Bonita Bay forms environmental design team

COURTESY PHOTO Mark Connelley, WilsonMiller & Susan Watts, Bonita Bay Group, brainstorm innovative ideas that will enhance environmental practices and enhance new ideas for responsible land use. Bonita Bay Group has created a low impact design team to share information and develop innovative techniques that will enhance existing environmental practices and programs while identifying new ideas for responsible land use. The group of experts consists of environmental engineers, ecological consultants, South Florida Water Management District, Lee County Commissioner Ray Judah and a multidisciplinary team from Bonita Bay Group. The team recently worked with Conservation Design Forum, a Chicagobased community planning, ecological restoration, and water resource and ecological engineering firms.

"I am impressed with the brain trust assembled to be a part of this team," said Kitty Green, president/CEO of Bonita Bay Group. "These experts are creative, innovate and will ensure that we are taking the best approach to improve the water quality of the Caloosahatchee River and Southwest Florida."

During a recent integrated ecological design and hydrology workshop, the team used the North River Village site along the river as the case study to evaluate opportunities and constraints for implementation of low impact design techniques and state-of-the-art surface water management system design scenarios. LID incorporates development in harmony with a site's existing natural features while employing pollution prevention measures. A menu of environmental features ranging from pervious pavement to bioswales was developed and will be further evaluated for feasibility and effectiveness on new development in the Caloosahatchee basin.

"We want to push the envelope; to raise the standards for future development in the entire river corridor," said Dennis Church, vice president of planning and development, Bonita Bay Group. "One of our goals is to develop best management practices that will help the impaired water body."

Developments will need to be designed with a greater emphasis on water quality and conservation by using ecologically and fiscally sustainable rainwater management systems. "We want to show that developers can improve and preserve the quality of natural waterways, lakes and underground water supplies by reducing the contaminants carried by storm water runoff," added Church.

Bonita Bay Group is a diversified company involved in the planning, development,

sales and management of masterplanned communities, free-standing recreational

amenities and commercial facilities. The company is respected for its commitment to meticulous planning, environmental stewardship, integrity and attention to detail. Bonita Bay Group employs more than 1,300 individuals and is currently developing six master-planned communities - Bonita Bay, Shadow Wood Preserve, Mediterra, TwinEagles, Verandah and Sandoval - along with 14 golf courses and two marinas. Additional information about the company is available at www.BonitaBay- Group.com. ¦