3. Conservation subdivisions have the same overall density as zoning would allow with a conventional subdivision, no more, no less. The houses are simply rearranged to preserve over half of the buildable land.

This is NOT a PUD (planned unit development) style development where densities often are increased.

4. Save Public Money. Conservation subdivisions reduce demand and costs for public land acquisition. The typically shorter street systems reduce the public cost of regular repaving every 7-10 years.

5. Economic advantages for developers include reduced costs for grading streets and utilities, faster sales velocity, lot premiums, and more.

6. Clean Water, Lower Expenses. Conservation subdivisions greatly reduce storm water run off, water pollution and water treatment costs and increase ground water recharge due to the large tracts of natural lands which filter and absorb water. Lakeshores, rivers and streams are often left undeveloped to preserve natural areas and for all residents to enjoy.

7. Lot sizes in conservation subdivisions vary in size determined by market demand and the area. For instance, in Sugar Creek Preserve, a conservation subdivision in southern Wisconsin, lot sizes range from 40,510 sq. ft. (.93 acres) to 187,448 SF (4.3 acres) with the average being 53,500 sq. ft. (1.3 acres). At Sugar Creek Preserve the base density was five acres per dwelling (i.e, conventinal lots would be five acres minimum).

Other conservation subdivisions offer lot sizes of 3/4 acre, 1/2 acre, and some in urban settings offer lot sizes at 1/4 acre. As most of the homes have views of open space, and access to these acres, the size of the yard becomes much less important. This has been proven time and time again in fast selling lake lots and golf course developments which have smaller lot sizes.

8. Although the intent may be to protect land, large lot residential zoning often wastes land. Low density development, such as 2, 5 and 10-acre lots, often mean that development will needlessly consume more productive farmland and woodland habitat with their large land-hog lots. Often large lots do not preserve natural lands or rural character and are simply large manicured lawns that will eventually be rezoned and split up.

9. It works! Hamburg Township in Livingston County, Michigan implemented conservation subdivision design and has protected nearly 2,000 acres at no cost to the community, representing a land value of $40 million. Applied on a county-wide basis, Hanover County, Virginia has protected over 5,000 acres through conservation design at no cost to the community.

10. Communities that adopt these standards (conservation subdivisions) are preserving an average of 62% of land each time a property is developed, according to the Natural Lands Trust, in Media, PA.