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Conservation Development

What is Conservation Development?

Conversation development is a method of developing land for housing in a way that preserves open space for future generations. Typically, it involves building homes in groups with smaller lot sizes, protecting natural features and open space for use by all the residents.

Why is it important?

Conservation development offers a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the land's regional character. Whether hill country, prairie or coastal plain, this approach to land development is appropriate because it preserves the unique local flora and fauna. Conservation development is a way to show that humans can work with the rest of nature to achieve their own goals without compromising a healthy ecology.

Resources:

(To receive updates on Conservation Development resources and the Symposia, please click here.)

Information from the 2006 Conservation Development Symposium:

Harold Teasdale, Developer of Jackson Meadow
Presentation: Where The Rubber Meets the Road In Conservation Development

Chris Allen, Developer of The Woodson Place
Presentation: Legacy Landowners Development Model

Joseph L. Lessard, Consultant for Travis County
Presentation: Conservation Development Ordinance for Travis County

David Venhuizen, Engineer of Waste Water Management Systems
Presentation: Innovative Ways to Conserve Water: Opportunities for Conservation Development plus presentation script

John Davis, Urban Biologist at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Presentation: Creating a Site-Based Rating System for Conservation Development - Part One and PartTwo

John L. Crompton, Professor of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences at Texas A & M University




Publications by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center:

Other resources:

Books:

  • Growing Greener: Putting Conservation into Local Plans and Ordinances
  • Conservation Design for Subdivisions
  • The Practice of Sustainable Development
    Articles:
  • Conservation Based Affordable Housing: Improving the Nature of Affordable Housing
  • Flawed Processes, Flawed Results, and a Potential Solution
  • Greenfield Development Without Sprawl
    Ordinances:
  • Travis County (proposed draft)
  • City of Dripping Springs (adopted)
    Websites:
  • NCAT's Smart Communities Network
  • LandChoices
  • Greener Prospects
    News:
  • Save as we Pave?
  • Sprawl Ain't All

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    Where is this happening

    Jackson Meadow
    Marine on St. Croix, MN
    www.jacksonmeadow.com     		Sugar Creek Preserve
    Walworth County, WI
    www.sugarcreekpreserve.com
    Hidden Creek at the Darby
    Columbus, OH
    www.hiddencreekdarby.com     		The Fields of St. Croix
    Lake Elmo, MN
    www.engstromco.com/prev_fields
    Prairie Crossing
    Grayslake, IL
    www.prairiecrossing.com     		The Woodson Place
    Rains County, TX
    www.woodsonplace.com
    Santa Lucia Preserve
    Monterey County, CA
    www.santaluciapreserve.com     		Tryon Farm
    Michigan City, IN
    www.tryonfarm.com
    Serenbe
    Fulton County, GA
    www.serenbecommunity.com