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Community Planning for Natural Resource Protection
Growing Greener: Better Site Design & Development Standards
Many town decision-makers are recognizing that it is their own economic and environmental self-interest to guide community development around remaining natural resources and green infrastructure.
Developers too are finding benefits in preserving natural features. Using innovative site design standards, developers can preserve natural areas as integral components of a development. These natural features can then be used to market quality of life benefits such as access to open space, and scenic views, to prospective residents.
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Traditional stormwater conveyance mechanism. Sketch courtesy of Carlisle/Wortman Assoc., Inc.
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Conservation design for stormwater conveyance. Sketch courtesy of Carlisle/Wortman Assoc., Inc.
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The result is often a win-win situation for the environment, the developer, and the community as a whole. For these reasons and more, the conservation and management of remaining green infrastructure requires pro-active community planning, sensible regulatory measures, and appropriate development design standards.
The following resources serve as guides to integrating better site design requirements into the development review process.
Integrating Water and Natural Resource Protection into the Site Plan Review Process
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Additional Resources
US Green Building Council
Greener Prospects - Randall Arendt
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