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When my family first moved to Brentwood in 1985, we were enamored of the pastoral, open countryside
that protects the clearly defined yet spacious, warm subdivisions. As we became more acquainted with the city,
we came to realize that three essential components make up the core of what the people who live here consider to
be Brentwood: the large open fields and pastures, the one acre lot density and the great public school system.
Today, for the most part, those components remain intact. Our schools are still some of the
best in the state, and one acre lot density is still the guiding rule. However, I fear, as do most of the other
residents of Brentwood that I talk with, that the last component, the open fields and pastures, is in great jeopardy.
As the value of the remaining land rises and as the owners of those properties get older or their personal needs
and goals change, the need to preserve open space for Brentwood must be addressed.
That is why Citizens for Brentwood Green Space (CBGS) was formed. As indicated in our Mission
Statement, "CBGS explores and keeps citizens informed of viable means of preserving open land, the environment,
and quality of Brentwood life. CBGS will propose initiatives, backed by informed citizens, in support of this mission."
We recognize and respect the rights of landowners and developers. We also recognize with
unequivocal certainty that once a tract of land, be it pasture, hillside or wooded glade falls to the push of the
dozer blade, it will never again be what it was before. Houses, schools, businesses and all of the incumbent features
of growth and development will eternally erase the bucolic settings we all love, need and cherish. Those of us
in CBGS feel that the time to act is absolutely now. Not now just because tomorrow will be too late. Now because
there are many, many things that have to be done before the substantive work of actually preserving properties
can be accomplished.
Time is definitely of the essence. We must move quickly to establish goals and methods for
acquiring and protecting land that treat everyone involved fairly and rationally. CBGS is, as a group, committed
to this cause, and we are hoping to find others who share our passion.
You will find other information at this website regarding the purpose and organization of
CBGS. This website is intended to serve as an open forum where everyone can express his or her viewpoint. You are
encouraged to participate in any way you feel is appropriate. Please let us know the concerns you have and what
you would need to know in order to support our effort. We are looking for members who can contribute time and/or
money to preserve open space in the City of Brentwood.
The mission of Citizens for Brentwood Green Space is to support and stimulate community action
to preserve open space in the city of Brentwood.
We commit to seek opportunities to preserve for future generations open space in the city
of Brentwood. We recognize the value and desirability of preserving the unique character and beauty of farmland,
forests, and historic properties. We seek to preserve and expand access to land for walking, bicycling and other
similar use and enjoyment.
CBGS seeks to unite the citizens of Brentwood in support of Brentwood leadership in their
quest to manage growth while preserving the quality of life and maintaining low tax rates. Key to meeting that
objective is to preserve open space in the form of parks, trails, flood plains and historic sites while being sensitive
to the rights of landowners and developers.
We believe that preservation efforts must take into account the economic needs of the entire
community. We strive for equitable balance of the environmental, social, and economic impact of proposed development
and preservation activities.
CBGS explores and keeps citizens informed of viable means of preserving open land, the environment,
and quality of Brentwood life. CBGS will propose initiatives, backed by informed citizens, in support of this mission.
Through a variety of means, including a website, we will offer information to citizens regarding
opportunities and options for preserving open land. Information will be provided concerning alternative methods
of preservation such as acquisition of undeveloped land, conservation easements, purchasing development rights
and potential funding mechanisms.
Citizens will be asked to participate in preservation activities and decisions.
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Who we are:
- Citizens for Brentwood Green Space, Inc. is a volunteer citizens group organized as a nonprofit
corporation. Our mission is to preserve open space in the form of parks, trails, historic sites, and flood plains
while being sensitive to the rights of landowners and developers.
- CBGS supports Brentwood's Board of Commissioners and city officials in their efforts to
assure that ongoing development of land resources is accomplished in a way that is beneficial to landowners, to
existing citizens of the city, and to future generations of Brentwood residents.
- Our goals are:
- Adding 1,000 acres of new park land
- Connecting additional areas of the city by bike- and walk-ways
- Preserving our precious historic sites
- Enhancing pastoral gateways to the city
- Making open spaces accessible
Gilbert Bosse has lived in Middle Tennessee for over 20 years and the Brentwood area for
6 years. He graduated with an MBA from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. His business career includes working
for General Electric, serving as VP Sales for a Middle Tennessee Manufacturer as well as owning several small businesses.
He is currently the owner of Brentwood Building Maintenance.
Bert is actively involved in community activities; currently serving on the Board and Treasurer
of the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce, Brentwood Library Foundation. Board of Trustees for the Brentwood Library,
President of the Leadership Brentwood Alumni Association and Treasurer for the Landmark Homeowners Association.
Bert is a Member of Brentwood United Methodist Church and has two daughters both in Graduate
School. He is a Master Gardener, avid book reader and an aspiring gourmet cook. He is interested in preservation
of green space and park lands and is a member of Cheekwood, Radnor as well as a friend of Warner Parks. He has
previously served on the boards of Sumner County United Way, SMU Alumni Association, 500 Club, Heart Association
and other local organizations.
Fred Kane
Fred Kane was born and raised in
Denver, Colorado, that was back in the days before
Denver developed into a huge city. Growing up, he
enjoyed every outdoor sport imaginable from hunting and
fishing to rock climbing and skiing -- thus the passion
for green spaces!! After finishing high school, he
was chosen to participate in an accelerated 3 year
chemist program at the Rocky Flats Nuclear Facility in
Colorado. After completing the program and receiving the
highest non-military security clearance possible (Q
Clearance), Fred continued to work at the Flats for
several more years before heading to Los Angeles. He
spent nearly 15 years in LA, 10 of them as the
Advertising Director for a newspaper, LA Weekly.
After having 2 daughters, Amanda (now 5) and Olivia (3),
his wife and he decided they wanted a family-oriented
place to raise their family. After much research and
travel, they chose Brentwood for its rolling hills,
pastoral settings and good schools. They headed east in
January 2004 and have loved being here ever since.
Fred is a Commercial Realtor with
RE/MAX Elite Commercial in Maryland Farms, specializing
in helping businesses relocate to Middle Tennessee.
As a founding member of CBGS and a Commercial Realtor,
he is an advocate for “Smart Growth”. That is
growth that pays its own way and continually improves
people’s quality of life. He is a member of the
Williamson County Association of Realtors serving for
three years on the Governmental Affairs Committee which
are the liaisons to city, county and state
representatives (Fred was the Co-Chair for 2006). His
family lives in the Highland View subdivision in West
Brentwood and he currently serve as President of the
Homeowners Association. Fred and his wife are members of
Brentwood United Methodist Church where his wife teaches
Sunday school.
Kathy Crisp & David Kumatz
These married CBGS Board members met at Vanderbilt Law School.
Kathy Crisp is
Associate General Counsel of the Tennessee Board of Regents. She graduated
from Tennessee Technological University and Vanderbilt Law School.
David Kumatz is Senior Vice President of Legal & Insurance Services of Sumner Regional
Health Systems. He is a graduate of Hamilton College in New York and Vanderbilt Law School.
They have lived in Brentwood in the Carondelet subdivision since 1992 and have two children,
Daniel and Adam. The family loves the rural character of Brentwood and the parks and trails developed by
the City of Brentwood. All of the family either run, bike, hike, or play soccer in Brentwood's green areas.
Gil
Hutchinson, his wife of 20 years, Annette, and their two
children, Kelsey and Scott, moved to Brentwood in 1999
from Orlando, Florida. He graduated from Tulane with a
BA, Florida State with an MBA and currently works in
Network Management with United Healthcare.
Gil is
actively involved in community activities, currently
serving on the City of Brentwood’s Tree Committee and
the Board of Directors of the Highland View Homeowner's
Association, where he was past President. He has been
active in the City's "Adopt A Soldier" program and is
also a past graduate of Leadership Brentwood and the
Citizens Police Academy. Annette is a realtor with
Crye-Leike. Kelsey is attends Brentwood
High School and Scott is at Brentwood Middle
School. The family attends Brentwood United Methodist.
The
Hutchinson's have traveled or lived in many parts of the
country, but truly believe that Brentwood is a very
special place to work and raise a family. A true gem of
a community that deserves to be cherished and protected
against the blight caused by extensive overdevelopment.
John Logan is a retired banker who has lived in the Brentmeade subdivision since 1993 and
in the Nashville area since 1987. He currently teaches Machine Tool Technology as a volunteer instructor at the
Tennessee Technology Center at Nashville. His interests include Boy Scouts, gardening, mathematics, and The Nashville
Symphony, of which he is a former board member. He, his wife Mary Ellen, and their two children, Robin and Joe,
love Brentwood's walkways, bikeways, and parks. They wish there were a safe pedestrian passage from the east side
of Wilson Pike to downtown Brentwood so that they could avoid driving in ever-increasing traffic when running small
errands. They would also like to see Brentwood's park system expanded and, if possible, connected with walkways
so that they would have alternatives closer to home to hiking in the Warner Parks, at Radner Lake, or on the Nachez
Trace. They firmly believe that the time to act is now if we are to insure that Brentwood remains one of this country's
premier residential communities.
George Malo has been a resident of Brentwood since 1984. He has been in the field of education
for over 30 years as both a teacher and administrator. He is currently the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research
and Assessment in the Office of Academic Affairs at the Tennessee Board of Regents. Prior to joining the Board of Regents, George worked in the
Tennessee Department of Education, taught mathematics in public schools and a community college in Illinois, and
was a faculty member at the University of Illinois. George has a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, a Masters
of Science from Indiana University, and a Bachelors degree from Blackburn College.
George moved to Brentwood from Davidson County because of the quality
of residential life promoted by the city. As the Williamson County area grows, he sees the need for Brentwood residents
to offer support to help maintain this quality of life and to ensure that growth is well-planned and managed. Hearing
about the Brentwood Green Space organization, he joined the group because of their belief in preserving sufficient
green space especially during growth.
Stephen Prince, his wife of
26 years, Carol, and their three children, Angel, Mitchell, and Courtney
moved to Brentwood in 1985. They have built three houses in three different subdivisions here in Brentwood over
the last 23 years. Angel lives on the Big Island of
Hawaii. Mitchell graduated from BHS in 2003 and
recently completed a four-year tour in the U.S. Air Force. Courtney
graduated from BHS in 2005 and now attends Kingsboro
Junior College in Brooklyn. Stephen and Carol started their company, National Business Products, in 1993 which now operates
out of the Cool Springs area. Stephen and Carol travel all over the country
and world for their business. They are in the
process of building a new office in Nolensville where
they plan to move into in April of 2008. In sum, the Princes love and appreciate the special experience of living in
Brentwood, TN. Carol and Stephen have every reason to believe that they will live here for the rest of their days.
But their interest goes far beyond their own lives.
They have always been comitted to an eternal stewardship
responsibility to all following generations, and
preservation of green space is just one of those
responsibilities.
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