Growing Greener

by Arendt, Randal I.

• ISBN13: 9781559637428
• ISBN10: 1559637420
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-11-01
• Publisher: Island Pr

Summary

Growing Greeneris an illustrated workbook that presents a new look at designing subdivisions while preserving green space and creating open space networks. Randall Arendt explains how to design residential developments that maximize land conservation without reducing overall building density, thus avoiding the political and legal problems often associated with "down-zoning."The author offers a three-pronged strategy for shaping growth around a community's special natural and cultural features, demonstrating ways of establishing or modifying the municipal comprehensive plan, zoning ordinance, and subdivision ordinance to include a strong conservation focus. Open space protection becomes the central organizing principle for new residential development, and the open space that is protected is laid out to form an interconnected system of protected lands running across a community.The book offers: detailed information on how to conduct a community resource inventory a four-step approach to designing conservation subdivisions extensive model language for comprehensive plans, subdivision ordinances, and zoning ordinances illustrated design principles for hamlets, villages, and traditional small town neighborhoodsIn addition, Growing Greenerincludes eleven case studies of actual conservation developments in nine states, and two exercises suitable for group participation. Case studies include: Ringfield, Chadds Ford Township, Pennsylvania; The Fields of St. Croix, City of Lake Elmo, Minnesota; Prairie Crossing, Grayslake, Illinois; The Meadows at Dolly Gordon Brook, York, Maine; Farmcolony, Standsville, Virginia; The Ranch at Roaring Fork, Carbondale, Colorado; and others.Growing Greenerbuilds upon and expands the basic ideas presented in Arendt's earlier work Conservation Design for Subdivisions, broadening the scope to include more detailed sections on the comprehensive planning process and information on how zoning ordinances can be updated to incorporate the concept of conservation design. It is the first practical publication to explain in detail how resource-conserving development techniques can be put into practice by municipal officials, residential developers, and site designers, and it offers a simple and straightforward approach to balancing opportunities for developers and conservationists.

Author Biography

Randall Arendt is vice president for conservation planning for the Natural Lands Trust in Media, Pennsylvania.

Table of Contents

Foreword: The Growing Greener Program	xiii
Preface: Designing Land Development from a Bird's Perspective (Among Others)	xix
Introduction: How This Book Can Help You	xxiii
Context	1	(6)
Growth and Development Trends	1	(2)
Our Natural and Cultural Heritage	3	(1)
Growing Greener Applicability in a Wide Variety of Density Situations	4	(1)
Reasons for Updating Plans and Codes to Include a Conservation Focus	4	(1)
Frequently Asked Questions About Conservation Subdivision Design	5	(2)
How Your Community Can Choose Its Own Future	7	(12)
The Community Audit Process	8	(11)
Numerical Analysis	9	(1)
Written Review of Ordinances and Private Conservation Efforts	9	(5)
Build-Out Maps	14	(1)
Eight Self-Diagnostic Questions for Community Leaders	15	(4)
Comprehensive Plan Update	19	(10)
Understanding the Importance of Comprehensive Plans	19	(1)
Five Parts of the Plan on Which to Focus	20	(1)
The Community Resource Inventory: Varying Degrees of Completeness	21	(1)
The Community Resource Inventory: Nine Elements to Be Included	22	(2)
Official Maps of Conservation Lands, Parklands, and Trails	24	(1)
Community-Wide Map of Potential Conservation Lands	24	(2)
Plan Language Regarding Implementation Through Ordinances	26	(3)
Conservation Zoning Techniques	29	(24)
A Choice of Options for Conservation and Development	30	(4)
About the District Types	31	(3)
Illustrative Examples of the Various Options in a Rural Zoning District	34	(6)
Preexisting Zoning Requirements: Baseline Example	35	(1)
Notes About Lot Sizes in Options 1 Through 5	35	(1)
Neutral Density and Basic Conservation	36	(1)
Enhanced Conservation and Density	36	(1)
Estate Lots	37	(1)
Country Properties	37	(2)
Village Design with Greenbelt	39	(1)
Combining the Options on a Single Property	40	(1)
How Densities are Determined	40	(3)
First Method: Applying Density Factors	41	(2)
Second Method: The Yield Plan	43	(1)
Dimensional Standards for House Lots in Conservation Subdivisions	43	(5)
Lot Size and Value	44	(1)
Appearance and Community Character	45	(1)
Accommodating Wells and Septic Disposal Systems	46	(2)
Density Bonuses to Further Certain Public Objectives	48	(2)
Encouraging Public Usage	49	(1)
Endowing Management Costs	49	(1)
Encouraging Housing Affordability	49	(1)
Standards for Ownership, Protection, and Management of Conservation Lands	50	(3)
Ownership of Conservation Lands	50	(1)
Ensuring Permanent Protection of Conservation Lands	51	(1)
Management of Conservation Lands	52	(1)
Conservation Subdivisions: Application Documents, Design Process, and Conservation Land Design Standards	53	(26)
Basic Required Application Documents	54	(1)
Site Context Map	54	(1)
Existing Resources/Site Analysis Map	54	(1)
Elements of Existing Resources/Site Analysis Maps: Significance and Sources	55	(7)
Wetlands	55	(1)
Floodplains	56	(1)
Slopes	56	(1)
Soils	56	(1)
Significant Wildlife Habitats	57	(1)
Woodlands and Vegetation Patterns	58	(1)
Farmland	59	(1)
Historic, Archaeological, and Cultural Features	60	(1)
Views Into and Out from the Site	61	(1)
Groundwater Resources and Their Recharge Areas	62	(1)
Integrating the Information Layers and Ranking Site Features for Conservation Priority	62	(2)
Ranking Site Features for Conservation Priority	63	(1)
Special Procedural Steps Recommended for Conservation Subdivisions	64	(1)
The Four-Step Approach to Designing Conservation Subdivisions	65	(9)
``Yield Plan'' to Determine Density	66	(1)
Identifying Conservation Areas	67	(1)
Locating the House Sites	68	(2)
Aligning Streets and Trails	70	(1)
Drawing in the Lot Lines	71	(1)
Note on Design Sequence for Village Layouts	72	(1)
Technical Notes on Street Design	72	(2)
Preserving Rural Character Through ``Foreground Meadows''	74	(1)
Design of Conservation Lands	74	(5)
Location of Conservation Lands	75	(1)
Layout of Conservation Lands	75	(2)
Prioritizing Site Resource Areas for Conservation	77	(2)
Benefits of Conservation Planning and Design	79	(12)
Environmental and Ecological Benefits	79	(5)
Wildlife Management	80	(1)
Greater Water Quality Protection Through Improved Buffers	80	(1)
Greater Aquifer Recharge Through Improved Stormwater Management	81	(1)
Environmentally Sensitive Sewage Treatment and Disposal	81	(3)
Social and Recreational Benefits	84	(4)
Pedestrian-Friendly Neighborhoods	84	(1)
Community Activities	85	(1)
Community-Wide Greenways and Trails	85	(1)
Communities with Multiple Conservation Subdivisions	85	(2)
Model for the Midwest	87	(1)
Economic Benefits	88	(3)
Lower Costs	88	(1)
Marketing and Sales Advantages	88	(1)
Value Appreciation	89	(1)
Reduced Demand for New Public Parkland	90	(1)
Smoother Review	90	(1)
Examples of Subdivisions with Substantial Conservation Areas	91	(24)
Ringfield, Chadds Ford Township, Pennsylvania	92	(1)
The Ponds at Woodward, Kennett Township, Pennsylvania	93	(2)
The Fields of St. Croix, City of Lake Elmo, Minnesota	95	(2)
Prairie Crossing, Grayslake, Illinois	97	(2)
The Preserve at Hunter's Lake, Ottawa Township, Wisconsin	99	(2)
The Meadows at Dolly Gordon Brook, York, Maine	101	(3)
Farmcolony, Stanardsville, Virginia	104	(2)
Westwood Common, Beverly Hills, Michigan	106	(2)
Hunter's Pointe and Solitude Pointe, Hamburg Township, Michigan	108	(1)
The Ranch at Roaring Fork, Carbondale, Colorado	109	(3)
Village Homes, Davis, California	112	(3)
Design Exercise 1: Community-Wide Map of Potential Conservation Lands	115	(10)
Resource Data Layers	116	(7)
The Exercise: Combining Data Layers to Create an Integrated Map	123	(2)
Design Exercise 2: Laying Out a Conservation Subdivision	125	(10)
The Site: Riparian Woodlands and Meadows	125	(2)
Site Analysis Phase	127	(1)
Design Phase	128	(4)
One Solution to Design Exercise 2	132	(1)
Note on Scale and Density: Applying This Example in Townships with One-Acre Zoning	133	(2)
Appendix 1: Frequently Asked Questions About Conservation Subdivision Design	135	(8)
Appendix 2: Model Comprehensive Plan Language	143	(8)
Zoning Ordinance Refinements	144	(3)
Subdivision Ordinance Refinements	147	(4)
Appendix 3: Model Ordinance Language for Conservation Subdivisions	151	(72)
Zoning Ordinance Language	151	(16)
Article 1: Conservation Design Overlay District	151	(16)
Subdivision Ordinance Language	167	(56)
Article 4: Plan Content Requirements	167	(7)
Article 5: Plan Processing Procedures	174	(8)
Article 6: Resource Conservation and Greenway Delineation Standards	182	(7)
Article 7: Supplemental Design Standards for Option 5 Hamlets and Villages	189	(34)
Suggested Further Reading	223	(4)
About the Author	227	(2)
Index	229