Comprehensive book from the Florida chapter offers a model for others.

The Florida Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (FLASLA) has debuted a new publication about sustainable development. This 150-page-plus publication is available as a free download from the FLASLA website.

Visions of Smart Growth and Sustainability was conceived to assist the implementation of Central Florida’s groundbreaking regional planning effort (“How Shall We Grow”), led by the Congress of Regional Leaders, but the final product is useful for regional and community planning efforts in any locale. As an adjunct to the process, 50-plus landscape architects from throughout Florida joined together in a charrette to create images and narrative about how sustainable development techniques might be applied throughout the state and beyond. The Visions book is organized into nine chapters covering typical development types such as commercial “Marketplace,” residential “Neighborhoods,” transportation “Corridors,” “Natural Environments,” and “Open Space.” The resulting book contains an extensive array of ideas in support of urban livability and environmental stewardship.

Reprinted from LAND Online, June 9, 2009