III - Warren Wilson College Land Use Principles Introduction Warren Wilson College has always been an enterprise with close ties to the land. From its nineteenth-century origins as a farm school to its current status as a leading liberal arts college uniquely committed to the Triad of academics, work and service it has been grounded in the care and use of the land. We hold this precious land endowment with reverence for the magnificent backdrop of the ancient Appalachians which remind us that the history of the College is written on land that has also served as home and source of sustenance to untold generations and many cultures before us. This richness of land and cultural heritage has a profound effect on the lives of the people who live and work, or even visit, here. A common response among those who enter the Swannanoa Valley through the wooded gap leading to the Red Barn and the broad vista of the College lands is a sense of coming home; it is certain that one is in the presence of an extraordinary place. Yet there is more to this landscape; entrancing though its beauty may be, the land is a dynamic component of the institution – it is a living laboratory for the unique liberal arts educational experience that is the very essence of Warren Wilson College. The physical world is undergoing more human-generated change than at any other time in history, and the Swannanoa Valley is no exception – it is besieged by growth. To honor the legacy of our rich land endowment, it is imperative that our community define and uphold principles that actively protect and enhance the College lands for those who will continue our tradition. The five principles which we adopt herein are expressions of the philosophy founded on the Triad, and shall be honored in all land use decisions and practices henceforth. It is our intention that they represent a covenant, freely given in respect for those who have preceded us and with our best hopes for those who will follow.
Guiding Principles for Land Use
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Sustainability: Land use decisions shall demonstrate a sustainable decisionmaking process that results in the health and vitality of the global commons for the present and future. Responsible land use decisions are complex. To ensure a desirable outcome, the environmental, economic and social/cultural impacts of the options must be weighed for both short and long term effect. This process insures that decisions preserve what is valued in all dimensions of community life. All land use decisions shall be weighed for these potential impacts.
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