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Better Site Design Development Principles to Protect Biodiversity & Water Quality

Better Site Design Development Principles to Protect Biodiversity & Water Quality. Erin Dreelin. Presentation Outline. Better Site Design principles Evaluation for the HCP Costs: Case studies Questions & discussion. Better Site Design Concepts. Maximize infiltration at the site

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Better Site Design Development Principles to Protect Biodiversity & Water Quality

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  1. Better Site DesignDevelopment Principles to Protect Biodiversity & Water Quality Erin Dreelin

  2. Presentation Outline • Better Site Design principles • Evaluation for the HCP • Costs: Case studies • Questions & discussion

  3. Better Site Design Concepts • Maximize infiltration at the site • Minimize collection and conveyance • Prevent stormwater impacts rather than mitigate them • Utilize simple, nonstructural methods • Use hydrology as a framework for site design

  4. Better Site Design • Not universal standards • Identify areas where codes can be improved • Reduce amount of impervious surfaces & their impact on receiving waters It’s not just where you build, but how you build.

  5. Model Development Principles Three Categories of Development: • Residential Streets and Parking Lots • Lot Development • Conservation of Natural Areas

  6. Model Development Principles • Adapt to meet unique site conditions • Act as benchmarks, not cookie cutters • Do not address infill and redevelopment • Need to be consistent with environmental and watershed plans

  7. Evaluation for the HCP • Methods • Preliminary results • Next steps

  8. Methods • Ordinance review • Subdivision regulations • Street & road regulations • Stormwater ordinances • Tree Preservation ordinances • Do existing codes promote Better Site Design?

  9. Evaluating Site Design Standards Collect development codes Complete Ordinance Review Worksheet Identify codes that prohibit Better Site Design Recommend changes for each locality

  10. Preliminary Results • Building setbacks & frontages • Impervious surface area

  11. Setbacks & Frontages • Current codes have strict requirements for lot geometry • Criteria constrain site planners • Smaller setbacks typically not permitted Side Setback Front Setback Frontage

  12. Front Setbacks

  13. Recommendations • Relax side yard setbacks • Allow narrower frontages to reduce total road length • Relax front setback requirements to minimize driveway lengths

  14. Reducing Impervious Surfaces • Street Width & Length • Right-of-way Width • Cul-de-Sacs • Curb & gutter • Parking Ratios • Parking Codes • Parking Lot Design • Structured Parking • Parking Lot Runoff

  15. Impervious Surfaces • Prevent infiltration of runoff • Paved areas • Roofs • Compacted soil

  16. INTENSITY OF LAND USE IMPERVIOUS SURFACE WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS

  17. The Impervious Surface Budget Parking Lots Roads Driveways Sidewalks 65% Transportation 35% Structures Offices Stores Houses Patios Derived from the City of Olympia, WA ISRS Final Report

  18. Parking Regulations • Often require impervious materials • Require more spaces than are actually used in peak periods • Developers often build more spaces than required by zoning

  19. Parking Ratios

  20. Parking Recommendations • Ratios should reflect demand • State min & max • Require overflow to be pervious • Encourage shared parking • Use vegetated areas where possible

  21. Reducing Impervious Surfaces If you can’t eliminate it, disconnect it! Connected Generates Runoff Disconnected Infiltrates Runoff

  22. Next Steps • Complete ordinance review • Tree preservation • Stormwater management

  23.   Counties Counties Counties    Cities Cities Cities Ordinance Review Collect development codes Complete Ordinance Review Worksheet Identify codes that prohibit Better Site Design  Recommend changes for each locality Counties  Cities

  24. Tree Preservation • Minimize clearing & grading • Conserve trees at each site • Cluster tree areas • Promote use of native vegetation

  25. Stormwater Management • Better Site Design credits • Funding

  26. Better Site Design Credits • Incentives to include Better Site Design • Reduce required storage volume • Model stormwater ordinance

  27. Funding Stormwater Programs • Permit review fees • Performance Bonds • Maintenance Bonds • Priority funding programs

  28. Clearly written regulations can do that Reducing impervious surfaces can do that Green areas can do that What About The Developers? • Want to know the rules • Want to save money • Want to sell lots

  29. Case Study: Somerset, MD • Eliminated stormwater ponds • Used bioinfiltration • Saved $300,000 • Gained 6 lots • Reduced finished lot cost $4800

  30. Higher lot yield 17 additional lots Higher lot value $3000 higher than competition Lower cost per lot $4800 less than conventional Enhanced marketability 80% sold in first year Added amenities 23.5 acres parks & greenspace Case Study: Gap Creek, AK

  31. Information Resources • Center for Watershed Protection • www.cwp.org • Nonpoint Source Education for Municipal Officials • www.nemo.uconn.edu • Urban Design Tools • www.lid-stormwater.net

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