Maximizing Impact / Maximizing Impact / Minimizing Impact:Minimizing Impact:

Balancing Human and Environmental Concerns Balancing Human and Environmental Concerns through Site Access Designthrough Site Access Design

Lee-Anne MilburnLee-Anne MilburnDepartment of Landscape ArchitectureDepartment of Landscape Architecture

College of DesignCollege of DesignNorth Carolina State UniversityNorth Carolina State University

April 26, 2006April 26, 2006

The ChallengeThe Challenge

Creating site access areas which Creating site access areas which maximize the opportunities and maximize the opportunities and experience of humans…while experience of humans…while

minimizing the impact on minimizing the impact on environmental and ecological environmental and ecological

systemssystems

So…how do we do it?So…how do we do it?

Four Stages of Four Stages of ConsiderationConsideration

Site AssessmentSite Assessment User AssessmentUser Assessment Site DesignSite Design Site ConstructionSite Construction

Site AssessmentSite Assessment

Land Area AnalysisLand Area Analysis Views to be preserved / blockedViews to be preserved / blocked Wildlife habitats / challengesWildlife habitats / challenges Key plant communities requiring Key plant communities requiring

preservation or restorationpreservation or restoration Sensitive areas requiring protectionSensitive areas requiring protection Protection from/for adjacent land usesProtection from/for adjacent land uses Sensory considerations (noise, smells, Sensory considerations (noise, smells,

etc.)etc.)

Site AssessmentSite Assessment

Water-related AnalysisWater-related Analysis Trends in channel morphology and Trends in channel morphology and

behaviorbehavior Sedimentation patterns and effectsSedimentation patterns and effects Erosion patternsErosion patterns Need for protection from wind and Need for protection from wind and

currentscurrents Stabilization needsStabilization needs Shore configurationShore configuration

User AssessmentUser Assessment

Human (Cultural) AnalysisHuman (Cultural) Analysis Trends in use patterns (who and when)Trends in use patterns (who and when) User profileUser profile ExpectationsExpectations Implications of site location on trail Implications of site location on trail

(trailhead vs. intermediate location)(trailhead vs. intermediate location) Accessibility considerationsAccessibility considerations

……develop site “program” (what you need develop site “program” (what you need and the characteristics required)and the characteristics required)

Human (Cultural) AnalysisHuman (Cultural) Analysis ParkingParking Experiential considerationsExperiential considerations Education and interpretation requirementsEducation and interpretation requirements Regulatory and directional signageRegulatory and directional signage Amenities (picnic Amenities (picnic

areas/storage/washrooms)areas/storage/washrooms) Water access characteristics Water access characteristics

(ramps/docks/railings etc.)(ramps/docks/railings etc.)

User AssessmentUser Assessment

Human (Cultural) AnalysisHuman (Cultural) Analysis Visual access (views)Visual access (views) Accommodating and controlling physical Accommodating and controlling physical

accessaccess SafetySafety LiabilityLiability

User AssessmentUser Assessment

General PrinciplesGeneral Principles

Identify applicable regulationsIdentify applicable regulations Address accessibility concernsAddress accessibility concerns Identify conflicts between site constraints Identify conflicts between site constraints

and user needsand user needs Identify conflicts between regulations, Identify conflicts between regulations,

design requirements and budget design requirements and budget limitationslimitations

Use design solutions over additive Use design solutions over additive solutions where possiblesolutions where possible

Reduce the site “envelope” and use Reduce the site “envelope” and use “cluster” design principles“cluster” design principles

Preserve native vegetationPreserve native vegetation Retain natural topographyRetain natural topography Preserve natural flow patternsPreserve natural flow patterns

Low Impact Design Low Impact Design PrinciplesPrinciples

Low Impact Design Low Impact Design PrinciplesPrinciples

Minimize site disturbance during Minimize site disturbance during clearing and gradingclearing and grading

Use permeable pavingUse permeable paving Minimize excavation foundationsMinimize excavation foundations Minimize cut and fillMinimize cut and fill

Parking considerations:Parking considerations: Design parking for carrying capacity of the Design parking for carrying capacity of the

sitesite Don’t increase itDon’t increase it People will match their perceptions of the People will match their perceptions of the

capacity of the trail to the parkingcapacity of the trail to the parking

Site DesignSite Design

Experiential considerations:Experiential considerations: Direct and control access to sensitive Direct and control access to sensitive

areas by use of materials and viewsareas by use of materials and views Try to create spaces of “prospect and Try to create spaces of “prospect and

refuge”refuge” People like mystery – don’t show them People like mystery – don’t show them

everything at onceeverything at once Preferred landscapes: open, wooded with Preferred landscapes: open, wooded with

waterwater

Site DesignSite Design

Education and signage:Education and signage: Keep in mind that signage is not always Keep in mind that signage is not always

necessarynecessary Design cues can tell as much or more Design cues can tell as much or more

information if used properlyinformation if used properly Use path materials, width, viewsUse path materials, width, views

Site DesignSite Design

Boat racks and Boat racks and equipment storage equipment storage (long or short term)(long or short term)

Camping areasCamping areas LightingLighting Launch areaLaunch area ParkingParking

Picnic areaPicnic area PlaygroundPlayground SignsSigns Security (phone, Security (phone,

lighting)lighting) ToiletsToilets Waste disposalWaste disposal Potable waterPotable water

Site DesignSite Design

Amenities to be considered:Amenities to be considered:

Water access:Water access: Work with natural characteristics of siteWork with natural characteristics of site Identify capacity of water’s edge and Identify capacity of water’s edge and

design to support itdesign to support it Natural access areas: 3:1 maximum slope Natural access areas: 3:1 maximum slope

to minimize erosionto minimize erosion Use natural local materials when possibleUse natural local materials when possible Geogrids and mats can control erosionGeogrids and mats can control erosion Control number and extent of access zonesControl number and extent of access zones

Site DesignSite Design

SafetySafety Minimize vehicle/pedestrian conflicts Minimize vehicle/pedestrian conflicts

in parking and access areain parking and access area Eliminate entrapment zonesEliminate entrapment zones Create opportunities for informal Create opportunities for informal

surveillancesurveillance

Site DesignSite Design

Create a blueway identity:Create a blueway identity: Choose material paletteChoose material palette Use colors consistentlyUse colors consistently Create identifiable “triggers”Create identifiable “triggers” Develop relationships between spaces that Develop relationships between spaces that

work and use them repeatedlywork and use them repeatedly Use amenity features to reinforce identityUse amenity features to reinforce identity

Site DesignSite Design

BMPs During ConstructionBMPs During Construction

Avoid soil compactionAvoid soil compaction Application of fill on root zones kills Application of fill on root zones kills

treestrees Exposure of interior tree areas Exposure of interior tree areas

stresses treesstresses trees Changes in water flow patterns (over Changes in water flow patterns (over

land or under ground) causes land or under ground) causes problemsproblems

BMPs During ConstructionBMPs During Construction

Use protective fencing at canopy Use protective fencing at canopy edgeedge

Protect drainage areasProtect drainage areas Eliminate parking and storage under Eliminate parking and storage under

canopies or along bank edgescanopies or along bank edges Bore rather than trench if possibleBore rather than trench if possible

ConclusionConclusion

Successful design works with existing Successful design works with existing patternspatterns

Construction choices should be Construction choices should be based on understanding of human based on understanding of human and environmental considerations and environmental considerations and constraintsand constraints

Mother nature always wins!Mother nature always wins!