Download - Forest Friendly Development Practices
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
forest friendly development practices
Photo source: The Noisette Company
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Slideshow Content• Identify trees and forests to protect• Use site design techniques that conserve
trees and native vegetation• Minimize clearing of native vegetation• Protect trees and soils during construction• Protect trees after construction• Plant trees at development sites
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Identify Trees and Forests to Protect
• Conduct an inventory of existing forest to identify species, condition, and ecological value
• Identify priority trees and forests for conservation
Example forest stand delineation map
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Conservation Priorities• Rare, threatened or endangered species, specimen
trees, other desirable species• Trees greater than a specified size, champion trees,
forest stands of a minimum specified size• Trees and forest stands in good condition• Trees or forest stands that are adjacent to existing
forest, located in protected natural areas (e.g., floodplains), or provide direct benefits at the site (e.g., shading)
Tip: Where it is not possible to protect individual trees, transplant them to another portion of the site instead
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Use Site Design Techniques that Conserve Trees and Native Vegetation
• Better Site Design techniques that can protect forests:• Open space design• Reduced street and ROW widths• Reduced parking ratios• Reduced lot frontages and setbacks• Use natural areas for stormwater treatment• Preserve stream buffers
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Open Space Design
• Clusters lots on smaller portion of site to conserve natural areas
• Incorporates smaller lot sizes
• Minimizes total impervious area
• Provides community open space
• Promotes watershed protection
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private ForestryPhoto courtesy of Randall Arendt
Open Space Development
Conventional Development
Open Space Design
Smaller lots are less marketable
Many studies indicate that open space designs can save in construction costs while having a higher market value
Developers may be discouraged from using open space design because it requires a special exception or additional review process
Communities can revise their subdivision or zoning ordinances to make open space design by-right
Potential Barriers Possible Resolutions
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Millcreek subdivision in Lancaster, PA uses narrow streets, shorter setbacks, and sidewalks on one side of the street only to reduce impervious cover and conserve
natural areas
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Open space was conserved at the
Millcreek subdivision by clustering lots
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Minimize Clearing of Native Vegetation
• Clearing and grading of native vegetation should be limited to the minimum needed to:• Build lots• Allow access• Provide fire protection
• A suggested limit of disturbance (LOD) is 5 to 10 feet outward from building pads
Site Fingerprinting
Entire Site Cleared
Site Fingerprinting Used
Source: ARC, 2001
Minimize Clearing
Preservation of trees during construction is prohibitively expensive.
Minimizing clearing during construction and reduce earth movement and erosion and sediment control costs by up to $5,000/ acre (Delaware DNREC, 1997)
Vegetation near homes can be a fire risk.
In areas where clearing is required around a house, minimization of the entire site can still be achieved.
This can be a challenge in wildfire areas. Greater clearing and grading maybe required to reduce risk of fires.
Potential Barriers Possible Resolutions
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Protect Trees and Soil During Construction
• Delineate the critical root zone (CRZ): the essential area of tree roots that must be protected for the tree’s survival
• Install/enforce physical barriers to protect trees• Use signs and visible flagging• No construction, material storage, utilities, or vehicles
allowed in protected zone• Enforce penalties for violation• Educate contractors
• Protect soils from compaction/use soil stockpiling
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Protect Trees and Soil During Construction
• Methods to delineate the CRZ:
• Trunk diameter method
• Site occupancy method
• Minimum area method
• Dripline method
Trunk diameter method
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Trees are not adequately protected at this site, where construction materials are stored
within the CRZ of trees
The critical root zone of this tree is physically protected from compaction and damage
Photo source: The Noisette Company
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Protect Trees During Construction
Additional cost of saving a tree outweigh benefits.
Property values increased by 6-15% on both residential and commercial sites (Morales, 1980 and Weyerhauser, 1989)
Single family homes in Athens, GA with an average of 5 trees/ home sold for 3.5-4.5% more than houses without trees (National Arbor Day Foundation, 1996)
Potential Barriers Possible Resolutions
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Protect Trees After Construction
• Educate residents about protected areas
• Specify management of open space – use maintenance agreements, homeowners’ association (HOA)
• Tree and forest protection ordinances
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Posting signs at the boundaries of
forest conservation areas is an
important method for informing and
educating the public
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Specify Management of Open Space
• Clearly specify how community open space will be managed• Community association/HOA• Conservation easement• Transfer to land trust
ownership• Publicly owned land
• Designate a sustainable legal entity responsible for managing open space
• Specify native vegetation and restrict tree removal
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
As much open space as possible should be retained
in a natural condition and
lawns and playgrounds may not be counted
towards this portion
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
The Cost of Open Space Management
Natural open spaceonly minimum maintenancetrash/debris cleanup
$75/acre
Lawnsregular mowing
$240-270/acre
Passive recreation $200/acre
Open Space Management Strategy
Annual Maintenance Cost
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Open Space Management
Common areas, stormwater management, and other facilities can be expensive.
Many of these costs can be offset by reducing the amount of paving on a site.
Community association management of open space areas are not reliable
Other options for management include donation to a land trust, conservation easements, and other strategies for maintaining the viability of community associations
Potential Barriers Possible Resolutions
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Tree and Forest Protection Ordinances
• Provide specific criteria for long-term protection and maintenance of natural areas (e.g., restrict tree clearing except for safety reasons)
• Establish appropriate enforcement measures• Designate an entity responsible for holding
and managing forest conservation easements• Model ordinances available at:
www.stormwatercenter.net
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Plant Trees at Development Sites
• Local roads• Tree lawns• Median strips• Cul-de-sac islands
• Parking lots• Parking lot islands• Parking lot perimeter
• Home lawns• Stormwater
treatment practices (STPs)• Wetlands• Swales• Filter strips• Bioretention
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Conventional development with no street trees
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Trees planted in the tree lawn provide a
canopy over the street when they
mature
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Trees planted in a median strip
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
A typical cul-de-sac is a large expanse of
pavement with no vegetation
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Trees can be incorporated into
cul-de-sac islands
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Where are all the trees?
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Expanded parking lots island with trees that share rooting space
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Trees in parking lots perimeter
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Where are all
the trees?
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Trees planted on home lawns provide shade and other benefits
at maturity
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Typical stormwater pond with no trees
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Stormwater dry pond with trees
Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Center for Watershed Protection USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
Bioretention facility with trees
Plant Trees at Development Sites
Trees not allowed in STPs
Cappiella, et al (2005) provides guidance on incorporating trees into STP design
Subdivision standards specify narrow tree lawn and parking lot islands that will not support large healthy trees
Use expanded tree pits to allow shared rooting space.
Communities can revise codes to require larger planting spaces
Trees not allowed because of overhead wires
Communities can revise codes to allow utilities to be placed underground
Potential Barriers Possible Resolutions