Workshop Descriptions
Workshop DescriptionsThis workshop session presents a practical, easy-to-use technique that enables developers and local officials to work together to accomplish their different objectives, namely the construction of full-density residential subdivisions (developers' goal) in such a way that helps to build a community-wide network of permanent conservation land (officials' goal).
This program is extensively illustrated with numerous financially successful examples of "conservation subdivision design", together with a straight-forward four-step methodology of laying out residential developments around the central organizing principle of open space conservation. Developments of this nature are "twice green" simultaneously achieving both economic and environmental goals.
Together with the varied examples of conservation subdivisions that have been designed, proposed, reviewed, approved, financed, built, sold, and lived in, this program describes a simple four-step design process through which this kind of development can be easily laid out. In addition to illustrating several case studies in which this four-step process has been successfully followed, the program describes some additional design enhancements that improve marketability and bottom-line profitability (through lot premiums and faster absorption).
Lastly, the program describes how this design process can fit into the local regulatory framework through specific provisions in comprehensive plans, zoning ordinances, and subdivision regulations. As each conservation subdivision is completed, another link I the community-wide network of open lands is expanded, until ultimately a interconnected network of conservation areas is preserved.
The Greener Aspects of the “New Urbanism”: This workshop also contains a segment describing how these principles can be applied to higher-density infill projects in serviced locations, and in situations involving incremental growth around the community's outer edges. This part of the program showcases the design insights provided by the New Urbanist movement, which takes a more formal, mixed-use approach to creating compact development in areas with utility connections -- complementing conservation design which is typically applied in more outlying areas.
Land Conservation Results: Examples of communities that have preserved hundreds (sometimes thousands) of acres of open space within a five-year period without spending a dollar of public money will be cited, all involving situations where developers have achieved their full density objectives at a lower production cost, and where the original equity of landowners has not been disturbed.
For instance, the planning approach advocated in Growing Greener has conserved more than 500 acres of prime farmland in a single township (Lower Makefield, Bucks, County, PA) in just five years, and that figure continues to rise as new conservation subdivisions are propose and approve. At an average land value of $7,000 per acre, this represents approximately $3.5 million worth of conservation, achieved without spending public funds, without controversial down-zoning, and without complicated density transfers (TDRs).
A similar per-acre saving has also occurred in Hamburg Township, Livingston County, Michigan, where approximately 2,000 acres of land have been protected through conservation subdivision design over the last ten years.
And no fewer than 5,000 acres have also been saved through this same technique in Hanover County, Virginia during the first decade of these new design techniques having been adopted and applied. The combined value of those lands is in the neighborhood of $100 million, which makes this technique probably one of the most cost-effective planning tools available to growingcommunities on the metro-edge.
As a follow-up to the slide lecture, a participatory workshop is offered to provide conference attendees with an opportunity to learn first-hand how to design a subdivision around the special features of any given property. This workshop gives everyone the chance to internalize what they have seen and heard during the previous slide lecture by applying the four-step design process to a real parcel of land, selecting house sites in relation to the pre-identified conservation areas, aligning streets and trails, and finally drawing in the lot lines. Participants typically say that this exercise really helps them understand exactly how the conservation design principles illustrated in the slides actually work on a piece of ground, and makes the lecture even more meaningful. It is especially recommended for those without a background in creative design, such as local officials, engineers, surveyors, and most land-use planners.
Re-development Design Strategies to Create Mixed-Use Centers
This presentation focuses on practical ways of reclaiming existing highway strips characterized by dysfunctionality and visual blight. Multiple strategies blending the twin disciplines of Conservation Design and New Urbanism are discussed for rebuilding these corridors, gradually increasing their functionality and attractiveness.
These concepts offer significant opportunities for commercial and mixed-use redevelopment, particularly in areas with existing infrastructure, increasing the viability of businesses, service providers, and current /future public transit lines.
A digital slideshow illustrates progressive approaches, emphasizing multi-story mixed-use buildings, affordable housing, public transit possibilities, shade tree planting, design standards, signage, native landscaping, improved circulation patterns, parking lot orientation, stormwater infiltration/recharge, night sky protection, and solar features.
This topic is of interest to civic leaders, Planning Board/Commission members, professional planners, landscape architects, and engineers, commercial property owners and investors, and developers, who stand to benefit from the redevelopment and adaptive reuse of aging highway commercial corridors into multi-use centers for the 21st century.
Because the typical design life of most of these buildings is often only 25 to 30 years, communities can position themselves to guide the future replacement of existing structures when they are redeveloped and demolished, by working now to articulate a vision, adopt plans, enact flexible codes, and provide other incentives to help assure the future will produce economically viable and aesthetically attractive corridors that will meet the multiple needs, desires and challenges of local residents and business owners.
Attractive, well-designed, and landscaped highway corridors are always more profitable than corridors cluttered with giant signs and haphazard development. Both the public and private sectors are recognizing that investing in high-quality design is good for both business and the community."
--Ed McMahon, ULI Senior Fellow, Urban Land Institute, Washington, DC
The workshop addresses the following specific topic areas, among others:
This workshop presentation is generously illustrated with numerous successful examples, including photos of national chains and franchises which have been required to either restore existing historic buildings or to design and construct new buildings fitting the local character, rather than erecting their standard boxes. It also includes examples of infilling techniques for downtown situations.
Designing around Mature Trees: Georgetown TX and Lake County FL
Designing around Historic Farmhouses and Stone Barns: Conway NH & East Pikeland, PA