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Alternatives for Coastal Development: One Site, Three ScenariosWhat is the cost of development? How do you quantify a development's economic, environmental, and social impacts? While most people understand the benefits of developing with green space, scenic views, and other "natural" amenities, achieving the right balance between the natural and built environment can be a difficult task. This Web site illustrates three different development scenarios created for a residential area in coastal Georgia. Economic, environmental, and social indicators are calculated and compared for each scenario. This information will be useful to anyone (developers, citizens, local governments, etc.) interested in applying similar development design components in their communities.
Coastal organizations have indicated that educational tools are needed to help communities address these questions and make decisions about growth and development along the coast. Since most growth and land planning decisions are made at the local level, the NOAA Coastal Services Center works to provide tools, information, and technology to coastal resource managers positioned to help address local level decision making. |