GREEN STREETS & INFRASTRUCTURE: A COUNTY APPROACH. Mimicking Nature to Manage Stormwater in Developed Areas

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1 GREEN STREETS & INFRASTRUCTURE: A COUNTY APPROACH Mimicking Nature to Manage Stormwater in Developed Areas Jennifer Gonzalez, Environmental Planner Passaic County Depar tment of Planning & Economic Development

2 SNAPSHOT: PASSAIC COUNTY Established 1837 Municipalities: 16 County Seat: Paterson Population: 501,226 Area: mi 2 Highlands: 78,789 ac Watershed Management Areas: 2, 3, 4

3 ROLE OF COUNTY PLANNING County Planning Act (N.J.S.A.) 40:27-1 et seq. Development Review Master Plan Elements Review Municipal Master Plans and Stormwater Management Plans Water Quality Management Planning Hazard Mitigation Plan Infrastructure Operations & Maintenance 247 miles of roadway 338 bridges and culverts County drainage system 46 County buildings 11 County parks Leader & Resource for Municipalities

4 GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE Molly Ann Brook Watershed Management Plan

5 MOLLY ANN BROOK WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN Project Implementation Award Recipient 2011 Identifies Best Management Practices (BMPs) that can reduce stormwater runoff and non-point source pollution 319(h) grant from NJDEP Goal: to enhance, protect and restore the surface water quality of the Molly Ann Brook and its tributaries

6 RAIN BARREL INITIATIVE Reduces stormwater volumes Harvests rainwater for nonpotable uses 641 rain barrels distributed Prevents >2,000,000 gallons of stormwater from directly entering the watershed each year

7 RAIN GARDEN INITIATIVE Recreation Pavilion, North Haledon, NJ Fire Company #2, Haledon, NJ Slows rate of stormwater flows Collects and treats stormwater 7 rain gardens installed on public property in 4 municipalities Treat > 115,000 gallons of precipitation each year

8 EXISTING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS: ROADWAYS & PARKS County Roads Infiltration Strips Vegetated Swales Contech Units County Parks Goffle Brook Park Riparian Restoration Open Space Trust Fund Park Development Permeable Paving projects Greenwood Lake Turnpike, West Milford Hershfield Park, Pompton Lakes

9 GREEN STREETS PLANNING Moving Passaic County: Transportation Element of the County Master Plan

10 WHAT IS A GREEN STREET? a transportation corridor that incorporates low-impact design elements and promotes non-vehicular forms of transportation. Photos courtesy of US Environmental Protection Agency

11 GREEN STREETS AS COMPLETE STREETS Complete Streets = Streets for Everyone Designed to provide safe access for all users including motor vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles, and transit riders. Users also include persons of all ages and abilities. Green Streets = Complete Streets that incorporate low-impact design elements which can mimic natural systems Utilize structural and non-structural green infrastructure facilities for stormwater management

12 WHY GREEN STREETS? Goals 1. Stormwater management 2. Maintain drinking water supplies for >4 million New Jersey residents 3. Improve environmental and public health 4. Improve quality of life for Passaic County residents 5. Decrease capital costs of public infrastructure Benefits Reduce peak stormwater runoff volumes and peak flows Lessen flood events and their impacts Fewer CSO events Improve water & air quality More open/green space, recreational opportunities, and wildlife habitat Mitigate urban heat island effect

13 GREEN STREETS DESIGN TOOLS Complete Streets Design Guidelines Typical Design Elements Roadways Public transit On-site Streetscape features Streetscape Features Plant street trees Utilize stormwater planters Increase use of pervious paving materials Integrate vegetated stormwater receiving areas Install bicycle facilities Energy-efficient and appropriate lighting

14 GREEN STREETS EDUCATION & DESIGN Green Streets Workshops

15 PASSAIC COUNTY GREEN STREETS WORKSHOP EPA Building Blocks Technical Assistance for Sustainable Communities Two-day workshop Green Streets 101 Green Streets Report Card (pre-workshop audit) Implementation strategy Next Steps Memo Recommendations: Coordination with state and federal agencies Implement Green Streets pilot projects Engage the community in stewardship and maintenance activities Promote the benefits of Green Streets Provide model ordinances and codes to municipalities

16 PATERSON GREEN STREETS WORKSHOP Selected two county roads in the City of Paterson as pilot projects Next steps memo and concept plans Coordination among city, county and federal partners Recommendations: General corridor-wide actions Location-specific actions Survey data, mapping & engineering fieldwork Partner with local nonprofits and faithbased organizations for educating community and maintenance

17 GREEN STREETS IMPLEMENTATION Next Steps

18 PILOT PROJECT: Haledon Avenue / N. Straight Street, City of Paterson

19 PILOT PROJECT: Haledon Avenue / N. Straight Street, City of Paterson

20 COMPLETE STREETS Lacking amenities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and mass transit users

21 N. Straight Street at Holsman Street COMPLETE STREETS Lacking amenities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and mass transit users N. Straight Street at Holsman Street

22 GREEN STREETS Lacking street trees and low impact design stormwater management elements

23 N. Straight Street at E. Main Street GREEN STREETS Lacking street trees and low impact design stormwater management elements N. Straight Street at E. Main Street

24 IMPLEMENTATION PLANS Molly Ann Brook Watershed Management Plan (2008) Moving Passaic County: Transportation Element (2012) Passaic County Future: Sustainability Element (2013) Amendment to Molly Ann Brook Watershed Management Plan (2013) Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan (forthcoming) Hazard Mitigation Plan PARTNERSHIPS REGULATIONS Complete Streets Policy PROJECTS Rutgers Cooperative Extension Municipalities State, Regional and Federal Agencies Private sector Community, environmental and faith-based groups School districts Master Gardeners Universities Development Review Complete Streets Checklist Modify Site Plan and Subdivision regulations and County Right of Way Entry Opening Resolution (Roads Resolution) Identify Sites: High priority areas due to flooding impacts and water quality Rain gardens on County corridors Green Streets pilot projects Rain garden installers training programs FUNDING Passaic County Corridor Enhancement 319(h) and other grant funding sources Public-private partnerships Resurfacing Program

25 Jennifer Gonzalez Environmental Planner Passaic County Department of Planning & Economic Development For more information, please visit Riverview Dr. Suite 250 Totowa, NJ 07512