Post-Construction Storm Water Management in New Development & Redevelopment: Open Space Design
"Open space design, also known as conservation development or cluster development, is a better site design technique that concentrates dwelling units in a compact area in one portion of the development site in exchange for providing open space and natural areas elsewhere on the site. The minimum lot sizes, setbacks and frontage distances for the residential zone are relaxed in order to create the open space at the site. Open space designs have many benefits in comparison to the conventional subdivisions that they replace: they can reduce impervious cover, storm water pollutants, construction costs, grading, and the loss of natural areas. However, many communities lack zoning ordinances to permit open space development, and even those that have enacted ordinances might need to revise them to achieve greater water quality and environmental benefits.
"The benefits of open space design can be amplified when it is combined with other better site design techniques such as narrow streets, open channels, and alternative turnarounds." [from Factsheet Description]
March 2003
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Pamphlet/Flyer/Factsheet, Electronic File
Stormwater Management, Water Quality/Quantity, Sustainable Development
National
Open space, Open space, Leaf characteristics, Leaf characteristics, Conservation design, Conservation design, Phase II, Phase II, NPDES, NPDES
SCUFR&I
