Sustainable Land Development Resources
for Design & Deliverables

Welcome
Welcome to a website specifically geared for civil engineers and other land development professionals who need a quick and easy resource for getting green design incorporated into their deliverables. Of course, no website can take place of an experienced integrated designer who understands the larger ramifications of his/her actions throughout the design process, but this website intends to take the head scratching out which Best Management Practices (BMPs) can be applied to your project.
Green Site Design Principles
Look for these on every BMP page! The result of applying these BMPs will be the application of the following Green Site Design Principles. Look for the icons below on individual BMP pages to see how your choices fit in to your larger goal of saving the planet!
Promote biodiversity Protect water quality & quantity Reduce demand for natural resources Reduce greenhouse gas emissions Protect air quality
Promote biodiversity Protect water
quality		 Protect water
quantity		 Reduce demand
for natural
resources		 Reduce greenhose gas emissions Protect
air
quality
How to Use This Site

Each BMP link below is organized by the typical plan set sheet to which it might be applied. Clicking the links below will answer the why, how, who, and when and provide additional resources that can be directly adapted as needed for your particular project.
Watch a video of my vision for this project (or read this one-page summary)

 
Thanks to Dan Shaw for recording, processing, and posting this video.
Demolition Plan
 

Save a tree.
 Preserve historic drainage patterns
Deconstruct existing resources on-site
Recycle construction waste
Paving & Layout Plan
 

Save a tree.
Orient the long side of your building on the east-west axis
Specify local products
Specify products with recycled content
Reduce disturbance
Reduce impervious areas:
 
 

Share a parking lot with someone else.
Share a driveway with someone else.
Minimize road widths.
Minimize the parking space dimensions.
Reduce the parking ratio.
Use pervious pavements.
Reduce cul-de-sac dimensions
Create a cluster development
Create a conservation development
Depave something. Tear up existing impervious surfaces and restore the land.

Erosion Prevention & Sediment Control Plan
 

Save a tree.
Use native seed mixes to stabilize bare soils.
Use something other than a sediment fence to reduce turbidity from sheet flow.
Grind cleared trees to be used as mulch.
Avoid materials that have a toxic lifecycle.
Grading Plan

Save a tree.
Avoid sensitive areas.
Grade with existing contours.
Planting Plan
 

Save a tree.
Specify native plants.
Plant low grow plant mixes instead of lawn.
Design a low maintenance landscape.
Design landscapes to reduce energy demand:
 
  Plant large canopy trees to shade dark building materials
Plant deciduous trees on the south side of a building if it overheats (ie you expect it will need air conditioning!)
Shade parts of the house with landscaping as needed to reduce cooling demand in warmer climates.
Plant vegetation considering wind.
Plant a tree considering your macroclimate.
Water & Sewer Plan
 

Save a tree.
Lay out utility lines to pass through previously disturbed areas.
Design utility lines to reduce excavation.

Irrigation Plan
 

Save a tree.
Control and manage invasive species.
 Reduce irrigation demand of potable water:
 
  If you can't plant native plants and must use irrigation, then create zones of low and lower demand.
Don't use potable water for irrigation.
Use water saving irrigation equipment.
Stormwater Management Plan - General

Infiltrate.
Evaportranspire.
Reduce compaction.
Reduce impervious surfaces.

Stormwater Management Plan - Water Quality & Quantity

Save a tree.
Plant natives in stormwater facilities.
Pervious pavements
Infiltration basins
Rain gardens/bioretention
Stormwater Management Plan - Water Quality Only

Save a tree.
Flow-through Planter

Stormwater Management Plan - Water Quantity Only

Save a tree.
Drywell
Soakage trench
Rock trench
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