Gove Hill, Kensington Hampshire – A Good Example of “Open Space Planning”
Gove Hill was developed in the mid 90’s. The project was named Gove Hill in honor of a family who farmed this land for many years. The project was developed by James R Bolduc of Fremont, NH who has done a number of projects using open space planning and woring with towns to conserve land. As an avid outdoorsman, he feels land can and should be impacted as little as possible when constructing a project.
There are 38-single family homes, each home has it’s own well and a modern septic system.
This is an example of modern land planning at it’s best. The project was designed with the latest in drainage control utilizing holding ponds. It has some unique features as it is two parcels seperated by an estuary and farmland. The estuary is a protected area for wildlife of many kinds. Moose have been seen as well as deer, nesting birds and enumerable kinds of wildlife that thrive in this kind of protected environment.
The property was recently visited by Mr. Mike Welty of MJ Welty and Associates who is a supporter of open space planning that Jim Bolduc has become known for. Mr. Welty; as a member of NHSEA, New Hampshire Sustainable Energy Association, is sensitive to projects of this type that work to protect the environment. Mr Wely’s company helps his clients to improve their energy awareness and their impact on the community. Mr Welty helps his customers find funds to reduct energy consumptin. As an example; replacing od lighting fixtures which saves his clients moey and helps the environment by reducing a company’s carbon footprint. Mr Welty is quoted as saying “What a great way to plan a development. This project satistfies the need for housing while protecting the estuary.”
Mr. Bolduc has a strong belief that this kind of modern land planning needs to be supported by the twon planning boards and other state and federal agencies, which have a say in how a project of this kind get’s developed. This planning helps conserve land, protects wildlife, maintains water quality, allows for residents to enjoy nature. Towns gain open space without buying land, saving taxpayers money.
As Mr. Bolduc says “Everyone wins; the environment, the abutters, the town and the wildlife”
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