Getting through green infrastructure barriers without crashing the car

Transcription

1 Getting through green infrastructure barriers without crashing the car Juli Beth Hinds, AICP, Principal Birchline Planning LLC 2018 Regional Stormwater Summit

2 Another talk with pictures of plants telling us we can t require curbs in parking lots (curb your enthusiasm)

3 GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IS AN EXCUSE TO PUT PICTURES OF PLANTS IN POWER POINTS A METHOD OF TORTURING DPW DIRECTORS AND STAFF A MAGICAL WAY TO CURE ALL PROBLEMS, WHETHER SOCIAL, WATER QUALITY, AND FINANCIAL AN IMPORTANT COMPLEMENT TO TRADITIONAL STORMWATER FACILITIES THAT, WHEN DESIGNED AND OPERATED EFFECTIVELY, PROVIDES MULTIPLE BENEFITS IN ADDITION TO WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY MANAGEMENT AND! NOT PAVING TOO MUCH IN THE FIRST PLACE - PLUS TAKING OUT WHAT WE DON T NEED

4 What are we trying to accomplish with stormwater management, anyway? Reduce runoff volume especially in CSOs Improve water quality Protect infrastructure & downstream properties Facilitate redevelopment (or at minimum, no dis-advantage) Enhance community quality of life Increase resilience & reduce urban heat island effects

5 And how do we go about it? The more objectives we re aiming for the more green infrastructure comes into play! Reduce runoff volume especially in CSOs Improve water quality Protect infrastructure & downstream properties Facilitate redevelopment (or at minimum, no disadvantage) Enhance community quality of life Increase resilience & reduce urban heat island effects Ponds/ Underground Green Infrastructure

6 CONVENTIONAL SOD ENVIRO LOCK NATIVE SOD A green infrastructure approach requires different thinking about landscape and site functions VS. VS. GREENSCREEN PARKING LOT EXTERIOR GREEN WALL SYSTEMS YE OLDE PARKINGE GARAGE

7 Arborcide Hydro filterra tree box Investments are being made in every site. Will it be: VS. Arborcide vs a tree that s not just a tree!

8 BARRIERS, code and otherwise, prevent - Less impervious overall - Removing / disconnecting impervious surface - Creating multifunction landscapes - Using multifunction surfacing TOO MUCH IMPERVIOUS SURFACE NO COVERAGE LIMITS - TOO MUCH DING-DANG PARKING! - NO SHARED OR OFF-SITE PARKING - GIANT SPACES AND AISLES - MASSIVE STACKING/LOADING AREAS LANDSCAPE STANDARDS THAT DON T HELP WATER QUALITY AND MAKE IT HARD TO DESIGN FOR GSI (arborcide!) - BERMITIS TREMENDOUS MICHIGANDII - EVERGREENS EVERYWHERE PUBLIC WORKS SPECS/ STANDARDS CONFLICT WITH GSI DESIGN TOTAL SILENCE NO GUIDANCE, DEFINITIONS, OR STANDARDS FOR USING GSI STORMWATER REQUIREMENTS - MAKE PONDS THE HIGHWAY TO COMPLIANCE

9 PRACTICE BARRIERS prevent us from achieving - Less impervious overall - Removing / disconnecting impervious surface - Creating multifunction landscapes - Using multifunction surfacing AESTHETIC HABITS - FOR BERMS, HEDGES, PONDS TECHNOLOGY (MIS)TRUST - DO THOSE PROPRIETARY WIDGETS WORK? WELL-FOUNDED CONCERNS - MAINTENANCE IS DIFFERENT, CHALLENGING RESPONSIBLE MANAGERS DON T WANT SYSTEMS TO FAIL SILOS - IN CODES, PLAN REVIEW AND CAPITAL PROJECT DESIGN EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS PONDS - MAKE PONDS THE HIGHWAY TO COMPLIANCE

10 Freeway of Love Long and Winding Road Codes and ordinances: The words on paper create barriers A DENSE EVERGREEN HEDGE SHALL BE PLANTED ALONG THE PROPERTY LINE ALL DRIVES SHALL BE SURFACED WITH ASPHALT OR CONCRETE PER THE CITY S STANDARD An applicant is required to submit for approval a stormwater basin landscape plan developed by a licensed landscape architect, engineer or certified wetland consultant, and following installation, provide a written certification that all the required landscape materials have been installed in substantial conformance with the plans as approved by the City.

11 and so does interpretation, knowledge, practice and habit. Freeway of Love Planner: I have to mollify the neighbors who don t want this new use in their neighborhood. Long and Winding Road DPW Deputy: Council is going to have my hide if this thing clogs. What we don t write down is just as important as what s on paper! Consulting Engineer: My client really needs this approved so they can construct next year DEQ Regulator: That property owner has already had violations he won t maintain it properly!

12 Fixing what s on paper: Zoning and municipal code language changes are easy. Bam! Permeables are allowed! Bam! Buffers are no longer shedding runoff and you can use fencing and vegetation instead of evergreens!

13 Fixing what s on paper: Stormwater ordinance changes are not quite as easy, but still aren t all that hard. GI required unless determined to be infeasible Updated definitions make it clear that GI is allowed & how it will be reviewed

14 l/va\1. ó,w,6 føf ar'trt, W F---l+'(, frml{" ÁA6, rwtt þ s l'l/rlfy iéfo vtç1w rcrüux Changing attitudes is much more difficult. Æ Ë çqt' Ê Itttvffi,rç, trv YAWñeWfñçy 1 \ $ ØtT ø/rumn\o 1w0 tuw,brtw lhe LWto attrtrr-trìe lnl-fffifl vet" Artist: My buddy in WI

15 Milwaukee MSD/ Milwaukee County Department of Public Works GI Modeling Initiative So what happens if we change code language and take a GI approach? What s the benefit? (n.b. all of the modeling is predicated on crediting bioretention and permeable pavement for WQ and storage runs and hides)

16 Code changes: (1) Allow use of permeable surfacing in loading/circulation areas (2) allow bioretention landscaping in parking lots to count as required landscape (3) reduce required parking ratio from 1/150 GSF to 1/250 GSF Assume redevelopment of a 98% impervious existing site (sound familiar?!) Narrow rear exit lane to 14 from edge of parking stall; use remaining space between aisle to property boundary as bioretention Make exit lane permeable for length of building Make islands along Brown Deer Road and N. Mohawk bioretention Currently parked at 78 spaces for approximately 18,000 GSF (under requirement, which would be 120 spaces); if parked at 1/250 SF, would reduce requirement to 72 spaces; remove 6 spaces facing Brown Deer Road & landscape with deep-rooted native plantings

17 Modeled Reduction: Runoff volume, 57% TSS, 82%

18 LANDSCAPE APPROACH What if turfgrass were not only not required, but discouraged in favor of deeprooted, runoff reducing strips? Treat full volume of building & parking/ driveway runoff on site using filter strips Total site area 4.12 acres Runoff Reduction: 41% TSS Reduction: 58%

19 AND THEN THERE S PARKING Reducing imperviousness either when building happens, or through removal (coverage limits) Code change: reduce size of parking space from 10x20 to 9x18 and drive aisles from 25 to F INSTITUTIONAL DISTRICT, REGULATION. In an F-Institutional District, no building may be erected or enlarged, and no exterior alterations shall be made to an existing building, except in conformity with the following: (2) Off-street parking areas shall be provided for nonresidential buildings subject to the following: (a) At least 117 square feet of parking area one parking space for every three seats shall be provided for each seat on the basis of the posted, or, (in the case of proposed construction), the proposed seating capacity for a church, club, lodge, or hall for assembly. The parking square footage includes the area used for parking stalls and the driving areas between and at the end of rows of parking areas; it excludes the driveways leading into the parking area from streets, structures, other parking areas etc. The dimensions for parking spaces shall be as follows: 9 x 189 stalls, 225 wide aisles at 90 angle parking two way traffic; 9 x 2021 stalls, 18 wide aisles at 60 angle parking one way traffic; and 9 x 1920 stalls, 14 wide aisles at 45 angle parking one way traffic; 9 x 189 stalls, 22 wide aisles at 90 parking one way traffic. Reduce stalls from 9x19 to 9x18 (ONE LOUSY FOOT!) Reduce aisle width from 25 to 22 Replace paved areas with grass Volume reduction: 11.8% * TSS reduction: 11% (proportional to reduction in impervious area)

20 BANKING HAS CHANGED. CODES HAVE NOT. Code change: Reduce number of required parking spaces for banks, set maximum number of drivethrough lanes Remove 2 drive-through lanes Park at 5.5 spaces/1000 SF = 44 spaces instead of 64 Drainage area 33,000 SF; 5700 SF bioretention % Runoff Reduction: 48.0% % TSS Reduction: 60.4%

21 REDUCTIONS IN VOLUME FROM REDUCED PARKING SURFACE AREA: 1 OF RAINFALL So, how much does parking matter? wait for it a lot!

22 Reducing volume: EXCESS IMPERVIOUSNESS BY CODE never mind the excess water running off the site when it rains?!

23 Street & Public Works Standards: Thinking about less impervious, more landscape S T R E E T S A N D D R I V E A R E A S T A K E U P A L O T O F S P A A A A A A A A C E EXAMPLE: Cul-de-sac radii Canton, MI: 110 diameter residential/ 150 commercial Southfield, MI: 110 diameter Best practice standard (American Planning Association, at right): 80 diameter w/ allowance for stormwater treatment in the center island

24 Code change to allow permeable surfacing (Note that your fearless presenter did not say porous asphalt ) (3) Surfacing. All driveways shall be surfaced with an asphaltic or portland cement pavement in accordance with Village standards and specifications so as to provide a durable and dustfree surface, and shall be so graded and drained as to dispose of all surface water. Permeable surfacing may be used upon review and approval by the Village Engineer. Drainage area: 25,000 SF Paver area: 5600 SF Change alley to permeable surface: Runoff Reduction: 63% TSS Reduction:63% Direct roof drainage to permeable area: Runoff Reduction: 93% TSS Reduction: 93%

25 Truth: A GI approach requires very different approaches to design, construction, and maintenance (including equipment). These areas require investment along with code updates! People Equipment TRAINING

26 AND FINALLY, A FEW WORDS ABOUT TRAVELING CRUD

27 WHEN CONSIDERING CODES, KINDLY CONSIDER REDUCING THE POTENTIAL FOR REDUCING INSTANCES OF TRAVELING CRUD YUCKY! STORM DRAIN! BEACH :0!!! FOOD WASTE!

28 It s one more thing to think about, but how much do we love water in the Great Lakes? Code Change: V. Simple. Staff training: Has to happen Applicant complaining: You ll get some Fewer beach closures from Traveling Crud: PRICELESS

29 Thank you! Go forth and recode! And don t crash cars into your GI BMPs. JULI BETH HINDS, AICP birchlineplanningllc@gmail.com