About CONSERVATION SUBDIVISIONS

Hayden's Preserve Subdivision offers a modern more sustainable choice among new residential communities.  Committed to an enhanced natural and healthy environment for its residents, Hayden's Preserve Subdivision has developed a Conservation Area Management Plan. The Plan also follows the guidelines established by the City of Ames for "Conservation Subdivisions" established in Chapter 23, Division VI of the City of Ames, Iowa municipal code. 


The concept of "Conservation Design Development" offers an alternative set of design objectives and standards for residential subdivision development. These objectives and standards are intended to serve as a more sustainable alternative to common residential subdivision development in Ames. As of July 1, 2016, these standards and objectives apply to all residential subdivision development in the undeveloped areas of Ada Hayden Watershed north of Bloomington Road.
​As provided for in the Conservation Subdivision ordinance, the intent of Conservation Design Development is to preserve the existing natural features of the site, to preserve the natural drainage features and hydrologic characteristics of the landscape, and to reduce the impacts of development on the landscape; and
  1. To maintain and protect in perpetuity the Ames area natural character by preserving these important landscape elements including but not limited to those areas containing unique and environmentally sensitive natural features as prairie, woodlands, stream buffers and corridors, drainageways, wetlands, floodplains, ridgetops, steep slopes, critical species habitat, and by setting them aside from development;
  2. To promote interconnected greenways and environmental corridors throughout Ames;
  3. To provide commonly-owned open space and conservation areas for passive and/or active recreational use by residents of the development and, where specified, the larger community;
  4. To permit various means for owning conservation areas, preserved landscape elements, and to protect such areas from development in perpetuity;
  5. To provide greater flexibility in site dwellings and other development features than would be permitted by the application of standard use regulations in order to minimize the disturbance of natural landscape elements and sensitive areas, scenic quality, and overall aesthetic value of the landscape;
  6. To protect and restore environmentally sensitive areas and biological diversity, minimize disturbance to existing soils, vegetation, and maintain environmental corridors, and
  7. To preserve significant archaeological sites, historic buildings and their settings.​
con-ser-va-tion
Conservation entails careful preservation and protection of natural resources to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect and the term is commonly applied to ecological systems, water resources, energy resources, and wildlife. ​

Home     About     stormwater     natural areas    Lawn and landscape  contact