Having you Cake and Eating It Too: How Building a Great City can Best Preserve out Natural Areas

Date

Jan. 25, 2007

Authors

Jacob, JS

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Galveston Bay Estuary Program

Abstract

Urban planning can aid habitat preservation directly in a number of ways: zoning, impact fees, transfer of development rights, etc. But building a better city itself might be the most effective conservation planning tool available. I present recently developed data that demonstrates how compact development results in much lower pollutant loads than traditional diffuse development on a watershed scale, even though loads on a per acre basis may be much worse. I then explore models of compact development that might work here, as well as prospects for channeling development into more compact forms in the greater Houston area. Lastly, I examine how natural resource organizations might impact policy in this arena.

Description

[np]

Keywords

compact development, construction, conservation, development, models, urban planning

Citation