Sustainable Land Development Today - March 2008 - (Page 16) SITE DESIGN/LAND USE The location selected for the Vineyards came loaded with a number of environmental challenges. Seated on a peninsula in a critical watershed, the site is replete with wetlands, vegetation, and sensitive wildlife habitat. Waters and his group, Provident Development, not only wanted to be sure they adhered to all of the required regulations and permitting processes, but also wanted to do right by Mother Nature. That is, they wanted to do whatever was practical to protect the fragile environment and include it as an inherent part of the new development. “That much of a sustainable scope was fairly new to me,” said Waters. “But we wanted to embrace it. With so much focus on water quality these days, any time you can create a community using sustainable design, I think it will be market-acceptable and market-saleable.” With that goal in mind, Provident put together a team of civil engineers and environmental scientists to come up with several ideas for protecting the project’s REDEFINE & MAXIMIZE WITH AQUAMASTER® delicate surroundings and incorporating sustainability. After meeting with the local representatives of the state’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the consultants sat down with Provident to figure out what was possible for the site and for the project’s budget. “We worked with the developer to show him which elements assist in helping the environment the most at the least cost,” said Dan Latta, a Aerial overlays show the areas designated for trees, stormwater project manager with conponds, buffers, and other vegetation. sulting engineering firm Stantec. “We agreed to do cerextra erosion control measures, and tain elements, and showed him what higher runoff treatment levels and incosts to expect versus the costs of other stalled rain gardens as primary runoff required or elected measures.“ containment areas. The designers also reFor the many wetlands, for instance, duced the amount of mass grading on inbuffers and stormwater management dividual lots and steep slopes to save systems were essential. To be sure those trees, leaving nearly 200 acres as open areas were protected, the design team space. added larger buffers around the lake, Working with the local zoning agency and environmental groups, the project team also preserved one especially sensitive area as a Blue Heron rookery. Although that meant a loss of potential lots, the project team wanted to not only protect the birds’ habitat but also create a unique living experience in a community that exists in harmony with nature. With the many natural buffers, trees, AERATION and water features incorporated into the site, the final design allowed that vision to work. “It all makes for a better community,” Waters says. Building Relationships Finding the balance between environmental conservation and marketable properties, however, is not easy. All parties involved in a project—from the site engineers and developers to the local officials and regulators—must work closely together to find compromises and solutions. For many projects, these more sustainable techniques often don’t fit within the city or state’s normal standards. That means the project team must communicate regularly with local officials to establish new engineering standards based AQUA AIR™ VOLCANO II OXYMAX ™ MASTER THE POWER AND BEAUTY OF WATER WWW.AQUAMASTERFOUNTAINS.COM 1.800.693.3144 Circle 122 • or www.SLDTonline.com/webcard 16 March 2008 Sustainable Land Development Today http://WWW.AQUAMASTERFOUNTAINS.COM http://WWW.AQUAMASTERFOUNTAINS.COM http://www.SLDTonline.com/webcard
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