Thom Shepard Email & Phone Number

As a community advocate I have worked to promote the concept I have come to refer to as Rural Urbanism. I would define Rural Urbanism as approaching the built environment first as a conservationist but understanding that excellent forms of city, town, village and hamlet can equally, but often differently, give way to the rural, scenic, recreational, natural and wild environments. In fact such compact models of development, with the right vision, planning and legal tools can allow a much greater degree of conservation, much closer to a greater percentage of the population.It is this transition from compact dense urban places to conservationist environments that most succinctly defines Rural Urbanism. The argument is that those who live in compact walkable places need not drive thru a sea of car centric sprawl to reach a distant parking lot to access nature, farms or wilderness. The city or town can give way at the edge to rural and such connections can be parts of pedestrian and bicycle pathways, designed to promote both connectivity and safe healthy environments. Rural Urbanism includes many technical and legal tools that can allow for conservation models as well as compact sustainable urbanism. The tools can include Transfer of Development Rights, Conservation Easements and Preservation Tools as well as the SmartCode™ and other Form Based code models. The intent is to improve the quality of life, encourage live/work/rec sustainable environments and to encourage a balance of conservation and urban development in a healthy local business friendly pattern. It is increasingly being proven that this is as well a sound model for economic growth and job creation.

Listed skills include Video, Urban Planning, Project Planning, Lighting, and 14 others.