Land Use

How We Use Land

Urbanization of areas is becoming a problem. Thousands of acres of open space just in Pennsylvania have been lost to development.

There are 2 categories of land:Rural – areas with limited population and lots of

open spaceUrban – Land covered mainly with buildings.

Primary land use categories

o  Rangelando  Forest lando  Croplando  Parkso  Wetlands, mountains, desertso Urban – most people in the US live in

these areas.

Urban areas are dependent upon rural areas.

Ecosystem Services · Water· Food· Wood· Oxygen

Urban Land Use

• Urbanization – movement from rural areas to urban areas.

• Infrastructure is important to how well a city functions

• Roads• Public transportation• Fire and police

Urban areas that grow slowly can keep up with the demand for services and are usually better planned than those that grow quickly.

Urban areas that grow too quickly for necessary services enter URBAN CRISIS.

City expansion often becomes urban/suburban sprawl. People living outside of the city still work in the city. This leads to environmental problems

o   Traffico   Smogo   Increase in ozone levelso  Etc.

• Expansion of cities can lead to development of heat islands.

• Environmental conditions are different in the city than in the surrounding countryside.

• Heat is retained by vehicles, buildings and concrete longer than surrounding areas of vegetation.

• Can affect local weather patterns • – ex. Rain Can be moderated by planting trees.

• Reflective rooftops

Land Use and Planning becomes an issue. • Developing an organized approach to how land will be used.• Computerized systems such as GIS are often used.• Transportation – public transportation important.• Avoid traffic concerns• Environmentally significant• Open Space• Greenbelts• Parks• Filter pollutants• Keep city cooler

Cluster development allows for open space. Houses are built close together.

Cluster development

Sprawl development, houses are spread out with little to no open space.

Sprawl versus Cluster

Low Impact Development (LID)• LID is an approach to land development that works with

nature to manage storm water as close to its source as possible.

• LID technologies in conjunction with cluster development design can;– minimize impervious surfaces– create functional and appealing site drainage– Treat storm water as a resource rather than a waste product– Reduce non-point source pollution– Can maintain or restore a watersheds hydrology

Green Infrastructure

• According to the EPA, “green infrastructure “ is a term used to refer to the practices that use or mimic natural process to infiltrate, evapotranspirate or reuse storm water or runoff on the site where it is generated.

LID Practices/Technologies• Bioretention cell• Cistern• Curbless parking Lot islands• Grassed swale• Green roof• Infiltration trench• Narrow road design• Permeable pavers/pavement• Rain barrel• Rain garden• Tree planting• Native vegetation

LID Technologies

Bio-swale

Open space used for storm water cotrol

Bio-retention cell can be used for light recreation

LID Technologies

Permeable material used for parking and roads

Belgium block pavers in parking areas

LID vrs Convention Designs

Conventional site design with roads and lots placed on the land to maximize available space

Site inventory with existing vegetation, wind patterns, wetlands and soil types

Each lot has it’s own specific design based on location, soils, slopes …Lots include a variety of LID/green technologies.

Placement of lots, roads, and open space is dictated by existing drainage patterns and forested areas.

LID is

• A balanced watershed approach to managing altered hydrology

• A science-based solution to mitigating the impacts of smart development

• A way to decentralize and integrate stormwater best management