Infill Development

• Author: Tyler Adams
• Pages: 66-69

66 Sustainable Development Code: Climate Change

INFI LL DEVEL OPM ENT

Tyler Adams (author)

Jonathan Rosenbloom & Christopher Duerksen (editors)

INTRODUCTION

Inll development is the process of developing vacant or under-developed

parcels within areas that are already largely developed.1 As populations

uctuate and the needs of a community tra nsform, vacant land becomes

increasingly common place. Instead of direc ting development outward, inll

development helps replace existing vacant lots and promotes land conserva-

tion through the reduction of greeneld development. Successful in ll devel-

opment programs often focus on improving neighborhoods, creating more

ecient mixes of jobs and housing, reducing blight, and reinvesting in the

co mmun it y.2 Inll can return cultura l, social, and recreational vitalit y to

dilapidated areas within a community.3

Inll development occurs on a variety of scales, including the rehabili-

tation of an entire block or the construction of a single-family home on

a vacant lot within a developed block.4 Dierent inll program s may be

appropriate depending on the type of development needing to be achieved.

Inll developments are also not limited to a particular type of use. Munici-

palities frequently permit residential, commercial, or a mixture of uses in

inll development areas in order to accomplish a variet y of goals. Traditional

barriers to inll development include neighborhood opposition, inexible

building codes and diculty in land assembly.5 To address some of these

barriers many communities have created incentive programs to ma ke inll

a more attractive option. ese incentives may reduce fees or relax building

and design requirements. When creating incentives to develop in ll areas,

local governments may attach a variet y of sustainable building requirements,

such as minimum energy production (see Zero Net Energy Buildings.