Conservation Design for Subdivisions

In Conservation Design for Subdivisions, Randall G. Arendt explores better ways of designing new residential developments. He presents a practical handbook for residential developers, site designers, local officials, and landowners that explains how to implement new ideas about land-use planning and environmental protection.

Abundantly illustrated with site plans (in color), floor plans, photographs, and renditions of houses and landscapes, it describes a series of simple and straightforward techniques that allow for land-conserving development.

The author proposes a step-by-step approach to conserving natural areas by rearranging density on each development parcel as it is being planned so that no more than half of the buildable land is turned into houselots and streets. Homes are built in a less land-consumptive manner that allows the balance of property to be permanently protected and added to an interconnected network of green spaces and green corridors.

Included in the volume are model zoning and subdivision ordinance provisions that can help citizens and local officials implement these innovative designs.