- Land Use Planning – Thoughtful site analysis and strategic development recommendations to balance conservation with usability.
A private client with a secluded 40-acre parcel on Smith Lake approached us for assistance with land preservation and long-term planning. This property is located in the Elk Lake and Lake Skegemog Watershed within the greater Grand Traverse Bay Watershed. Our scope included resource mapping, land use planning, site analysis, and trail identification and mapping.
We began by assessing water movement on the property and analyzing how the parcel interacts with the broader regional watershed. Using GIS technology and advanced drone imagery, we visualized and communicated the site’s relationship to these connected water bodies per the client’s request. From there, we outlined our recommendations for siting their home and other outbuildings, development plans, mapped trails for hiking and snowshoeing, identified scenic viewpoints of Smith Lake, and proposed ideal locations for low-impact “interior” campsites.
Inhabitect is a full-service firm dedicated to designing, building, and growing all forms of living architecture. Based in Traverse City, Michigan — and consulting throughout North America — we create green roofs, natural shorelines, and other stormwater management and eco-minded landscape solutions for clients across the state. We’re bringing a new meaning to ‘GREEN.’