Sustainable Land Development Today - May 2008 - (Page 19)

Visionary Awards Sales started in 2003 – before green building became a national buzzword – the development was designed to accommodate the natural features on the site, much of which had been altered for farming. Bonita Bay Group planned Verandah to re-establish historic flow ways that had been interrupted by agricultural use, undertook a comprehensive inventory of the site’s ecosystems, and reworked the community’s neighborhoods, roadways and amenities to impact as few trees as possible. Conservation areas were preserved and restored to provide habitat for wildlife and to return the land to a more natural state. Nearly 1,000 of Verandah’s 1,456 acres have been set aside as open space, including natural preserve areas, parks, wetlands, lakes, golf course and a riverfront conservation buffer. Verandah has more than nine miles of walkways, paths and fitness trails. The developer also included a commercial component with a supermarket, banks and other businesses, minimizing residents’ commute for groceries and services. Instead of a large clubhouse, Verandah was designed with four amenities buildings nestled under a hammock of live oaks. Trees impacted by development were relocated elsewhere on site. There is also a conservation buffer along the Orange River. Planning for Verandah began in 1999. Sales launched in February 2003. As of March 2008, nearly 50 percent of Verandah’s estimated 1,700 homes have been sold. The developer involved members of the community in the planning process. The resulting surveys and assessments were assembled into an 11-page “Green Commitments” document that outlined the steps the company would take at Verandah, including responsible site development, conservation and green building. Verandah’s landscaping was also designed with drought-tolerant plants that require less water to maintain. In early 2004, Verandah was recognized by Firewise Communities USA as one of the first communities nationally to take steps to reduce its wildfire threat. In 2006, it was named the Florida Association of Realtors Environmental (ENVY) Award winner for proving that development and nature can coexist. SLDT ASPHALT PERFORMANCE WAT E R Q U A L I T Y The Sustainable Pavement ENERGY & RECYCLING CLEAN AIR & COOL CITIES Asphalt is the sustainable material for constructing pavements. Learn more at PaveGreen.com. From the production of the paving material, to the placement of the pavement on the road, to rehabilitation, through recycling, asphalt pavements minimize impact on the environment. Low consumption of energy for production and construction, low emission of greenhouse gases, and conservation of natural resources help make asphalt the environmental pavement of choice. • What industry is America’s number one recycler? • How can asphalt pavements reduce road noise? • What kinds of asphalt pavements can help manage stormwater? • How can asphalt pavements mitigate the urban heat island (UHI) effect? Visit PaveGreen.com to learn more. Circle 109 • or www.SLDTonline.com/webcard www.SLDTonline.com 19 http://PaveGreen.com http://PaveGreen.com http://www.SLDTonline.com/webcard http://www.SLDTonline.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Sustainable Land Development Today - May 2008

Sustainable Land Development Today - May 2008 Contents Our Voice Editorial Board SLDT Resources Addressing a Crisis with Wastewater Recycling Visionary Award Finalists The Jonquil City - How a City Revitalized its Downtown Industry Spotlight: Enviroquip Solar Power System Design and Installation Stormwater: The Return of the Cistern Site Amenity: Fiber Optics Surveying and Mapping Wastewater: Low-Pressure System Special Feature: The Urban Canopy as Infrastructure Industry News Advertiser Index Products/Services Showcase Classifieds The Last Word: Nature Bats Last…

Sustainable Land Development Today - May 2008

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