The Scenarios
Introduction
Three hypothetical scenarios for a prime coastal Georgia residential site highlight three different development approaches currently in practice throughout the U.S. How do the alternatives stack up? Examine the plans and indicators and judge for yourself.
Population increases on the coast necessitate the need for more housing, which is traditionally viewed as healthy for local economies. Though new development brings in new revenues, these new revenues must be adjusted when additional costs such as infrastructure and services are factored in. There are also natural resource costs to consider. How do you calculate impacts to natural habitats, water quality, scenic views, community character and coastal access? How can coastal communities capitalize on the local environmental assets that make them attractive places to live and still preserve a balance between economics, environment, and local quality of life? These are some of the questions this project explores.
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Site Tip
 The Scenarios section provides distinguishing details and site layout maps for each alternative.
After exploring each design in this section, visit the Compare Indicators section to view the results of a number of specific economic, environmental, and social measures calculated for each plan.
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About the Scenarios
| Conventional Design |
Conservation Design |
New Urbanist Design |
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| Includes 857 single-family residential units on 815 lots and an additional 100 multifamily residential units. |
Includes 720 single-family residential units on 698 lots. |
Includes 867 single-family residential units on 867 lots and an additional 70 multifamily residential units. |
- Conventional Design – The conventional scenario is designed to maximize the developable land and premium waterfront lots. This alternative includes relatively large lots and low traffic cul-de-sacs. Less emphasis is placed on protection of the natural resources or inclusion of civic spaces than in the other alternatives.
- Conservation Design – The conservation scenario makes its first priority preserving sensitive and valuable natural resources of the site, which include salt marshes, interior wetlands, and mature hardwoods. Focusing on the natural environment for its aesthetic, habitat, and recreation values, this alternative protects contiguous open space and clusters homes on smaller lots adjacent to natural areas. Conservation measures in this scenario exceed those that are required by law.
- New Urbanist Design – The new urbanist scenario focuses on compacting development in civic-oriented centers around a large central open space. The alternative is characterized by three distinct villages connected by road and trails, public civic spaces, and a mix of commercial and residential uses. While a natural resource inventory does not figure into the location of open space, this scenario does exceed legally required natural resource protection measures.
Disclaimer
These hypothetical designs and associated indicators were developed as educational material for the coastal resource management community. They are intended to provide information and to help promote dialog among coastal managers, planners, local government officials, developers, and citizens. They should not be construed to grade or endorse any actual development.
The conservation and new urbanist scenarios illustrated in this project incorporate some, but certainly not all, elements of the current planning trends known as conservation subdivision design and New Urbanism, respectively. The scenarios' names are not meant to imply that this project's designs are fully exemplary of either of these movements. For example, New Urbanism is an effective infill development technique, used as an example of greenfield development here because a greenfield project site was pre-defined for this project.
An analysis of the project site relative to the entire watershed is not illustrated as part of this project. However, proactive watershed-based planning is an important and inherent component of sustainable development practices.
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