has every right to celebrate its 40th birthday this year. It is, after all, a very long time. I know.
I graduated from Community High School in 1977. Ouch. Village President Emily Berendt noted that the village’s “semi-rural character, low-density development and low-impact land uses” are a big part of its charm.
Folks enjoy the many private nature preserves, oak savannas, unique watersheds and large lots. In 1955, the owners of 3,000 acres (half of Bull Valley at the time) agreed to place their land into 3-acre estate zoning – the highest residential classification offered by the county at the time. “Our model is the reverse of other municipalities, with our core being the larger lot open spaces that we carefully preserve, and smaller lot development more appropriate along our edges,” Berendt said.
“Commercial development along Route 120 has been contemplated in our comprehensive land use plan since 1992, when that road was the northern edge of the village. Commercial development that compliments the village character would still be appropriate there.” A neighborhood Countryside Improvement Association formed in 1942, and in 1977, reorganized as the Bull Valley Association, which launched and campaigned for incorporation.
It passed by a vote of 89-69, and Charles Liebman became the first village president. Between 2000 and 2010, the village’s population jumped from 726 to 1,077 people. Berendt believes it has remained pretty steady during the past few years.