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Community Corner

Michael Brown is the Man With the Plans

It's Brown's job to make sure developers comply with village regulations and planting guidelines.

Village Planner Michael Brown works with conservation planners and consultants to develop the Village of Montgomery’s naturalized planting guidelines.

Brown's work recently helped earn the village two awards for its use of native landscaping.

In January, the Environmental Protection Agency and the regional conservation group Chicago Wilderness honored the village at their annual Conservation and Native Landscaping Awards ceremony.  The ceremony recognizes exemplary natural landscaping, conservation and sustainable development projects and practices.

Technically, Montgomery was recognized for the development and implementation of the Naturalized Storm Water Management Facility Design, Planting and Management Plan Guidelines, which requires developers to design and maintain detention pond plantings that promote plant and wildlife biodiversity while protecting water quality throughout the community, according to a village press release. Additionally, the 9.4-acre Montgomery Police Department detention basin was recognized as an outstanding example of the use of native plants on a storm water facility.

It’s all in a day’s work for Brown, 31, who has worked for the village for the last six years. He routinely reviews site plans and works with developers to make sure their plans are in compliance with village regulations.

In the last six years, Montgomery has grown rapidly and Brown was able to get on board with the village’s two major commercial developments, at Orchard Road and Route 30 and at Routes 30 and 34. Much of Brown’s job requires him to scan details like zoning setbacks, building heights, storm water basins and landscaping plans.

Brown, who lives on Aurora’s west side, studied urban planning at the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay; he grew up in the Milwaukee area. In college, some general social science classes piqued his interest in environmental issues and urban planning. He then went on to get his master’s degree in environmental policy.

Brown wrote his master’s thesis on smart growth, which incorporates walkable, bicycle-friendly land use and sustainability.

“It’s a way to grow wisely,” said Brown, who uses many of the practices in his own life. The husband and father of two grows a small prairie garden in his yard and rides his bike to work along the Fox River trail in the warm months.

Prairie gardens with native plants like purple cone flowers and black-eyed susans not only are esthetically pleasing but are good for water quality and wildlife habitat, Brown said.

Brown, who moved to the area for his job, said the village has been planning ahead in terms of development and growth for a while. In 2003, the village adopted naturalized planting guidelines, which have been implemented in new developments and help improve storm water basins and ultimately water quality.

“They were looking ahead,” he said.

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