| Today, land developers are turning to | | | | can be more productive to dedicate uncleared |
| environmentally friendly methods to keep | | | | land to be used as a park or a permanent open |
| construction costs down and still provide quality | | | | space. Grading can contribute to runoff on a site. |
| construction.. This technique is referred to as | | | | Following simple practices to reduce runoff such |
| conservation land development. Conservation land | | | | as having water flow across grass or natural |
| development is a combination of developing the | | | | areas is an alternative option. Again this is where |
| land while conserving and protecting natural | | | | your development teams' expertise comes into |
| resources yet still generating revenues. Based | | | | play. |
| upon the increase of environmental awareness in | | | | Storm Water Management: |
| the past decade, land development is changing. | | | | Today developers need to be concerned with the |
| There are cost saving methods that can be used | | | | quality of water leaving a site as well as how to |
| in land development that still allow for building | | | | get the water off the site without causing |
| affordable environmentally friends properties. | | | | downstream flooding. There are several cost |
| A few suggestions on ways to achieve | | | | effective approaches to developing land that limit |
| environmental friendly properties are as follows: | | | | storm water runoff and reduce pollutants. The |
| Cleaning and Grading | | | | first step is to minimize the amount of the runoff |
| Developers are challenged today with rising costs | | | | area. This can be done by eliminating sidewalks on |
| to clear and dispose of debris. One way to reduce | | | | one or both sides of streets, using non-paved |
| landscaping costs is to preserve as much of the | | | | driveways, running roof drains to natural swales |
| natural area of the land as possible. Local | | | | or grassy areas and making sure that the width |
| ordinances were created to make more functional | | | | of streets are minimized. However, sometimes |
| and attractive communities. However by doing | | | | communities have ordinances that require |
| this, community regulations sometimes create | | | | excessively wide streets. You may be able to |
| environmental problems. An example is strict | | | | negotiate changes. |
| limitations on street slopes, driveways and finished | | | | Waste Management: |
| lots with limited options to clear and regrade | | | | Using alternative methods other than conventional |
| parcels. One way to preserve natural areas is to | | | | sewer or on site disposals is recommended |
| find ways to design and build properties on slopes | | | | whenever possible. Developers should balance |
| with steep grades. It is recommended to follow | | | | their decisions against buyers' demand and needs. |
| the natural contours of the land as much as | | | | The other benefits to land conservation are you |
| possible. Your architect or engineer will | | | | may receive industry or public recognition for |
| recommend conservation methods for your | | | | your conservation efforts which gives you |
| particular project. For instance, in home | | | | increased market exposure. Land conservation |
| development, minimizing the disturbance of the | | | | and natural preservation are influencing the way |
| land is the best solution while combing with other | | | | properties are being developed today more than |
| approaches such as clustering. By using the | | | | ever. Finding innovative methods of land |
| clustering technique, you get higher density in a | | | | conservation is extremely important to the |
| smaller area of the parcel of land. The rest of the | | | | development process. |
| site can be left in its natural state. Sometimes it | | | | |