Southwest Michigan Planning Commission

Human forms linking with green spaces forms the basis for GI

Developing a comprehensive approach to GI is key to ensuring its success.  By interconnecting green space networks with human forms we can provide for beautiful landscapes within our everyday society.  Below are key principles to GI.

10 Principles of Green Infrastructure

1. Connectivity is key.
2. Context matters.
3. Green infrastructure should be grounded in sound science and land-use planning theory and practice.
4. Green infrastructure can and should function as the framework for conservation and development.
5. Green infrastructure should be planned and protected before development.
6. Green infrastructure is a critical public investment that should be funded up front.
7. Green infrastructure affords benefits to nature and people.
8. Green infrastructure respects the needs and desires of landowners and other stakeholders.
9. Green infrastructure requires making connections to activities within and beyond the community.
10. Green infrastructure requires long-term commitment.

Low Impact Development

Low Impact Development (LID) is an approach to land development that uses various land planning, design practices and technologies to simultaneously conserve and protect natural resource systems and reduce infrastructure costs.  These techniques can be useful in GI because of the linkages to human forms such as downtown corridors, residential developments and business areas.  By incorporating LID approaches in our human developments we can lessen the impacts that they have on the environment.

Common Low Impact Development approaches include:

• Trees and Tree Boxes               
• Vegetated Filter Strips
• Rain Gardens                            
• Reforestation
• Vegetated Swales                      
• Protection of Natural Features
• Pocket Wetlands                       
• Riparian Buffers/Forested Buffers 
• Green Roofs
• Green Parking

Go to www.swmpc.org/lid.asp

to learn more about the above LID approaches