Paul Morris’ opening plenary session that featured a panel discussion on real-world case studies in successful and effective multi-disciplinary approaches to land development projects set the tone for the two-and-a-half day event. A standing-room-only gathering of nearly 300 listened as Morris, the immediate past president of the American Society of Landscape Architects and current Senior Professional Associate with Parsons Brinckerhoff, introduced the audience to a new model and framework for collaboration.

Following the Morris’ presentation, attendees had the choice of attending educational sessions throughout the week on 40 topics from the four primary categories of Executive Management, Land Use Planning, Collaboration and Project Management, and Sustainable Development.

While each educational tract had many sessions with 30-50 attendees, it was interesting to note that numbers before the conference started illustrated the ten Sustainable Development sessions would be attracting a combined total of 750 professionals.

Four sustainable development sessions in particular attracted over 100 attendees. Another noteworthy fact is that each of those sessions were led by professionals with different backgrounds.

The first sustainable session touched on design techniques for residential homesites. The speaker was Glenn Acomb, ASLA, who after working in private practice for two decades is now an Associate Professor in the University of Florida’s Department of Landscape Architecture.

The session that followed was presented by erosion control expert Jerald Fifield, Ph.D., CPESC. His topic on construction site requirements for NPDES Phase II was well received. In addition to being cover story of this issue of Land Development Today, Fifield’s no-nonsense common sense suggestions like installing a rain gauge and not installing silt fences for consolidated flow provided attendees with immediate take-home benefits.

While primarily turning into a sales presentation, engineers from CONTECH Construction Products presented their new technologies that provide alternative solutions for drainage, stormwater management, bridge structures, and erosion control. With the reality that less-than-perfect land is now the subject of development, this session proved popular.

The largest audience for a conference educational session was presented by EDSA Associate Principal Frederick Jarvis and Washington Homes’ Vice President David DeMarco. Their presentation on “Creating ‘Smart’ Neighborhoods” as a definitive trend for residential communities certainly resonated with attendees.

“Dave DeMarco's case studies of different Land Development projects that K. Hovnanian had been involved with was especially good,” relates Dr. Eric Lanning, of Orenco Systems Incorporated. “It gave light to a lot of the kinds of business issues and problems land developers face today.”

Jarvis and DeMarco identified seven ingredients of a successful land plan:

1. Site sensitivity

2. Structure

3. Smart streets

4. Spaciousness

5. Small sections

6. Scape and signage

7. Sell, sell, sell

A major component of their presentation dealt with the current situation in much of the United States. Most of the sites that are now either being developed or considered for development are “left-over” sites. These are locations that have one or more imperfections or more challenges than others. These include infill sites and redevelopment of commercial or industrial sites.

An equally interesting fact is that two of the most popular sessions in the Executive Management tract also dealt with sustainability issues.

Lou Ann Frederick, CFO/Principal with Hall & Foreman, Inc., turned the sustainability issue inward by talking about creating a sustainable company. Her topic on shifting the corporate emphasis from projects to working on the business itself was very well received by the audience. Her discussion will be featured in an upcoming issue of Land Development Today.

On Friday, the marketability of sustainable design was the focus of John Fish and Belinda Sward. Fish, a Senior Landscape Architect with PBS&J, and Sward, a real estate senior consultant with Robert Charles Lesser & Co., LLC, discuss how land developers can use the concepts of sustainable design and development in a manner that will benefit them financially while still obtaining the environmental advantages.

They stated that the marketability of sustainable design and development is “a balance of economics, ecology, and community.” From the designer’s standpoint, the practical application of sustainable design can start to be achieved by recognizing and integrating ecology in our choices and design decisions.

They also stressed a number of industry trends that proactive participants in the market must realize. The biggest point is that sustainable design and development (SDD) is here to stay and is gaining momentum. They provided proof:

·         SDD has been embraced by the federal government, state and local regulatory agencies;

o       Low impact development (LID) regulations

o       Conservation subdivision regulations

o       Streambank and wetland setbacks

o       Landscape and tree protection ordinances

o       Xeriscape landscape and water conservation requirements

o       Mixed-use requirements

o       Alternative transportation mode provisions

·         SDD is being accepted and supported by the design professions;

·         SDD is practiced by some developers, but more institutions and non-profits;

·         SDD is being tested by more mainstream developers; and,

·         SDD is an easy step for some, but not for more.

"This conference presented many valuable sessions as well as great opportunities to interface with peers as well as developers and agency staff,” states William Archdeacon, PE, PLS, Director of Land Resources Business Practice with ARCADIS G&M, Inc. “The session tracts provided a wide range of interest topics from which to select."

As intended, the conference brought together the many “players” in the land development industry. That fact was not lost on the participants.

“I found the Land Development Conference to be highly informative,” relates Jim Fisher, Director of Planning with the City of Decatur (AL). “I went around and got copies of each of the other handouts for breakout sessions I could not attend and came back with my three-ring binder full. Every session I attended was well ‘developed’ and presented.”

Whether participants filled their complimentary binder with the information, jotted down specific points, or simply took mental notes and a business card, most of the attendees were more than satisfied with the results of this first-time conference and pledged to implement what they learned and be back next year. SLDT