ABSTRACT
The planet Earth has been the one home for all of its processes and all of its myriad inhabitants since the beginning of time, from hydrogen to men. All ecosystems rely on two fundamental processes — the flow of energy from the sun and the recycling of essential chemicals and nutrients required for living organisms. To the contrary, ecologically based municipal land use recognizes that providing for the needs of a growing national population, is a continuing obligation. The construction of residential subdivisions, and corporate office, commercial, and industrial complexes, generally requires considerable resculpting of the land. Municipal land use practices certainly appear to incorporate more opportunities to minimize environmental damage. It is common practice, for instance, for communities to require the submission of a site-specific environmental impact statement for the largest land development projects; and local ordinances frequently require more on-site control of storm water runoff, soil erosion, vegetation removal, and steep slope construction.
