DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
Land and resource development projects of all sizes require proper environmental assessments to determine potential effects and benefits. These assessments guide the planning and development stages of each project and help ensure that critical ecological features and functions are properly managed in a sustainable manner. We provide complete environmental management and planning services for a range of projects from residential and commercial developments to mining, hydroelectric, and oil and gas projects.
- Sustainability initiatives, including LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification
- Community development planning and design
- Regulatory permitting and approvals
- Environmental management and construction plans
- Tree retention and vegetation management planning
- Erosion and sediment control, stormwater management, biofiltration ponds and channels
- Public relations including community presentations
- Environmental monitoring and construction supervision
- Wildfire interface management planning
Community Planning and Sustainability
Diamond Head Consulting applies conservation and ecosystem planning principles to help guide long term planning and sustainability initiatives for community developments at both the local and watershed level. We promote the use of conservation design principles to protect important landscape features including soil, water, riparian areas, trees, vegetation communities and wildlife habitat. This approach provides environmental and economic benefits to homeowners and developers. Developing environmentally sustainable communities provides numerous opportunities to benefit from valuable ecosystem services, many of which are free. Some of these include:
- Erosion protection and soil conservation
- Pest control
- Waste management
- Maintenance of biodiversity
- Seed dispersal and pollination
- Health and recreational benefits
Identifying important landscape features provides developers the opportunity to minimize the overall building footprint, reduce servicing and road construction costs and increase the amount of open space available for residents. In many instances, density targets can still be maintained through use of alternative housing types such as cluster housing. These planning strategies provide more opportunities to develop trails, preserve trees and open areas and protect wildlife and riparian habitat. These features are attractive to potential home buyers and have been proven to increase home values and improve quality of life.
Our team is capable of managing all environmental aspects of community development planning including:
- Liaison with private and government agencies
- Environmental assessments and ecological inventories
- Community development consultation, planning and design
- Park and trail planning
- Permitting and approvals
We provide a range of ecological inventories including:
- Trees and vegetation communities
- Water features and aquatic habitat
- Wildlife and raptor nest surveys
- Rare and endangered species and plant communities
DHC's side channel re-vegetation at Park Lane's development in Port Moody, BC.
