Sustainable Land Development Today - November/December 2007 - (Page 30) TRENDS enough to support the proposed homes and a conventional septic system, with allowances made for repair/expansion area should the septic system fail in the future. This layout creates a very uniform distribution of homes and usage of the entire land area. Utilizing this system can allow planners to achieve the same number, if not more individual home sites, while preserving and enhancing the overall aesthetics of the property. They can also allow planners and developers to reduce individual lot sizes and increase lot density while retaining larger areas of open green space. ASPHALT ENERGY & RECYCLING PERFORMANCE WAT E R Q U A L I T Y The Sustainable Pavement The green space within the development can remain in its natural state or be utilized for community areas, parks, greenways and other enhanced land use projects. Increasing lot density means that planners can allow growth in total numbers of home sites while reducing overall land use, loss of agricultural lands, etc. Earlier this year in central Kentucky, representatives from local agencies in Hardin County began meeting to evaluate the use of the decentralized cluster concept for new development. Due to its proximity to Fort Knox, and the establishment of a 1, 500-acre industrial site, the rural area of Hardin County is experiencing growth in residential developments. The local Health Department approved 640 on-site septic systems in one year. “The decentralized cluster concept will allow us to continue approving growth while minimizing the impact this growth has on our rural character,” said Chris Hunsinger, Director of the Hardin County Planning Commission. “The ability to actually increase lot density while preserving more open green space is a great tool for proper land use and adds to the quality of life in the community as a whole.” CLEAN AIR & COOL CITIES Benefits to the Developer Developing an unsewered rural property in the traditional manner requires that each individual home site stand on its own in terms of its viability to support a conventional system. Often there is a percentage of individual lots that must be left vacant due to individual site constraints. This concept assures that every proposed lot will become a buildable lot and allows the developer the ability to accurately forecast and plan the total investment return. Creating green space and common-use areas in a planned development can contribute significantly to the overall property value. While the developer must spend dollars upfront to install the required infrastructure, the benefits of increased lot prices and higher lot density can result in a higher return on the developers overall investment. A decentralized infrastructure can be phased more easily than centralized wastewater systems. The cluster concept can allow developers to turn unusable land into profitable home sites. Properties with steep slopes, shallow bedrock, poor soils and other restrictions can be utilized for home sites while reserv- 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.LandDevelopmentToday.com/adinfo 30 November/December 2007 Sustainable Land Development Today http://PaveGreen.com http://PaveGreen.com http://www.LandDevelopmentToday.com/adinfo
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