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Planning A Town To Save the Environment
Citation:
HANSEN, V. E. Planning A Town To Save the Environment. Presented at The Faculty Seminar Series, Wilberforce University, Xenia, OH, November 11, 2008.
Impact/Purpose:
To test the theory (if the planning process that is used to meet human needs within zoning, building codes, budgets, etc., could also meet human needs within conditions of intact natural systems, then development could occur without comprising the environment) by planning the small community of Stella, Missouri.
Description:
Much of the environment is compromised due to land-use change and development to meet human needs. Because the environment also sustains human life, the amount of the environment that can be compromised is limited by how much must remain to meet human needs. Although people can not avoid impacting natural systems, they can change what those impacts are. If the planning process that is typically used to meet human needs within zoning, building codes, budgets, etc., could also meet human needs within conditions of intact natural systems, then development could occur without compromising the environment. This theory was tested by planning the small community of Stella, Missouri. Although development is incomplete to prove this theory, Stella provided many lessons and surprising results that should inspire small communities everywhere.