Title
City of Ann Arbor Environmental Commission Resolution in Support of a Green Streets Policy regarding Stormwater Management Guidelines for Public Street Construction and Reconstruction
Memorandum
On July 2, 2012 City Council passed Resolution # R-12-295 directing City Staff (from the Systems Planning, Project Management, and Field Operations Units of Public Services; Parks and Recreation, and Planning from Community Services) to work with the Environmental Commission in the development of a Green Streets policy.
The Environmental Commission Water Committee goal in this effort is to change City policy to make “Green Streets” the standard, for new and reconstructed City street designs.
The terms Green Streets or Green Infrastructure are adaptable terms used to describe an array of products, technologies, and practices that use natural systems - or engineered systems that mimic natural processes - to enhance overall environmental quality and provide utility services. Green Streets treat and/or infiltrate storm water to improve water quality and reduce the volume and rate at which stormwater leaves the street.
After considering numerous options the Water Committee and City Staff came to the conclusion that the most common denominator in green infrastructure is infiltration of stormwater on-site where it is generated. As such, a policy statement regarding stormwater management guidelines for public street construction and reconstruction was developed to set infiltration standards based on the ability of the project site to infiltrate stormwater.
Staff
Prepared By: Environmental Commission Water Committee
Body
WHEREAS, impervious surfaces are major contributors to stormwater runoff pollution and volume;
WHEREAS, in Ann Arbor, right-of-ways include the public streets and the stormwater pipes. Public streets are actually part of the stormwater management system since they receive runoff from adjacent parcels and convey the stormwater to the piped syste...
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