Scott's Creek: low-impact development

Working with the Elizabeth River Project, landownder Earl Industries and local neighborhood groups, a land use plan for a 22-acre parcel on the north shore of Scott's Creek was developed by Crisman + Petrus Architects incorporating effective concepts that are good for the creek, the environment, local neighborhoods, and the economic interests of Earl Industries. The goal of this plan is take best advantage of wind, water and solar flows across the site while amending or creating soils at the ground. Narrow-footprint buildings oriented to prevailing winds achieve natural cooling while rainwater is collected for landscape watering, on-grade filtration for release into the river, and evaporation back into the air. Buildings are also oriented for optimal solar heating in winter and shading in summer.

A mix of building uses across the 22 acres, including low and medium density residences nearest the creek, and commercial office space as well as light retail use(such as small restaurants and corner stores), promote the idea that this is a busy neighborhood with residents and workers occupying the area at all hours. Although the continuous riparian buffer along the river's edge functions as a planted water and pollution filter for Scott's Creek, it is incorporated into the strategic plan as a linear park, open to the public with walking and bicycle trails that may connect this neighborhood to the opposite side of Scott's Creek in the future.