Open Space Design (OSD)/Natural Resource Protection Zoning (NRPZ)

OSRD provides one of the many tools that can help mitigate suburban sprawl impacts by focusing on open space preservation and a flexible design approach. This technique is an innovative form of subdivision design that maximizes both resource protection and economic profit. The process begins with determining how many lots could be developed under conventional zoning: this is the base yield of the property. From that point, the plan development process follows four basic steps:

1. Identify Conservation Areas. The areas include wetlands, floodplains, buffers to streams, wildlife habitats, and historic features. The community should analyze the site and evaluate the site in context to surrounding areas in order to identify the features that should be preserved within the designated conservation area.
   
   
2. Locate house sites. Once the maximum number of units has been established, the development or buildable area is now identified. House sites are located in the design to maximize access to open space and proximity to views. Conceptual alternatives are explored.
   
   
3. Align roads, trails, and other infrastructure. Avoid excess impervious surfaces by reducing the width of paved areas and streets, and use permeable or porous surfaces. Integrate a natural series of stormwater management practices such as bioretention cells and rain gardens to recharge water to aquifers.
   
   
4. Draw in lot lines. Then, establish ownership and management of the preserved open space.

OSRD provides the flexibility to minimize and allow various lot sizes, setbacks, and frontage within the development. When OSRD is allowed by Special Permit, communities can also incorporate provisions for density bonuses (linked to local goals) and the inclusion of affordable housing.

A Flexible and Creative Partnership Approach to Development. At the root of every OSRD effort is a bylaw that facilitates creative and flexible approach to residential development. An OSRD bylaw should not require a cumbersome permitting procedure, but instead, foster a partnership between the municipality and the developer to preserve existing green spaces, historic and natural resources, and social character via an equitably viable process and incentives to the developer to make this style of development more attractive to the developer while meeting specific goals of the community.

Consistency Between Boards and Departments: Because the OSRD model bylaw deals specifically with the site design process, communities should review and amend Subdivision Rules and Regulations and other local provisions (Wetlands Bylaws and Regulations, Board of Health Regulations, etc.) to avoid conflicts among boards, commissions, and departments.

Linking Density Bonuses to Community Goals: Density bonuses should be directly linked to goals discussed in municipal planning documents, such as Planned Production Plan (affordable housing), Open Space and Recreation Plan, Executive Order 418 Community Development Plan, Master Plan/Local Comprehensive Plan. Offering bonuses may require a considerable outreach effort as many Town Meeting voters may not be supportive of increases in density, without an understanding of the benefits.

Linking Use of Open Space to Community Goals: Municipalities should carefully discuss the use and ownership of the open space to match local goals. If the community wishes to truly preserve open space, then only passive recreation, outdoor education, historic presentation, and similar activities should be permitted in the open space area. Active recreation and placement of infrastructure are more appropriate for the “buildable area”.

The Permit Granting Authority Understanding of Core Concepts: Communities that choose to pursue the adoption of an OSRD Bylaw should be comfortable with the four-step site planning process. Where multiple resources on a single site may “compete” for protection, the reviewing agency may need to prioritize or make suggestions to a proponent for alternative layout schemes. In addition, the authority should be open to a flexible design process that includes the possibility of various lots sizes, frontages, and setbacks within the site design, rather than the usual "one size fits all" “cookie cutter” approach.

Local Coordination: OSRD is implemented as a resource-based partnership approach to site development. There should be inter-agency cooperation formally integrated into the review process from the pre-application stage to the concept plan process to subdivision plan review. The local Open Space Committee, Agricultural Commission, watershed association, and neighborhood organizations, can be integrated early in the proceeds, also, either formally or informally.

The practice of OSRD brings developers and local planners to the table early in the design process as a collaborative approach to site planning. Close to twenty communities in Massachusetts have adopted OSRD or similarly named bylaws and have used these provisions to develop dozens of innovative site designs. In many cases, developers have realized significant economic benefit from reduced infrastructure costs and increased property values. Local officials are increasingly turning to OSRD as an alternative to standard "cluster zoning" provisions as the "resource-based" approach in OSRD more pointedly answers to the specific needs of the community. Simply setting aside mandatory levels of open space on a site has not provided the specific resource protections appropriate to a region characterized by rich cultural, natural and aesthetic resources. OSRD is also flexible in allowing various lot sizes and frontage throughout the subdivision design rather than the "one size fits all" traditional cluster approach.

Implementing OSRD in local subdivision development can successfully meet several of the Patrick Administration's Sustainable Development Principles including:

• Concentrate Development and Mix Uses: The use of OSRD will concentrate development on to smaller areas of a site than what would generally happen under conventional zoning practice. Provides flexibility to create commercial, civic, educational, and recreational activities with open space and homes.

• Make Efficient Decisions: The OSRD permitting structure encourages smart growth and facilitates a permitting process that is clear, easy to understand, and cost-effective to developers.

• Protect Land and Ecosystems: The planning process for OSRD inherently protects land and water resources and promotes recharge to underlying aquifers. OSRD also preserves significant cultural and historic resources early in the planning process.

• Plan Regionally: Implemented on a broad scale, OSRD can have significant regional impacts to watershed hydrology, wildlife habitat corridors and aquifer protection.

• Expand Housing Opportunities: Used in conjunction with affordable housing provisions, OSRD bylaws can expand housing opportunities in a community.

OSRD like many other smart growth strategies, saves money for both developers and municipalities by concentrating development and decreasing the necessity for and cost of installing and maintaining conventional infrastructure, such as lengthy unnecessarily wide paved streets and stormwater management practices that collect and pipe runoff away from the site.

OSRD decreases site development costs by designing with the terrain. A minimum amount of clearing and grading is required, since the land with environmental constraints is preserved and removed form the developable area.

OSRD streamlines the plan review process, because this is a creative partnership approach to development design.

OSRD adds valuable amenities that can enhance marketing and sale prices, according to the National Association of Home Builders Research Center. OSRD subdivisions in Massachusetts have shown to appreciate faster and increase resale value more than those in conventional subdivisions.

Massachusetts OSRD subdivisions have demonstrated that well-designed OSRD developments create higher property values than conventional developments with the same type of housing. This increase in value is the direct result of the increased site amenities including open space, views, and preservation of historic resources.