Neighborhood Design

Attention to land "suitabilities" &"limitations"

In designing Stream Hill Park, we worked with what the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service calls “suitabilities” and “limitations.” Typically these focus on physical features such as soils, slopes, and aspect. But we also considered features like access to views and proximity to stands of large trees. So, for example, all Stream Hill lots have a buildable area where soils and slopes are well suited for construction, and they’re also laid out to take advantage of solar gain. And because Stream Hill Park has spectacular views of Kachemak Bay and the mountains beyond, we carefully considered viewsheds when siting parcels.

In fact, on every lot we identify a “building envelope” that makes the best use of what that lot has to offer. Specifying building envelopes also guarantees that nobody thoughtlessly builds something that blocks “million dollar views” enjoyed by his or her neighbors.

On the other hand, areas poorly suited for development —such as streams, wetlands, ravines— are rarely incorporated into private lots. Instead, wherever possible these areas have been added to the greenspace system so that they can continue reducing floods, recharging groundwater, stabilizing streambanks, and providing places for exploration and escape.

Click here to download a pdf document detailing Neighborhood Design guidelines.

Click here to download a pdf document answering frequently asked questions about the covenants at Stream Hill Park.

Click here to download a pdf map showing the landscape of Stream Hill Park prior to construction.

Click here to download a pdf map showing the contours of Stream Hill Park.