Land Use Development

Design

What if a development was as green as the land?  What if a development was designed in context with the land to protect water and wildlife?  Just as a quality project begins with a quality design, an environmentally-successful project begins with an environmentally conscious plan.  Audubon Environmental has spent over two decades evaluating contours of the land, sensitive area boundaries, and restoration possibilities in the context of project plans and development team visions.  Our long-term vision for properties has helped to create win/win solutions:  environmentally sensitive and economically viable developments.  Some of the ways AE can work with your team are:

• Land Assessment and Evaluation – natural resource inventories, assessments and management strategies
• Site Selection from an environmental perspective
• Site ecological classifications and assessments to determine site opportunities
• Existing site and master plan assessments for sustainable, low impact and green opportunities
• Land management evaluation, analyses, and strategies to increase value and environmental integrity
• Prepare Ecological Master Plan preparation

Development

Development and construction are the most hazardous times for the environment in the life of a project.  The potential for long-term damage is greatest once the ground-breaking ceremony is over and the dirt is turned.  Water and wildlife need to be protected, maintained, and enhanced during the development process to prevent any irreversible damage, and to minimize the possibility of fines and notices of violation due to improper construction practices.  Audubon Environmental can help reduce the risk from development with the following:

• Water and wind erosion prevention strategies
• Water quality monitoring plans
• Best Management Practices (BMPs) identification and monitoring
• Best Construction Practices identification and monitoring
• Contractor education
• Guide to Sustainable Building preparation

Management & Education

Long-term care of the land is a two-part process:  the land must be managed in a way that preserves, protects, and restores natural resources, and the people who live, work and play on the land must be a part of the solution.  Property managers, landscapers, and others who participate in the care of the land need to have a plan to ensure that natural resources are not harmed in the daily use of the property.  To maintain the health of the property’s ecosystem, we offer the following services:

• Land management plans
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plans
• Natural Resource Management Plans and assistance with implementation
• Water efficiency strategies
• Best Management Practices (BMPs) identification and monitoring
• Presentations, seminars, training, and instruction for development teams

The feel of the community and the habitat play a vital role in creating the type of location where homeowners and visitors will feel connected to an aesthetically pleasing and ecologically responsible community.  Creating and nurturing an environmental ethic on the development is vital to its environmental success.  Homeowners, visitors, guests, employees, and the general public can be engaged to participate in maintaining the sustainability of the land, and made aware of how their actions can directly impact (for better or for worse) the health of the planet.  AE can help effectively involve the public with the following resources:

• Homebuilder Guide to Sustainable Living marketing and guidance booklet
• Employee Guide to Environmental Stewardship
• Community environmental education and outreach programming
• Comprehensive sustainable lifestyle programs
• Engagement of public / stakeholders / government in sustainability education
• Presentations, seminars, training, instruction and guidance for homeowners
• Site specific green building programs