_Environmental Planning+Design_ |
LAND USE PLANNING:
We provide land use planning primarily in rural environments. The ‘seek first to understand’ principle
that drives our effort is essential to grasp the complex set of variables unique to each site. While this
task consumes a large part of our effort, it yields the greatest benefit.
Our ecologically based inventory and analysis of nature’s systems enable fitting man’s development
program within this context with the least adverse impact and the most harmonious blending of
natural and man-made systems. We use cutting edge practices of rainwater harvesting and re-use for
various man-needed purposes, bio-mimicry in design, bio-filtration of storm water, and other
sustainable practices in deciding which land is best suited for each purpose.
Step one is identifying natural resource gems that should be made accessible by the general public.
Resource gems such as waterways and riparian corridors of varying scope enable linking communities
and neighborhoods along green preservation networks that provide recreation as well as pedestrian,
bicycle and equestrian circulation.
The ill-considered subdivision designs of past decades destroy the very rural quality people move to
the suburbs to be near. Farm and orchards are quickly divided up into half-acre parcels, streams are
put in a pipe to be ‘out of the way’ and woodlots of mature trees are stripped to make it convenient
for developers and builders to do their old approach to provide stratified, sterile cookie cutter human
boxes. In the end, the rural quality people value is gone. Clearly there is a better way.
Natural resource identification, the village concept of live, work & play communities that are near, but
do not destroy, the gems of the natural environment provide more healthy, more livable, more
enjoyable communities. These linked by networks for greenspace corridors enable preservation and
enjoyment of the best while accommodating needed development.
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We provide land use planning primarily in rural environments. The ‘seek first to understand’ principle
that drives our effort is essential to grasp the complex set of variables unique to each site. While this
task consumes a large part of our effort, it yields the greatest benefit.
Our ecologically based inventory and analysis of nature’s systems enable fitting man’s development
program within this context with the least adverse impact and the most harmonious blending of
natural and man-made systems. We use cutting edge practices of rainwater harvesting and re-use for
various man-needed purposes, bio-mimicry in design, bio-filtration of storm water, and other
sustainable practices in deciding which land is best suited for each purpose.
Step one is identifying natural resource gems that should be made accessible by the general public.
Resource gems such as waterways and riparian corridors of varying scope enable linking communities
and neighborhoods along green preservation networks that provide recreation as well as pedestrian,
bicycle and equestrian circulation.
The ill-considered subdivision designs of past decades destroy the very rural quality people move to
the suburbs to be near. Farm and orchards are quickly divided up into half-acre parcels, streams are
put in a pipe to be ‘out of the way’ and woodlots of mature trees are stripped to make it convenient
for developers and builders to do their old approach to provide stratified, sterile cookie cutter human
boxes. In the end, the rural quality people value is gone. Clearly there is a better way.
Natural resource identification, the village concept of live, work & play communities that are near, but
do not destroy, the gems of the natural environment provide more healthy, more livable, more
enjoyable communities. These linked by networks for greenspace corridors enable preservation and
enjoyment of the best while accommodating needed development.
Top of page
The Biosphere Group
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Biosphere Planning+Design |
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