Designing with Nature in Mind. What are Low Impact Development and Conservation Development?

Low Impact Development (LID):

Low Impact Development or LID is a land planning and design approach aimed at managing stormwater runoff in a way that conserves natural features to protect water quality. At Matunuck Design Group, we leverage our team’s expertise, honed over 20 plus years of experience with these development guidelines, to craft plans that not only recognize the benefits of on-site natural features but also protect local water supplies.

LID has evolved as a response to the environmental lessons learned from suburbanization, which is largely responsible for “Urban Sprawl.” This uncontrolled urban expansion has historically disregarded environmental and cultural impacts, leading to significant consumption of open spaces and irreversible damage to natural resources. Traditional development with its abundance of impervious surfaces like concrete prevents stormwater from naturally permeating into the ground, thereby increasing both the volume of runoff and the pollution it carries into streams, estuaries, and ecosystems. This issue is compounded by changing weather patterns, a scenario all too familiar in Rhode Island, where intermittent shellfish harvesting bans in Upper Narragansett Bay have had notable economic and cultural repercussions.

Sustainable Development Requirements in Rhode Island:

• Stormwater Management: Rhode Island’s updated regulations require new developments to implement LID practices such as rain gardens, bio-swales, and permeable pavements to manage stormwater on-site, reducing runoff and pollution.
• Resilience Planning: Projects must now incorporate designs that enhance resilience against environmental shifts, including sea-level rise and increased precipitation, aligning with the state’s 2025 Sustainability Strategy.

Our experience with these guidelines streamlines and assists our clients as they navigate state and local permitting requirements for their projects, ensuring compliance while optimizing project outcomes.

Conservation Development:

Conservation Development is a strategic site design technique that facilitates growth while minimizing impacts on natural resources and community character. It maintains at least 50% of the development site as open space, tailored to community needs. This approach, which has been widely adopted in Rhode Island, embodies the “designing with nature” philosophy outlined by Ian McHarg and expanded upon by Randall Arendt. Unlike conventional subdivisions, Conservation Development involves a meticulous design process that leverages the site’s natural opportunities and constraints:

• Site Analysis: Objective assessments determine where development can occur without harming sensitive areas like wetlands, prime agricultural soils, surface waters, steep slopes, and vernal pools.
• Resource Preservation: By identifying and preserving key natural features and their buffers, this method maintains pre-development hydrology and biodiversity.
• Design Process: Following a ten-step process outlined by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM, 2003), Matunuck Design Group analyzes the site context, designates conservation areas, determines development density, and plans infrastructure while ensuring pedestrian-friendly, people-centric spaces.

Implementation at Matunuck Design Group:

• Sustainable Installations: With over two decades of experience, we incorporate elements like rain gardens, green roofs, bio-swales, passive solar design, and sustainable materials to minimize environmental impact.
• Community and Environment: We focus on creating landscapes that are not only functional and beautiful but also sensitive to environmental, social, and economic factors.
• Comprehensive Design: By identifying and utilizing site-specific solutions, we aim for a design that reduces environmental impacts while enhancing aesthetic appeal, resulting in a synergy where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Matunuck Design Group remains committed to these sustainable practices, ensuring that our designs in Rhode Island meet the state’s latest environmental standards while fostering community well-being and environmental stewardship. Our extensive experience in these areas not only streamlines the development process but also significantly eases the burden of navigating the complex web of permits and regulatory compliance.