Light Imprints -- Integrating Sustainability and Community Design
This entry will detail the second of the two webinars that I participated in during mid July. In this webinar, we dealt with the topics raised in Thomas E. Low's new book entitled: "Light Imprint Handbook -- Integrating Sustainability and Community Design". This does NOT mean that we dealt with street or exterior lighting issues, but rather the broad area of community planning to create a more sustainable community via the wise use of planning from the aspects of storm water management, street and park placement, proper use of open space and its preservation, along with other items.
To accomplish these goals we need to change our mindsets about how we go about community planning. For example, we MUST attempt to create a gradual and continual transition from rural to city environment via the use of green ways that weave this together in a coordinated fashion. This avoid the sharp contrast between rural open space and dense urban settings.
One of the first tools used is to deal with storm water management in a more natural and aesthetic manner by NOT using Pipe and Pit methods in which a series of drainage pipes leads to a retention pond or other storage system. Rather we will use a series of vegetative swails or a series of rain gardens to keep the storm water on the original property and have it recharge the aquifer right there. In doing this, we create a natural setting that emulates nature, rather than place a large artificial open retention pond. This is known as Low Impact Best Management Practice.
Open space is further preserved by not cutting down and replacing all the vegetation. Rather, we will aim to keep as much of the tree and plant life on the site and work around them when designing a site or subdivision plan.
The term Smart Code enters into the picture, as we need to further coordinate this effort via the updating of planning and land-use codes to move this effort along. Environmental corporate responsibility is needed as well; all too often, office parks have in the past clear-cut land and over-paved the original open space.
The need to create a walkable and linked community is a MAJOR priority here. We aim to NEVER cut a community into two or more separate unconnected sections by placing a drainage channel or other non-walkable structure between them. Corner cafes and urban interior block parking lots are also used.
The City of Habersham, South Carolina was profiled in their highly successful efforts here. It was shown how low impact parking lots for the management of storm water runoff was used. In this effort, as described above, they used existing trees and landscape elements in the drainage efforts rather than replace them.
Green sprawl v.s Urban Green deals with concept of creating low impact rain gardens for drainage, and weaving in open space with developed space. This contrasts with the traditional approach in which large "McMansion" style homes are built on small lots with very shallow setbacks.
Green ways that function as both parks and transportation are also a valuable tool. Charlotte, North Carolina has used them with great success in their street car system. Intra-modal transportation also plays a role here in that several modes of transportation -- pedestrian, bicycle, rail, bus and car can be accessed in a seamless fashion from a low-impact center.
As said earlier, the need to incorporate nature into the community is paramount. This is best done by gradually transitioning from a dense wooded or open rural landscape into an urban community. This also has the benefit of creating a better sense of community life and well-being.
Cost is a big issue here; in light of the current economic situation facing most municipalities, we need to be aware of this, and be ready to use alternative sustainable designs that are less costly.
A concept known as Light Impact Overlay is used to plan for really sustainable coordinated communities. Here, we will see extensive use of pocket parks and less "pipe to to pit" drainage systems. When properly done, this can actually save 30% per lot in development costs.
In summary, if a well planned transition from rural to urban development is undertaken, we will have a seamless, fully interconnected and highly functional community in which its residents can reside in, work and play with very minimal impact on the environment.
To accomplish these goals we need to change our mindsets about how we go about community planning. For example, we MUST attempt to create a gradual and continual transition from rural to city environment via the use of green ways that weave this together in a coordinated fashion. This avoid the sharp contrast between rural open space and dense urban settings.
One of the first tools used is to deal with storm water management in a more natural and aesthetic manner by NOT using Pipe and Pit methods in which a series of drainage pipes leads to a retention pond or other storage system. Rather we will use a series of vegetative swails or a series of rain gardens to keep the storm water on the original property and have it recharge the aquifer right there. In doing this, we create a natural setting that emulates nature, rather than place a large artificial open retention pond. This is known as Low Impact Best Management Practice.
Open space is further preserved by not cutting down and replacing all the vegetation. Rather, we will aim to keep as much of the tree and plant life on the site and work around them when designing a site or subdivision plan.
The term Smart Code enters into the picture, as we need to further coordinate this effort via the updating of planning and land-use codes to move this effort along. Environmental corporate responsibility is needed as well; all too often, office parks have in the past clear-cut land and over-paved the original open space.
The need to create a walkable and linked community is a MAJOR priority here. We aim to NEVER cut a community into two or more separate unconnected sections by placing a drainage channel or other non-walkable structure between them. Corner cafes and urban interior block parking lots are also used.
The City of Habersham, South Carolina was profiled in their highly successful efforts here. It was shown how low impact parking lots for the management of storm water runoff was used. In this effort, as described above, they used existing trees and landscape elements in the drainage efforts rather than replace them.
Green sprawl v.s Urban Green deals with concept of creating low impact rain gardens for drainage, and weaving in open space with developed space. This contrasts with the traditional approach in which large "McMansion" style homes are built on small lots with very shallow setbacks.
Green ways that function as both parks and transportation are also a valuable tool. Charlotte, North Carolina has used them with great success in their street car system. Intra-modal transportation also plays a role here in that several modes of transportation -- pedestrian, bicycle, rail, bus and car can be accessed in a seamless fashion from a low-impact center.
As said earlier, the need to incorporate nature into the community is paramount. This is best done by gradually transitioning from a dense wooded or open rural landscape into an urban community. This also has the benefit of creating a better sense of community life and well-being.
Cost is a big issue here; in light of the current economic situation facing most municipalities, we need to be aware of this, and be ready to use alternative sustainable designs that are less costly.
A concept known as Light Impact Overlay is used to plan for really sustainable coordinated communities. Here, we will see extensive use of pocket parks and less "pipe to to pit" drainage systems. When properly done, this can actually save 30% per lot in development costs.
In summary, if a well planned transition from rural to urban development is undertaken, we will have a seamless, fully interconnected and highly functional community in which its residents can reside in, work and play with very minimal impact on the environment.
Posted by Alan L. Englander at 8/8/2010 6:27 PM 
Categories: Integration of Sustainable Design with Community Planning, Smart Code, New Urbanist Tools, Stormwater and natural Drainage, Urban Green, Green Sprawl, Low Impact Best Management Practice, Light Impact Overlay
Categories: Integration of Sustainable Design with Community Planning, Smart Code, New Urbanist Tools, Stormwater and natural Drainage, Urban Green, Green Sprawl, Low Impact Best Management Practice, Light Impact Overlay
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