LandChoices: Enhancing Subdivision Value by Randall Arendt

Land Choices: Changing Development in America

Enhancing Subdivision Value Through Conservation Design
Introduction
Features

The 4 Steps
Indentify Areas
Locate House Sites
Align Streets
Draw Lot Lines

Enhancing Subdivision Value
Through Conservation Design By Randall Arendt

Introduction Features Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 End

Step 4: Drawing in the Lot Lines
The final step is simply a matter of drawing in the lot lines, perhaps the least important part of the process. Successful developers of conservation subdivisions know that most buyers prefer homes in attractive park-like settings and that views of protected green space enable them to sell lots or homes faster and at premium prices (Figs. 7 and 8). Such homes also tend to appreciate more in value, compared with those on lots in standard “cookie-cutter” developments offering no views or nearby green space.

Tying it all Together
The site design process described above should be related to the Community’s Map of Potential Conservation Lands contained in its Comprehensive Plan, or at least to criteria guiding the location of the conservation lands so that linkages will be created between resource areas on adjoining properties. As each parcel is developed, the conservation lands network will emerge as a protected greenway system encompassing whatever features the community has identified in its plans and ordinance as being important to design around and save.

Because of its built-in cost savings and inherent adaptability to virtually any kind of development site, the conservation subdivision is the basic “building block” for creating value-enhancing open space networks in your community. When the inherent benefits of this approach are properly explained to local officials and residents, they often become much more amenable to revising their codes to encourage basic conservation design principles in new subdivisions. One way of introducing these concepts into your community is to incorporate sessions on conservation design in the continuing education courses for various land-use professionals working in your area, such as those the author has conducted for the state board of Realtors® in both Delaware and Maryland.

For further information about conservation design, check out the author’s web site:
www.greenerprospects.com.

Enhancing Subdivision Value Through Conservation Design						End
Introduction	Features	Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4