INSPIRED BY SUSTAINABILTY

River Oaks: The Next Chapter intends to integrate many of the financially feasible concepts into an environmentally responsible, smart growth development:

• Focus development within or adjacent to existing communities to reduce multiple environmental harms associated with haphazard sprawl.
• Encourage the conservation of land through compact development to promote community livability, transportation efficiency and walkability.
• Provide a diversity of housing types and an overall net density of at least 10 units per acre to create housing opportunities and to promote livability, transportation efficiency and walkability.
• Encourage public health through physical activity by direct and safe connections for pedestrians to local destinations, neighborhood centers and public gathering spaces and through community interaction and engagement.
• Conserve water quality, natural hydrology and habitat through conservation of water bodies and Low Impact Development concepts.
• Preserve existing tree oak trees, provide climate appropriate landscape and reduce the amount of turf to reduce the need for irrigation and fertilization.
• Promote energy savings, respond to regional climate, increase the life of buildings and materials, provide cultural continuity and reinforce local distinctiveness.
• Promote green building practices in the design and construction of individual buildings using a tiered points checklist system developed by SLO Green Build, Build It Green, CA Greenbuilder or similar rating system.
• Encourage the design and construction of water efficient buildings to reduce the environmental impacts from water consumption.
• Strive to provide shade for at least 30% of non-roof impervious surfaces, including streets, parking lots, walkways, plazas, etc.
• Build common and public infrastructure such as sidewalks, roads, grading subbase, paving, curbs, and sewers using materials with recycled content where available.
• Selection of regionally available materials and resources to build local economy and reduce embodied energy.
• Reduce energy consumption and pollution from motor vehicles by encouraging use of public transit.