Conservation Development
This site planning approach is an enlightened way for developers to build in the Texas Hill Country. The concept is simple: consider the environmental qualities of the land first, set aside a large portion of acreage for conservation and cluster housing in a given area. The reserved open space provides an amenity for homeowners, lowers the developer’s infrastructure costs and preserves the land’s regional character, natural beauty and wildlife habitats for future generations.
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin is an excellent resource on conservation development, and there are land planners in the Hill Country who specialize in this more sustainable approach to development design. Please contact HCA if you are interested in a referral.
Read News on Conservation Development and Find Upcoming Events.
Helpful documents:
Conservation Development in Texas - A primer on conservation development.
Convervation Subdivision Design Overview - An overview of the process and benefits of Conservation Subdivision Design.
Conservation Design Benefits - A summary of the economic benefits of Convervation Design.
Flawed Processes, Flawed Results, and a Potential Solution - A Constructive Critique of Outmoded Subdivision Ordinance Provisions.
Conservation Design vs Typical Cluster Regulations - An overview of how the "Growing Greener" model ordinances differ from traditional "cluster" regulations.
Enhancing Subdivision Value through Conservation Design - Conservation subdivision designs are “twice green” because they succeed both environmentally and economically.
Creating Greener Communities Through Conservation Subdivision Design - Describing what is arguably the most effective land planning technique yet devised in this country for protecting community-wide greenways and open space networks.
Economics of Conservation Subdivisions - Examining
price premiums, investment costs, and absorption rates for lots in conservation versus those
in conventional subdivisions.
Helpful links:
www.wildflower.org/consdev
www.planning.org
www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/rcd/
www.texasrcd.org/
The American Farmland Trust's E-newsletter
LandChoices.org - Offers landowners effective alternatives to the loss of natural areas, working farms and wildlife.
Greener Prospects - A unique consulting firm that bridges the gap between land-use planning and land conservation.
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