  From:   Anti-Wilderness Progressive Movement - developer - JWHS(T)                Ask

                                                                                                                                      4/11/2008

     I understand what your saying here and it sounds good, but how will we as developer spend

     the least amount of money by being so enviornmentally friendly?

  From:   Chicken Kickers'' 101 - farmer - MHS                                                      Statement

                                                                                                                                      4/11/2008

     This paper is written in order and every question in the paper is answered, so all in all it is

     good.

  From:   DORY-DORY FISH - Waterman - MHS                                                      Ask

                                                                                                                                      4/11/2008

     Beings that the economy is so high, how do you plan for people to pay for these changes

            that they are making?

       Response    MRGS CONTRACTORS - developer - MRGS

                                                                                                                      4/23/2008

             Going “green” does NOT have to be expensive.  You can buy low flow

             showerheads for only 20 dollars a piece. They reduce water use by 20,000

             gallons a year.  You can also replace 5 incandescent with compact florescent light

              bulbs.  By doing this you can save 50% on your electricity bill.  They only cost

             three to ten dollars each.  With just a small amount of research we can uncover

            many other inexpensive ways of going “green.”

 

 

 

 

Developer

 

Muffins                                                                                                  Jefferson H.S.-Gipson

                                                                                                                                  4/2/2008

    We are important because we provide Jobs and build houses.  The bays problem could

affect us because we wont be able to build as many houses and lose money and families will

 lose out on their new houses because we can not build them.

 

 

 

Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond


Thoughtful Questions

 

  From:   Team Green - homeowner - HHS                                                  Ask

                                                                                             4/7/2008

     what are you going to do to stop or help fix the bays problem

  From:   fishies - CB_Ecosystem - MHS                                                     Ask

                                                                                             4/8/2008

     how do you affect the bay? How can you prevent these problems?

  From:   Home Jackets - homeowner - MHS                                              Ask

                                                                                             4/8/2008

     You didn't post very much information. You never stated how water pollution inhibits

     you from building houses.

  From:   Fish's Wishes - CB_Ecosystem - KHS(K)                                      Ask

                                                                                             4/9/2008

     What exactly do you think should be done in order to protect your job, as the

     developer, and also the bay at the same time?

 

  From:   The Red Neck Yacht Club - recreation - JWHS(F)                                   Ask

                                                                                                                                4/11/2008

     You have said that you are important to the economy because you provide homes to the

     people, and they pay to live there. My question is:

              Even if you build the homes and don't follow the regulations that have been outlined

     in the multiple forums, do you think that the home owners will want to live in houses that are

      on the edge of a polluted bay that they can't swim in, fish in, or enjoy because it is toxic?

     Wouldn't it be better to build clean homes that keep the bay clean so that the citizens can

     enjoy them.

  From:   Home Jackets - homeowner - MHS                                                            Statement

                                                                                                                                 4/11/2008

     You could have pointed out that if you built houses near polluted water (i.e. trash floating

     around) no one is going to want to live there.

  From:   fishies - CB_Ecosystem - MHS                                                                   Ask

                                                                                                                                 4/11/2008

     I can't understand the connection that you're trying to make with the bay! How does it

     affect the bay? What can you do to fix this? It is obvious you didn't look far into your

     research!

     From:   Muffins - developer - JHS                                                                       Statement

                                                                                                                         4/14/2008

         Hey sorry our research isnt up to your standards but we had 2 minutes to write the

         whole thing and your lucky you got atleast 3 sentences so my bad g your just gonna have

         to deal with it bud because like i said we had 2 minutes to write it so my bad, my bad.

       Response    fishies - CB_Ecosystem - MHS

                                                                                                                      4/15/2008

             Actually, you didn't even write 3 sentences, you wrote 2!!!!!

             Still, that doesn't answer my question I am curious as to how are you relating this

              to the bay? and what happens to the bay with this?

       Response    Muffins - developer - JHS

                                                                                                                      4/16/2008

             My bad... Dont get lippy! How can i answer your question if i didnt get to do any

             research?

  *From:   fishies - CB_Ecosystem - MHS                                                                Ask

                                                                                                                         4/17/2008

     Well, if you didn't do any research then don't you think that it's about time you do?

     People are asking you questions and you should be answering them!

 

 

  From:   Chicken Kickers'' 101 - farmer - MHS                                                      Ask

                                                                                                                                4/11/2008

     What are some examples why you won't be able to build houses and provide jobs?

  From:   The Forester Boys - Other - KHS(K)                                                         Statement

                                                                                                                                4/11/2008

     Jobs are important but, Have you thought about all the runoff that is caused by building

     these houses?

  From:   DEVELOPERS MISION JW - developer - JWHS(F)                               Ask

                                                                                                                         4/15/2008

            I totaly uderstand your thaughts and i agree with what you stand for.

       Response    Muffins - developer - JHS

                                                                                                                      4/16/2008

             Im glad atleast 1 person agrees with us! Everyone else wants to get all lippy and

            what not. so thank you for agreeing with us =]. We agree with you to :D.

 

 

  From:   Anti-Wilderness Progressive Movement - developer - JWHS(T)             Ask

                                                                                                                         4/15/2008

     In your point of view you only expressed how important you were to the envioronment.

     We would like to know what your plans are for cleaning up the bay. We would also like to

      know what you want to do as a developer. What are your plans as developers to get

     over what would happen if they made you pay for better envioronmentally friendly

            equipment and products?

 

  From:   mo'field fishies - farmer - MHS                                                             Statement

                                                                                                                         4/15/2008

     You don't have to stop building houses. Just use cleaner practices when building.

  From:   The Pearls - local_gov - MdSA                                                                Ask

                                                                                                                         4/16/2008

     After reading your POV, it does not sound like you are worried about the state of the

     Bay at all. As a developer, how can you reduce the pollution cause by comstruction?

  From:   Bojangles - farmer - JWHS(T)                                                                Ask

                                                                                                                         4/21/2008

     All you told me was what I already know...do you have any plans for how to fix problems

            of the bay, while still benefiting you?

       Response    Muffins - developer - JHS

                                                                                                                      4/22/2008

             NO! i dont have any ideas of benefitting the bay. the bay is not goin to get any

             better because of us. we are just normal 9th grade kids we dont really know.

       Response    Bojangles - farmer - JWHS(T)

                                                                                                                      4/23/2008

             Can you really expect anyone to take you seriously if you never took the time to

             try and learn what you're talking about?

 

  From:   Little Green Axman - Other - MRGS                                                       Statement

                                                                                                                         4/23/2008

     As a developer, you have a huge part in protecting the Chesapeake Bay.  In the

     development process, you must take the time to consider various Best Management

     Practices that you can utilize in order to reduce your environmental impact.  Keeping

     economics in mind, the following is a small list of easily implemented BMPs: green

     infrastructure, working trees, permeable asphalt and concrete, rain gardens, and buffer

      strips.

  From:   awesomley amazing super spectacular envoirnmentalist - Other -          Ask

                                                                                                                         4/23/2008

     I dont understand I dont think there is enough information here to cover everything. I

     wonder about all the stuff you didnt state. Why does this happen? How can you fix this

     problem? Can you prevent these problems? If you only had three minutes to do this you

     should have gone to your research and not waited til the last minute. Can you answer my

     questions?

 

 

 

Developer

CDM Bulldozers                                                                                      Buffalo Gap H.S.-Riley

                                                                                                                                  4/3/2008

The developers living in the Chesapeake Bay run-off area have come to the conclusion that

cleaning up the bay has more cons than pros in the final outlook and these are our reasons

why.  It will be more costly for these developers to provide ways for the run-off from

their construction sites to not reach the Chesapeake Bay.  It will also reduce land for

development as well as the production of these developers.  Taxes affect everything, and

of course if this clean up were to take place, everyone would be made to pay more taxes.  

 

When looking at the pros of this decision to clean the bay, we have decided that it would

give the developers a better name in the eyes of their customers as the bay would be clean

and the developers would not be blamed for the pollution.  It would also allow construction

businesses to hire more employees who will be available to work with the construction

needed to clean the bay.  Therefore more job positions would be open and available to those

 who need them.           

 

Some may argue that the developers need to take control and be the first to begin the long

process of cleaning the bay, but as developers, we believe that cleaning the bay is a bad

idea on our behalf.  Not only will cleaning the bay cost us more money personally, but it will

reduce the land we will be using in the future.  If cleaning the bay is the final decision made

 by the government of Virginia, then we as developers will be happy to help, but we will not

be the first to bring the problem to their attention. When we as developers look into the

future, we see the bay being cleaned at some point and it will more than likely benefit us;

but now it is against our wishes that the government continue to push the fact that the bay

need to be cleaned.

 

 

 

Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond


Thoughtful Questions

 

  From:   DORY-DORY FISH - Waterman - MHS                                        Ask

                                                                                             4/8/2008

     do you think that everyone should participate in help cleaning up the bay? Would you

     participate? Honestly.

     It might be more costly now but in the long run wouldn’t having the bay less polluted

     boost the economy and make products from the Chesapeake cheaper?

       Response    CDM Bulldozers - developer - BGHS

                                                                                                                      4/25/2008

             Yes, we believe that everyone should participate in cleaning the bay and yes, we

             would participate too, but what we are trying to say through our paper is that the

              developers should not be held responsible for all the pollution to the bay. Even

             though we more than likely contributed to the pollution it would not benefit us as

             a group to take the action to cleaning the bay. If another group or organization

             were to head up the cleaning then of course we as developers would help as well.

 

  From:   DB Defenders - Waterman - JWHS(T)                                                   Ask

                                                                                                                         4/17/2008

     You may not be concerned about the clean up of the bay now, but do you think that

     waiting to clean it up could be potentially stalling the resolution of an increasing problem

     that would effect you and all other groups in the future? It seems that it may just be

     avoiding the enevitable while letting the problem grow.

       Response    CDM Bulldozers - developer - BGHS

                                                                                                                      4/25/2008

             First of all, we ARE concerned about cleaning up the bay because it would be

             benificial to us as well as all the other groups. We as developers are not stalling

             or waiting for someone else to clean up the bay, we are simply awaring you and

             the other groups that it would be more costly for us as developers to take the

             first action. If another organization were to begin the process, then we would be

             more than happy to help; we are not avoiding anything. You're right, the problem

             is increasing, but it is not our job to take the first action. We all need to come

            together and take the first action.

 

  From:   MRGS CONTRACTORS - developer - MRGS                                            Ask

                                                                                                                         4/23/2008

     overall, i liked your paper. it was a good point of view from the perspective of a