Sustainable Development of an Urban-Rural Boundary

Research Report

Robyn Leroy
Josh Long
Brad DeVries
Andrew Toll

Special Projects/Research & Development

April 15th, 2011

Table of Contents

1. List of Illustrations

Page 2

2. Executive Summary

Page 3

3. Introduction - Design Opportunity

Page 4

4. Background

Page 5

5. Project Context

Page 6

6. Inventory & Analysis

Page 7

7. Objectives

Page 8

8. Master Plan

Page 9

9. Stormwater Facility

Page 10

10. Residential

Page 11

11. Healing Garden

Page 12

12. Conclusion

Page 13

13. References

Page 14

14. Appendix

Page 15 - 18

List of Illustrations

City Boundary Map & Site Location

Page 3

Existing Aerial Photo

Page 4

Existing Home Design

Page 5

Sunningdale Homes Current Plan A

Page 5

Sunningdale Homes Current Plan B

Page 5

Sustainable Venn Diagram

Page 6

Site Analysis & Zoning Image

Page 7

Proposed Master Plan

Page 9

Proposed Master Plan - 3D Illustration

Page 9

Stormwater Facility Proposal

Page 10

Residential Proposed A

Page 11

Residential Proposed B

Page 11

Community Healing Garden Proposed A

Page 12

Community Healing Garden Proposed B

Page 12

Proposed Master Plan - 3D Illustration

Page 13

Executive Summary

The momentum of change, development, and adaptation of the human population into the
shrinking shadows of the natural environment has quickened pace and through continued
methods of research and development, resolution to this situation has begun. We have studied
what this natural environment includes, how the human population can adapt, and how we can
design a solution to bring these two effects together in harmony along the border of rural and
urban London, Ontario. Below is a Map of the city of London with city boundary (red)
and urban growth boundary (orange) indicated, as well as then location of our study site.

Introduction

As a group, we have researched sustainable methods in community planning, green

energy conserving technologies, storm water management, as well as introducing community
agricultural centers to preserve the border between urban and rural development. Our initial
hypothesis was that a small foot-print community is a healthy system to help link along the edges
of urban to rural areas. Throughout our research and subsequently the design process, we found
that with integration of these subjects along with an abundance of natural areas, this scheme does
in fact help connect the two.

Background

Currently, Sunningdale Homes is planning on developing the same site. Numerous

existing site plans are currently underway in the Sunningdale area, and hasty sprawl is quickly
moving north into rural farm lands. The model home, seen in a photo below, shows a beautiful
home, however, this idea is neither practical nor environmentally friendly. Large single family
units such as these create long walking distances, occupy a large amount of space, as well as
intrude on the natural border between urban and rural lands. Below are some existing plans.

Project Context

Sustainable living is a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual's or society's use of

the Earth's natural resource and his/her own resources. Advocates of sustainable living aim to
conduct their lives in manners that are consistent with sustainability, in natural balance and
respectful of humanity's symbiotic relationship with the Earth's natural ecology and cycles. The
practice and general philosophy of ecological living is highly interrelated with the overall
principles of sustainable development. (see Appendix A)

(Wikepedia)

Inventory & Analysis

The city of London is undergoing vast urban sprawl. We have selected the site at the
corner of Sunningdale Road and Richmond Street. The site is bordered by residential properties
to the East, South and West. Adjacent is a well-known golf course to the Northwest. Running
through the West side is a significant corridor with the Thames River leading up to a
meadowland to the North. Found below is an existing site conditions map illustrating these land
uses.

Objectives

We have discovered many techniques that help provide a successful, functioning, urban
space that has a small impact on the environment surrounding. Our objectives for this project
include;

Ensure an accepted transition from the urban to the rural area or our site

Develop a space for humans and nature to live in harmony

Use current planning methods for layout of the community (see Appendix B)

Provide passive natural areas for safe integration of environment and community dwellers

Develop public spaces for healthier interactions

Introduce a healing garden area for urban agriculture practices

Introduce a day lighting Stormwater System to the site

Use sustainable energy method on site

Solar Energy

Green Roofs

Large Windows for heating and cooling

Develop a prototype of a Residential housing building to be used in our community

Encourage public transit, walking, biking, etc.

Master Plan

The plan view below shows the general layout of the proposed design and existing aerial,
layered to create a proposed master drawing.

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Stormwater Facility
The method we have used in our sustainable community day lighting all storm water
gathering than -owing it through costly pipes underground. This creates visual interest and is
more environmentally friendly. As well as this facility, Green Roofs also contribute to better
Stormwater management on any site. Our group has found that Green roofs provide various
environmental benefits. (see Appendix C)

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Residential Housing
The objective of our housing was to blend the neighbourhood into the rural area. We
achieved this by minimizing the houses as we got closer to the edge of the city. This not only
creates an aesthetic disappearance of the housing, but also focuses the heavier pedestrian and
vehicular traffic away from the fragile natural border. These houses are extremely efficient. They
each contain their own solar panels, as well as large windows to reduce lighting costs during the
day. In this community, there are single family, as well as double family homes. Each home
comes with the option of an open or closed garage at the owners request. These buildings also
have green roofs, which make this space nearly 90% permeable. The vegetative filtration that
this system will provide greatly protects the water tables quality.

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Community Healing Garden

The images below depict our community healing garden that is used for urban
agricultural purposes. In research, it was found that community interaction, sense of
accomplishment, and ownership provides healing qualities. A circular vegetable garden is an
appealing alternative to the traditional rectangular garden. While it doesn't necessarily use less
land, a circular plot can make it easier to reach your vegetables and care for them.

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Conclusion

Our growing green movement brings with it a creative alternative and insight into the
future of sustainable living, continuing public education, and assistance in the preservation of our
natural environment. Our research and prototype design will serve as a guide to future urbanrural developments in a sustainable manner. As said in our proposal, the outcome implements
new storm water management practices, green technology (ie. green roofs, solar energy), healthy
community planning as well as the incorporation of a healing garden in the public landscape. Not
only does our research show us a sustainable way to design urban and rural boundaries, it helps
us learn how we can balance social, environmental and economical factors to form our definition
of healthy living in our current society.

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References

Barnes, Marni, M. C. (1999). Healing Gardens: Therapeutic Benets and Design Recommendations. Canada: John Wiley and Sons.
A Healthy Home at Downsview Park.(n.d.).Using Less Enjoying More: Promoting the
Sustainable Condo and the CANoehome. Retrieved February 11, 2011, from
http://www.using-lessenjoyingmore.com/about.htm
Aquatic Buers Factsheet.(n.d.).SMRC Home. Retrieved February 10, 2011, from http://www.stormwatercenter.net/Assorted%20Fact%20Sheets/Tool3_Buers/BuerZones.htm
Building Living Neighborhoods - Creating Community. (n.d.).Living Neighborhoods. Retrieved
February 10, 2011, from http://www.livingneighborhoods.org/ht-0/community.htm
Gideon, G. (n.d.). Post Construction Storm Water Management- BMP's. CED Engineering.
Retrieved February 10, 2011, from www.cedengineering.com/upload/Post%20Construction%20SWM%20-%20Non-Structural%20BMPs.pdf
Index.(n.d.).Sustainable Condo. Retrieved February 9, 2011, from http://www.sustainablecondo.com/index.cfm?Body=KBlist.cfm&CS=9
Living City Design Competition.(n.d.).ILBI. Retrieved February 11, 2011, from http://ilbi.org/lcdc
London air pollution worst in Ontario | London | News | London Free Press.(n.d.).London Free
Press. Retrieved February 11, 2011, fromhttp://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2010/01/08/12388701-sun.html
Priority Concern-Surface Water.(n.d.).Blue Earth County. Retrieved February 11, 2011, from
www.co.blueearth.mn.us/documents/waterplan_les/urban_development.pdf
Srinivas, H. (n.d.). An Introduction to Urban Watersheds. GDRC | The Global Development
Research Center. Retrieved February 10, 2011,from http://www.gdrc.org/uem/water/watershed/introduction.html
Sustainable Communities Online.(n.d.).Sustainable Communities Online. Retrieved February
11, 2011, from http://www.sustainable.org/
TRB Architecture Inc..(n.d.). TRB Architecture Inc.. Retrieved February 9, 2011, from http://www.trbarchitecture.ca/index.html
Tyson, M. M. (n.d.). The Healing Landscape: Therapeutic Outdoor Environments. Healing
Landscape. Retrieved February 10, 2011, fromhwww.healinglandscape.com
Williamson, T. (n.d.).Ecovillage, Intentional Community, Cohousing, Cooperatives, Sustainable
Community. People and Planet Environment,Sustainability and Peace in Canada &
beyond. Retrieved February 8, 2011, fromhttp://www.planetfriendly.net/community.html#ecovillage
Excel Spreadsheet - http://pubs.pembina.org/reports/ocsr-07-data-files.xls

Title Page Illustration - http://ecosustainableplanet.com

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Appendix

Appendix A
SHELTER
Sustainable homes are built using sustainable methods, materials, and facilitate green practices,
enabling a sustainable lifestyle. Their construction and maintenance have neutral impacts on the
Earth. Oftentimes, if necessary, they are close in proximity to essential services such as grocery
stores, schools, daycares, work, or public transit making it possible to commit to sustainable
transportation choices.[19] Sometimes, they are off-the-grid homes that do not require any public
energy, water, or sewer service.
ENERGY PRODUCTION
Sustainable homes may be linked to a grid supplied by a power plant that is using sustainable
power sources, buying power as is normal convention. Additionally, sustainable homes may be
connected to a grid, but generate their own electricity through renewable means and sell any
excess to a utility. There are two common methods to approaching this option: net metering and
double metering.
Net metering uses the common meter that is installed in most homes, running forward when
power is used from the grid, and running backward when power is put into the grid (which
allows them to net out their total energy use, putting excess energy into the grid when not
needed, and using energy from the grid during peak hours, when you may not be able to produce
enough immediately). Power companies can quickly purchase the power that is put back into the
grid, as it is being produced. Double metering involves installing two meters: one measuring
electricity consumed, the other measuring electricity created. Additionally, or in replace of
selling their renewable energy, sustainable home owners may choose to bank their excess energy
by using it to charge batteries. This gives them the option to use the power later during less
favorable power-generating times ie: night-time
When generating renewable energy and feeding it back into the grid (in participating countries
such as the US and Germany), producing households are typically paid at least the full standard
electricity rate by their utility and are also given separate renewable energy credits that they can
then sell to their utility, additionally (utilities are interested in buying these renewable energy
credits because it allows them to claim that they produce renewable energy). In some special
cases, producing households may be paid up to four times the standard electricity rate, but this is
not common.
Sustainably designed (see Sustainable Design) houses are generally sited so as to create as little
of a negative impact on the surrounding ecosystem as possible, oriented to the sun so that it
creates the best possible microclimate (typically, the long axis of the house or building should be
oriented east-west), and provide natural shading or wind barriers where and when needed, among
many other considerations. The design of a sustainable shelter affords the options it has later (ie:
using passive solar lighting and heating, creating temperature buffer zones by adding porches,
deep overhangs to help create favorable microclimates, etc).
GREEN MATERIALS
Many materials can be considered a green material until its background is revealed. Any
material that has used toxic or carcinogenic chemicals in its treatment or manufacturing (such as
formaldehyde in glues used in woodworking), has traveled extensively from its source or
manufacturer, or has been cultivated or harvested in an unsustainable manner might not be
considered green. In order for any material to be considered green, it must be resource efficient,

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not compromise indoor air quality or water conservation, and be energy efficient (both in
processing and when in use in the shelter).[24] Resource efficiency can be achieved by using as
much recycled content, reusable or recyclable content, materials that employ recycled or
recyclable packaging, locally available material, salvaged or remanufactured material, material
that employs resource efficient manufacturing, and long-lasting material as possible.
List of some sustainable materials

Lumber from Forest Stewardship Council approved sources

Composite wood (when made from reclaimed hardwood sawdust and reclaimed or
recycled plastic)

Straw Bale

Cob

Adobe

Rammed Earth

Cordwood

Bamboo

Cork

Hemp

Linoleum

Natural Rubber

Natural fiber (coir, wool, jute, etc)

Reclaimed stone

Reclaimed brick

Recycled metal

Recycled concrete

Recycled paper

Papercrete

Cellulose insulation

Organic cotton insulation

Soy insulation

Insulating concrete forms

Structural insulated panel

Lime render

Soy-based adhesive
INSULATION
Insulation of a sustainable home is important because of the energy it conserves throughout the
life of the home. Well insulated walls and lofts using green materials are a must as it reduces or,
in combination with a house that is well designed, eliminates the need for heating and cooling
altogether. Energy-efficient windows are another important factor in insulation. Simply assuring
that windows (and doors) are well sealed greatly reduces energy loss in a home.
ROOFING
Equipping roofs with highly reflective material (such as aluminum) increases a roofs albedo and
will help reduce the amount of heat it absorbs, hence, the amount of energy needed to cool the
building it is on. Green roofs or living roofs are a popular choice for thermally insulating a
building. They are also popular for their ability to catch storm-water runoff and, when in the
broader picture of a community, reduce the heat island effect.
APPLIANCES
Energy efficiency and water conservation are also major factors in a sustainable home. If using
appliances, computers, HVAC systems, electronics, or lighting the sustainable-minded often look

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for an Energy Star label, which is government-backed and holds stricter regulations in energy
and water efficiency than is required by law.[29][30] Ideally, a sustainable shelter should be able
to completely run the appliances it uses using renewable energy and should strive to have a
neutral impact on the Earths water sources.
GRAYWATER MANAGEMENT
Graywater, water from washing machines, sinks, showers and baths, although a controversial
topic because of heath concerns, may be reused in, specifically, landscape irrigation and toilets
as a method of water conservation. Likewise, rainwater harvesting from storm-water runoff is
also a sustainable method to conserve water usage in a sustainable shelter. Again, there is some
controversy over the quality of the water obtained from this method.[32] Sustainable Urban
Drainage Systems is an up and coming idea about replicating the natural systems that clean water
in wildlife and implementing it in a citys drainage system so as to minimize contaminated water
and unnatural rates of runoff into the environment.
SOLAR POWER
Solar power harnesses the energy of the sun to make electricity. Two typical methods for
converting solar energy into electricity are photo-voltaic cells that are organized into panels and
concentrated solar power, which uses mirrors to concentrate sunlight to either heat a fluid that
runs an electrical generator via a steam turbine or heat engine, or to simply cast onto photovoltaic cells.
To get the best out of a solar panel, the angle of incidence of the sun should be between 20-50
degrees. Solar power via photo-voltaic cells are usually the most expensive method to harnessing
renewable energy, but is falling in price as technology advances and public interest increases. It
has the advantages of being portable, easy to use on an individual basis, readily available for
government grants and incentives, and being flexible in regards to location (though it is most
efficient when used in hot, arid areas since they tend to be the most sunny).
GEOTHERMAL
For those that have a body of water flowing at an adequate speed (or falling from an adequate
height) on their property, hydroelectricity may be an option. When on a large scale,
hydroelectricity, in the form of dams, has adverse environmental and social impacts. When on a
small scale, however, in the form of single turbines, hydroelectricity is very green. Single water
turbines or even a group of single turbines are not environmentally or socially disruptive. On an
individual household basis, single turbines are the probably the only economically feasible route
(but can have high paybacks and is one of the most efficient methods of renewable energy
production). It is more common for an eco-village to use this method rather than a singular
household.
WATER USE
A major factor of sustainable living involves that which no human can live without, water.
Unsustainable water usage has far reaching implications for humankind. Currently, humans use
one-fourth of the earths total water in natural circulation, and over half the accessible
runoff.[59] Additionally, population growth and water demand is ever increasing. Thus, it is
necessary to use available water more efficiently. In sustainable living, one can use water more
sustainably through a series of simple, everyday measures. These measures involve considering
indoor home appliance efficiency, outdoor water use, and daily water use awareness. (Wikipedia)

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Appendix B

Creating a grid-structure plan. Although this made not be the most aesthetically pleasing
or creative design, it encourages greater pedestrian and bicycle movement, safety, as well
as social environment and security.
Human scaled Dimensions. People tend to feel most comfortable and safe when they are
in "human-scaled" spaces.
Active Building Fronts; Having doors and ample windows facing the street creates visual
interest for the pedestrian
Proximity. For a street to be truly walkable, destinations from residences to places of
work, school, parks, and shopping need to be in close proximity.
Public space. The best neighborhoods have welcoming public space within 1/8th mile
(700 feet) of all homes. These spaces are easily accessed by all people.
Streets & trails are well linked. The town has a good block form, often in a grid or other
highly connected pattern.

Appendix C

Reduce heating (by adding mass and thermal resistance value)

A 2005 study by Brad Bass of the University of Toronto showed that green roofs can also
reduce heat loss and energy consumption in winter conditions.
Reduce cooling (by evaporative cooling) loads on a building by fifty to ninety percent
Reduce stormwater run off
Natural Habitat Creation
Filter pollutants and carbon dioxide out of the air which helps lower disease rates such as
asthma
Filter pollutants and heavy metals out of rainwater
Help to insulate a building for sound; the soil helps to block lower frequencies and the
plants block higher frequencies
If installed correctly many living roofs can contribute to LEED points
Agricultural space