Residential cluster development
A residential cluster development, or open space development, is the grouping of residential properties on a
According to
Background
In many ways, cluster development has been practiced since the earliest communities from the medieval village to the
The first conscious application of a cluster development was in
Currently cluster development is applied all over the United States. There is particularly a strong push for it in the Midwestern States that have had significant problems with urban sprawl, such as Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
Cluster development, also known as conservation development, is a site planning approach that is an alternative to conventional subdivision development. It is a practice of low-impact development that groups residential properties in a proposed subdivision closer together in order to utilize the rest of the land for open space, recreation or agriculture. Cluster development differs from a planned unit development (PUD), which contains a mix of residential, commercial, industrial, or other uses, but the cluster development primarily focuses on residential areas.[1]
Purpose
The purpose of cluster development is to:
- promote integrated site design that is considerate to the natural features and topography
- protect environmentally sensitive areas of the development site, as well as permanently preserve important natural features, prime agricultural land, and open space
- minimize non-point source pollution through reducing the area of impervious surfaces on site
- encourage saving costson infrastructure and maintenance through practices such as decreasing the area that needs to be paved and the decreasing distance that utilities need to be run
- the primary purpose is to create more area for open space, recreation and more social interaction[2]
Benefits
Thanks to there being more porous ground coverings and fewer impervious surfaces such as
Issues
Following World War II, migration from the cities to suburbs became a dominant trend in America. People were acquiring any land they could find; as a result developers attempted to squeeze as many lots as they could on development sites. Communities then developed
Most municipalities have established zoning which restricts developers, planning boards and communities to use only this conventional subdivision development. Thus, the practice of traditional development is difficult to change because of the set standard, familiarly of the procedure, and the fear of undertaking something new. In response to this, groups such as the American Planning Association (APA) have developed a model ordinance that provides the framework for cluster development. This ordinance is not difficult to implement administratively, but politically, it is problematic because of conservative resistance.
People's perception of personal space has a large part to do with this resistance. Many cases people chose to live in suburbs with the intention of having a large lot property; therefore, it is hard to convince those individuals to live closer together. Convincing people to accept small lot sizes and higher density living remains one of the biggest obstacles of cluster development. This obstacle can be mostly overcome with proper site design, which grants homes unobstructed views and effective private space. As well as educating people about the benefits of having better community and open space can serve as encouragement to change perceptions.
An additional obstacle to cluster development is the difficulty for creating small lot sizes when no municipal
However, installing a package
The final primary issue with cluster development is the issue of dealing with open, recreational, and agricultural space. These areas serve as benefits in many respects but are also issues that are required to be dealt with. The maintenance of open and recreational space requires the formation of home owners associations that necessitate fees for taxes, insurance and general upkeep. This would not be necessary under a typical subdivision, but people would have their own maintenance expenses. As to agriculture: people enjoying living next to it until there is a need to apply fertilizer or pesticides. This fact cannot be avoided, but through proper use of cluster development, there can be wider gaps and barriers between agricultural land and residential properties, which would limit exposure to unwanted byproducts.
Application
The model ordinance for cluster development is section 4.7 in the Smart Growth Codes,
The primary requisites for application of cluster development are that all principal or accessory uses are allowed and that multifamily dwelling, duplexes, and townhouses are permitted. As well the application of maximal lot coverage, floor area ratios, building height, and parking requirements to the entire site as opposed to the individual lot. Provisions of a cluster development require that the site is at least 2 to 5 acres (20,000 m2) and there is no minimum to lot dimensions; furthermore each house can be no more than 12 feet (3.7 m) from the street with yard that is at least 25 feet (7.6 m). There also needs to be the ability to place more than one principal building on each lot, and lastly no less than 25% of the site is used for open space.
Included in the application, the site plan is required to consist of the street and sidewalk layout, the maximum number and type of dwelling units proposed, and how much area they will occupy, with calculations; as well as the area of parking, open space, and other accessories. To calculate the permitted amount of dwellings, one must measure the gross area of the site in acres and tenths of an acre, then subtract the gross area of the public and private streets and public dedicated improvement; the remainder will be the build able area. Then divide the net build able area by the smallest minimum lot size; round this number to the nearest lower number and the figure will be the maximum number of units.
Design features
There are various distinct design features in cluster development notably: the consideration of
Along with site design, waste/storm water management design features are a principle aspect of cluster development. By the maximizing of over land water flow and the strategic use of landforms and plants to slow, hold, and treat runoff, most stormwater can be handled. As well, there many options to deal with wastewater. Techniques such as community
References
- ^ a b c Whyte 1964.
- ^ a b APA 2009.
- ^ Anderson 2019.
- ^ Mega, Lukermann & Sykes 1998.
- Whyte, William (1964). Cluster Development. New York: American Conservation Association, Inc. book review
- Smart Codes: Model Land-Development Regulations. ISBN 978-1-932364-70-5.
- Anderson, Larz T. (2019). Planning the Built Environment. Routledge. ISBN 9781351179430.
- Mega, Mathew; Lukermann, Barbara; Sykes, Robert (1998). "Residential Cluster Development: Overview of Key Issues". Regents of the University of Minnesota. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
See also
- Planned Unit Developmentโ American urban planning process
- Environmental Planningโ Considering environment in developing land
- New Urbanism โ Urban design movement promoting environmentally friendly land use