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Building with the Ecosystem in Mind: Why Low Impact Development Matters


Part 2 of 3 of this High Performance Series with Mark Wille and Featuring Tracy Fanara


At Offsite Dirt Network, we often explore how industrialized construction, modular delivery, and scalable housing systems are transforming the built environment.


But innovation in construction doesn’t stop at the structure — it extends to the land, water, and ecosystems surrounding it.


In this conversation, Audree Grubesic sits down with environmental scientist Tracy Fanara to discuss how low impact development (LID) and green infrastructure strategies are reshaping how developers approach land planning — whether building one home or an entire community.


Because the future of housing isn’t just faster — it’s smarter and more environmentally integrated.



Starting with the Right Development Mindset


For developers entering new construction projects, Tracy emphasizes that success begins with ecosystem awareness at the planning stage.


Low impact development focuses on reducing infrastructure strain by working with natural systems rather than against them.


By implementing LID strategies early, developers can:

• Reduce pipe network infrastructure

• Lower stormwater management costs

• Minimize land disturbance

• Improve long-term site resilience

In many cases, these approaches save both time and money — but they require education and internal buy-in from development teams.


Selling Sustainability Internally


One of the biggest barriers to adoption isn’t engineering capability — it’s perception.

Developers often assume that meeting minimum regulations provides the best financial outcome.


Tracy’s research challenges that assumption. Through her academic work, she even developed an app designed to help developers quantify cost and time savings tied to low impact development strategies.


The takeaway? Sustainability isn’t just environmental — it’s economic.


Engineering Nature-Based Solutions


Civil engineers already have the tools needed to implement green infrastructure.

Instead of relying solely on traditional stormwater pipe systems, developments can incorporate:

• Bioswales

• Rain gardens

• Infiltration trenches

• Permeable surfaces


These solutions slow, filter, and redirect stormwater naturally — reducing runoff while restoring pre-development hydrologic conditions.


However, implementation must consider site-specific factors like soil composition, clay layers, groundwater levels, and proximity to natural water bodies.


There is no one-size-fits-all solution.


The Power of Stormwater Disconnection


One of the most impactful strategies Tracy highlights is disconnection.

Traditionally, rainwater flows from rooftops into gutters, down driveways, into storm sewers, and directly into natural waterways.


Disconnection interrupts this process.


By redirecting water into pervious surfaces — like bioswales or rain gardens — developments slow runoff, promote infiltration, and restore natural water cycles.

Sometimes, even small interventions create major environmental impact.



Urban Retrofits & Municipal Programs


Low impact development isn’t limited to new construction — it can also retrofit existing urban environments.


Programs like rain barrel distribution initiatives and sustainable backyard projects have helped cities manage stormwater at the residential scale.


Municipal efforts, such as the Philadelphia Green Streets Program, demonstrate how green infrastructure can improve stormwater management while increasing property values and neighborhood aesthetics.


However, adoption varies widely depending on local government priorities and infrastructure investment.


Rethinking Lawns & Landscape Norms


The conversation also touches on one of the most overlooked environmental impacts in development — traditional grass lawns.


Despite being culturally normalized, turf grass is one of the largest agricultural products globally — yet produces no consumable output.


Maintaining lawns requires:

• Excessive water use

• Fertilizers• Herbicides

• Insecticides


These inputs contribute to runoff pollution, ecosystem disruption, and even public health concerns tied to chemical exposure.


Native landscaping and ecological planting offer more sustainable alternatives.


Artificial Turf: A Hidden Environmental Cost


While artificial turf is often positioned as a low-maintenance solution, it introduces its own environmental challenges.


Synthetic grass systems can produce:

• Microplastic runoff

• Microfiber pollution

• Plastic infill contamination


Even maintenance processes — like raking and infill replacement — contribute to long-term environmental impact.


What appears sustainable on the surface may carry hidden ecological costs beneath it.


Integrating Ecology into Construction’s Future


As housing demand increases globally, land development must evolve alongside building innovation.


Industrialized construction, modular systems, and offsite manufacturing address structural efficiency — but ecological planning ensures long-term environmental resilience.


Low impact development bridges that gap.


By aligning construction with natural systems, developers can deliver housing that performs not only structurally — but environmentally.


And that integration is key to building communities designed for the future.


FAQs

1. What is low impact development (LID)?

Low impact development is a land planning approach that manages stormwater naturally through systems like bioswales, rain gardens, and permeable surfaces.


2. Does green infrastructure save developers money?

Yes. LID strategies can reduce infrastructure costs, pipe networks, and long-term maintenance expenses while improving site resilience.


3. What is stormwater disconnection?

Disconnection redirects runoff from impervious surfaces into pervious systems — slowing water flow and restoring natural hydrology.



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