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Longleaf Community Designated 'Green Development' By State

Eric Horchy/SUNCOAST NEWS

One of the multiple interpretive signs placed throughout the Longleaf community to help educate residents on sustainable development projects within the area.

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: July 9, 2008

TRINITY -- Following the nationwide trend of environmentally responsible building, Trinity's Longleaf Community has been named the Greater Tampa area's first "Green Development" by the Florida Green Building Coalition.

The designation was bestowed on May 14 and makes Longleaf only the eighth development in the state to attain the eco-friendly status.

There were a multitude of factors leading up to Longleaf receiving its green certification, according to the Tallahassee-based nonprofit coalition. The factors include:

•Tree-lined walking and bike paths connecting each neighborhood, reducing dependency on automobiles.

•Permanent preservation of conservation areas and wetlands.

•Parks, lakes and open spaces making up over 40 percent of the community.

•Native and drought resistant landscaping.

Longleaf, which was established in 1998 on land belonging to the Starkey family, applied to the FGBC last June and was notified May 14 that they met the necessary criteria, said FGBC executive director Suzanne Cook.

Dean Barberree, vice president of development for the Florida division of the real estate firm Crosland LLC and leader of Crosland's sustainable initiatives in Florida, said that while the company has been involved in Longleaf since 2004, the community has always leaned green since its inception.

"In my mind, Longleaf was always green from the foundation," he said. "Then we had added additional features and will continue to expand those features going forward to highlight those planning principles."

One of the elements Crosland brought to Longleaf, Barberree said, was the implementation of interpretive signs throughout the community grounds to further educate residents on their surroundings.

"They highlight the environmental, sustainable features of Longleaf," he said, adding that there will eventually be a total of 30-40 signs in all. One such sign draws attention to soil-and-moisture sensors located in an area park and explains how they function.

Crosland was chosen by brothers Frank and Jay B. "Trey" Starkey III to develop Longleaf's final phases, neighborhoods III and IV. It will maintain the pre-existing green standards that allowed the community to attain its "Green Development" certification, Barberree said.

"I think it's an important part of the movement in community development. People are becoming increasingly aware of the choices they make and the impact those have on the environment."

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