Sustainable land use code
Why a new system is needed? The 20th-century model of land use divided cities into zones: residential, industrial, agricultural, commercial, and recreational. This approach assumed that:
- industry is inherently dirty and must be isolated,
- food can only be produced in rural fields,
- housing must be separated from production and commerce,
- nature is a decorative afterthought in designated “green zones.”
The result has been cities that are fragmented, energy-hungry, and ecologically fragile. People must travel long distances between home, work, food, and nature. Soil is sealed under asphalt. Sunlight is wasted on bare rooftops. Food, energy, and water are imported from outside, creating systemic vulnerability.
Future city must follow different principles. Instead of separation, it must be based on integration:
- food production is embedded everywhere — in courtyards, roofs, green corridors.
- industry is clean, local, and compatible with daily life: crafts, printing, digital, bio-production
- every surface serves multiple purposes: housing plus agriculture, energy plus cooling, recreation plus biodiversity, etc.
The city functions as an ecosystem, where sunlight, water, and soil cycles are consciously managed.
The following rules codify this new paradigm. They replace rigid zoning maps with functional and energetic balances that guide development while preserving ecological resilience and local autonomy.
Light balance
light absorbents, e.g. photovoltaics, heat collectors
- min: 1% due to energy security
- max: 10% for biome balance
water bodies
- min: 1% due to water security
- max: 10% for biome balance
transparent surfaces, e.g. greenhouses
- min: 2% due to food security
- max 10% for biome balance
the rest is photosynthesis surfaces, e.g. vegetation:
rule: 100% of solar energy must be allocated across these receivers
Construction area
maximum ground footprint of construction: 10%
multiplier: ×2 if two floors are used (20% effective usage with the same footprint)
purpose: protect soil, enable water infiltration, and preserve living ecosystems
Construction distribution
private: include residential, or unknown function
- min: 3%
- max: 5%
public: include commercial, education, health, services
- must offer products or services
- min:
- max:
productive: include greenhouses, animal shelters, crafts, clean industry
- must offer jobs
- min:
- max:
logistic:
- heavy roads
- min:
- max:
- light paths
- min:
- max:
- foot trails
- min:
- max:
Biodiversity
20 plant species per hectare
Pollution
pollution is a resource in the wrong place. each type has specific standards governed by its own policy. the zoning system enforces compliance as a condition of land use.
sound pollution
governed by sound policy. key constraints:
residential zones: 55 dB(A) day, 40 dB(A) night at the boundary
forest and conservation zones: 45 dB(A) day, 35 dB(A) night
dawn chorus window (05:00 – 07:00): no amplified sound anywhere
amplified events: 48 h advance notice to neighbors within 300 m
water pollution
governed by water policy. key constraints:
all supply pipes: PPR (polypropylene random) only — no PVC, no galvanized steel
greywater: on-site treatment to BOD < 30 mg/L before soil discharge
blackwater: closed composting or biodigester — no direct soil discharge
15 m spring buffer: no construction, no chemical inputs
discharge monitoring: quarterly, results published to cyberia ledger
light pollution
governed by light policy. key constraints:
all outdoor lighting: 2200 K or warmer, full cutoff (zero upward emission)
non-essential outdoor lights off by 23:00
conservation buffer: unlit (0 lux)
target sky quality: SQM > 21.0 mag/arcsec² at zenith on new moon nights
air pollution
governed by air policy. key constraints:
open burning of synthetics: prohibited at all times
biochar kilns: permitted with smoke-free secondary combustion
diesel generators: emergency backup only, maximum 4 h/day
indoor materials: zero-VOC finishes only in occupied spaces
soil pollution
governed by soil policy. key constraints:
all synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers: unconditional prohibition
bare soil: prohibited for more than 30 days — mulch or living cover required
biochar: minimum 0.5 t/ha/year in food-production zones
annual soil test per parcel, results published to cyberia ledger
Incentives
cyberia tax income at the rate of 10% from revenue generated within its area
if the district is designed to become 100% sustaniable in terms of
- energy
- water
- food
that is, the distribt export more energy, water and food when consume it gain the right for 5% tax