The Capstone Project
The capstone project is an EIA for a proposed 200-unit residential development on a 40-hectare parcel at the edge of a mid-sized city. The site includes 15 hectares of mature oak-hickory forest, a perennial stream with a 100-year floodplain, 5 hectares of wetland, and 20 hectares of former agricultural land. Adjacent land uses include a state highway (south), existing residential subdivision (east), and a nature preserve (north). The development plan proposes clearing 25 hectares for housing, roads, and amenities while preserving 15 hectares as open space. Scoping identifies key issues: habitat loss and fragmentation, stream water quality, wetland impacts, stormwater management, traffic and noise, air quality during construction, and community socioeconomic effects.