In most communities; land use regulations are based on a limited model that allows for only one end result: the production of more and more suburbia; composed of endless subdivisions and shopping centers; that ultimately covers every bit of countryside with "improvements." Fortunately; sensible alternatives to this approach do exist; and methods of developing land while at the same time conserving natural areas are available.In Conservation Design for Subdivisions; Randall G. Arendt explores better ways of designing new residential developments than we have typically seen in our communities. He presents a practical handbook for residential developers; site designers; local officials; and landowners that explains how to implement new ideas about land-use planning and environmental protection. Abundantly illustrated with site plans (many of them in color); floor plans; photographs; and renditions of houses and landscapes; it describes a series of simple and straightforward techniques that allows for land-conserving development.The author proposes a step-by-step approach to conserving natural areas by rearranging density on each development parcel as it is being planned so that only half (or less) of the buildable land is turned into houselots and streets. Homes are built in a less land-consumptive manner that allows the balance of property to be permanently protected and added to an interconnected network of green spaces and green corridors. Included in the volume are model zoning and subdivision ordinance provisions that can help citizens and local officials implement these innovative design ideas.
#3030253 in eBooks 2012-10-03 2012-10-03File Name: B009KOX266
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Beguiling Tale of invention and FollyBy Mr. Edward S. TerrellMr. Votolatos latest book is a delightful example of research in an emerging field. served up in a conversational style that makes even the most exhaustively detailed sentences. saturated with densely packedinformation. go down like strawberries and champagne. He makes it all look so easy to understand: boats. cars. planes. trains. how they got there. who designed them and why. how style often won out over safety. and whats likely to happen to all our modes of transport in the wake of our belated realization that the our planetsresources are limited. If you have ever wondered about bucket seats. the Orient Express. hubcaps. the grand ballrooms of luxury liners. or the tacky designs of motor coaches. you will find all about them and more in Mr. Votolatos breezy but authoritative tome. It is the very best study of its kind around. suited for both dabblers and scholars. the next best thing. I suspect. to sharing a few bottles of bubbly with Mr. Votolato himself.Edward Terrell. Art Historian0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Delighful Read....By Russell J. RicciTransport Design is a delightful read. Whether a historian. design student. or an arm chair traveler. you will be taken by land. water. and air through a 200 year evolution of travel. From a horse drawn carriage to luxury airship. Votolato paints well researched images of our finest technological and design efforts. The well written text is supplemented with strong graphics.He understands and describes the challenges of mass transit and the well remembered joys of the family auto. And. he takes the reader to the challenges of travel and design in the resource constrained 21st century.
