Sonoita Crossroads Community Forum

Presented by
Jeffrey Cooper of La Semilla

A New Green Vision

Conservation Properties, the founder of Three Canyons, is using the land development process to:

regenerate the biological richness of the land
invest in the surrounding community

Key to the success of this regenerative vision is the participation of people who - by living at Three Canyons - will contribute to this regenerative process.

How Did We Start Planning Three Canyons?

A collaborative, open and public process over 2 years
A Core Team of local stakeholders and place-based experts
Group meetings with the community
Partnered with the Sonoran Institute, which resulted in the formation of La Semilla

La Semilla, a Community Stewardship Organization (CSO), manages 94% of the surface area at Three Canyons.
The non-profit organization reports to an independent Board of Directors.
Jeffrey Cooper, a naturalist and resident of Patagonia, is the Executive Director.

As a Gateway Community, Three Canyons Has Special Responsibilities

Close to national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and other public land
Growth presents new fiscal, social, and environmental challenges
"Conservation Properties has produced exactly the kind of smart, 'green' development we want to see in Santa Cruz County."
Mary Dahl,
Director of Community Development for Santa Cruz County

94% Of Three Canyons Is Designated Open Space

57% is deeded conservation easement (995 acres)
37% is permanent open space (653 acres)
6% has deed-restricted building envelopes and roads (112 acres)

Conscious Choice

Conservation Properties restricted building to only 198 sites

Building envelopes average 15,000 square feet and are deeded for single family homes.
Home sites were integrated into the landscape to maximize conservation value of the open space.
Smith Canyon, the central ecological corridor, is left undisturbed and undeveloped.

Water Use Is Carefully Planned

Domestic Water Improvement District is first in Santa Cruz County
Central system provides water to every home
Prevents drilling of individual unmonitored wells for greater efficiency

Roads as Catchments For Effective Water Use

Roadways channel runoff into swales
68 PAD lots waste water is purified and recycled in state-of-the-art constructed wetland
Hundreds of constructed brush weirs reduce velocity of, and capture, runoff to improve soilÕs capacity to retain moisture

The Community Stewardship Organization (CSO) La Semilla was created to . . .

care for the land through stewardship, research, and restoration - and to care for the community through service and education
Unlike other CSOs, La Semilla has a second mission: to invest in the local community

CSOs Integrate and Balance Conservation And Development

A CSO promotes and implements:

Ecological Restoration (Land)
Market-based conservation (Developer)
Community investment or capacity building (Community)

"A CSO will ensure that my commitments to the land and community will continue long after I have finished this project."
David Parsons, Conservation Properties

Funded By Deed Transfer Fees, La Semilla Will Protect The Land Forever

La Semilla will be perpetually funded by a 1% deed transfer fee each time a parcel or home in Three Canyons is sold.
La Semilla will carry out Three Canyons' land management and community development projects and oversee the stewardship of the land long after the development is completed.

La Semilla has . . .

Included Three Canyons in the Sonoita Creek Important Bird Area
Conducted comprehensive land management planning including Resource Management Plan and Land Management Plan
Donated matching grant funds to Patagonia Regional Community Foundation (PRCF) in the amount of $24,600
Established Sonoita Creek Farms and Restoration Nursery

According to Arizona Community Foundation CEO, Robert L. King:

Conservation Properties is "deeply committed" to ongoing community partnership
A precedent has been set with a CSO voluntarily contributing to a Community Foundation