LandChoices: Clustering homes-balance development and growth with conservation

Land Choices: Changing Development in America

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  LandChoices -
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Advantages of Conservation Subdivision for Municipalities

Designate conservation subdivision design as a By-Right Permitted Use as a no-cost way to preserve your communities valuable natural areas.

This is NOT Clustering
Learn more

Large Lot Zoning is not the Answer
Why large lot zoning does not work

Randall Arendt is the nation's foremost authority on conservation subdivision design. We recommend reading his terrific books below.

Rural By Design, Maintaining Small Town Character Growing Greener, Putting Conservation into Local Plans and Ordinances

Read how Randall Arendt is helping one Rhode Island town implement conservation development.

Turning M&M's into homes with Randall
Intelligent Design: Green space is priceless in subdivisions that work with nature (PDF)

All About Conservation Subdivisions
"Ever wonder why the vast majority of subdivisions look so much alike...?" asks Randall Arendt.
"A Constructive Critique of Outmoded Subdivision Ordinance Provisions"

Design Guidebook
48-page booklet Smart Development for Quality Communities Courtesy www.greenerprospects.com

Putting it into your codes
Growing Greener: Putting Conservation into Local Codes: (PDF) Courtesy www.greenerprospects.com

Using Conservation Design with New Urbanism
Conservation Design and New Urbanism

Video Clip: Randall Arendt discusses benefits of conservation development.

The Economics of Conservation Subdivisions
The Economics of Conservation Subdivisions (PDF)

"The results show that lots in conservation subdivisions carry a premium, are less expensive to build, and sell more quickly than lots in conventional subdivisions."

"Together, the results show that conservation subdivisions are more profitable to developers than conventional subdivisions."

"That lots in conservation subdivisions sold in about half the time as lots in conventional subdivisions must be advantageous to the cash flow of developers."

"These numbers translate into premiums for lots in conservation subdivisions ranging from $13,000 to $18,000 per acre over lots in conventional subdivisions."

Benefits to:
Landowners
Planners
Developers
Neighbors
Realtors
Residents

Subdivisions are inevitable
LandChoices' Supersize My Backyard^TMcampaign is helping communities preserve land at DownloadTheOrdinance.org

Advantages of
Conservation Subdivisions

Fair to Developers
Allow the same number of homes as conventional subdivisions. More profitable.

Attract New Business
Natural areas are critical to attract economic growth.

Preserve Quality of Life
Preserve tourism and agricultural economies.

Reduce Costs
Municipal service provision is cheaper when homes are not widely scattered.

Save Money
Reduced demand and costs for public land acquisition. Hamburg Township in Livingston County, Michigan implemented conservation subdivision design and has protected nearly 2,000 acres at no cost to the communtiy, representing a land value of at least $40 million.

Reduce Your Stress
Helps eliminate NIMBY ("not in my backyard") complaints

Clean Water, Lower Costs
Reduced storm water run off, pollution and treatment costs.

Learn More
Cultivating Natural and Cultural Landscapes through Conservation Subdivision Design (PDF)

All about conservation design subdivisions (PDF)

Frequently Asked Questions

Photo courtesy Traverse Magazine