Over 65 percent of the project is proposed as permanently protected, publicly accessible open space which will preserve the most sensitive water tributaries and habitat corridors. Generous buffers are planned and an extensive trail system will be retained and expanded, providing for valuable public interaction with the newly-created open space.

The project's design will retain as many trees on site as possible to allow for proper habitat preservation. Selective re-vegetation will be implemented to restore disturbed areas, repairing damage caused by overland vehicle use and resulting from the forest fire that burned part of the property.

In addition, components are in place to implement guidelines recommended by LEED for best green practices in regard to neighborhood development. Some of these smart-planning principles that Canyon Springs will embrace include encouraging a pedestrian environment, minimizing site disturbance, reducing sky glow via exterior lighting restrictions, protecting steep slopes and existing trees, promoting open space and habitat conservation, providing wide buffers and clustering home footprints, reducing water use via set landscaping design, requiring structures to blend architecturally with the natural mountain surroundings, recommending the use of recycled materials and preserving water quality by setting structures away from drainages and creeks.