Peter Wulfhorst, Economic and Community Development Agent in Pike County, reports that 72 participants attended a five and one-half hour workshop last month that addressed the many facets of commercial development. Developers, builders, site designers, local government officials, planners, engineers, real estate agents and businessmen in attendance were able to:

• Explore issues relating to commercial development along highways, including sign visibility and size, building design criteria and scenic highways.
  
• Discuss commercial design and construction techniques that minimize natural resource impacts.
  
• Learn the benefits of incorporating natural resources into commercial developments and parking lot design.
  
• Discover how to incorporate low-maintenance, natural landscapes into commercial real estate.
  
• View case studies of commercial developments that profited by protecting nature.
  

Among the many presenters were Bill Elmendorf, who spoke on Protecting Natural Resources During Construction and Vincent Cotrone, who covered PA Blueprints--Best Land Use Principles and Results, Interactively Shown. The day concluded with Peter Wulfhorst moderating a speaker panel regarding steps for implementing conservation design in Communities.

This was a very informative and successful workshop collaboration between Penn State Cooperative Extension, Pike County's Conservation District/Planning Commission/Council of Governments/Chamber of Commerce/Builders Association, Pocono Mountain Vacation Bureau, Pinchot Institute, Cornell Cooperative Extension, PA Planning Association, PA & US Environmental Protection, and Natural Lands Trust.