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MANAGING WET WEATHER WITH
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
MUNICIPAL HANDBOOK
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
RETROFIT POLICIES
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Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure
Municipal Handbook
Green Infrastructure Retrofit Policies
prepared by
Jennifer Bitting
Christopher Kloss
Low Impact Development Center
The Municipal Handbook is a series of documents
to help local officials implement green infrastructure in their communities.
December 2008
EPA-833-F-08-008
Front Cover Photos
Top: rain garden; permeable pavers; rain barrel;
planter; tree boxes.
Large photo: bioretention and permeable
concrete, Olympia WA
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Green Infrastructure Retrofit Policies
Introduction
Existing development, especially in urbanized and urbanizing areas, is responsible for currently degraded
water quality and stream conditions. Changes in land cover and the increased imperviousness of the urban
environment have resulted in larger volumes of runoff traveling at faster velocities. This has caused
serious streambank erosion and has compromised aquatic habitat. Many of these areas were developed
without adequate stormwater controls and must be addressed if urban streams are to be restored and water
quality is to be improved nationwide. It should be noted that most stormwater regulations are intended to
limit the increases in pollution associated with new development, or to curb flooding, but do not
specifically address the hydrologic modifications associated with runoff from existing development.
Nationally, 40% of assessed waters fail to meet water quality standards and urban streams have tended to
fare worse than the national averages.1 USGS studies of urban streams find that concentrations of total
phosphorus exceed EPA's goal for nuisance growth in 70% of streams, insecticides are usually at a higher
concentration than in agricultural areas, and fecal coliform bacteria commonly exceed recommended
standards for water recreation.2 In addition, combined sewer systems in nearly 750 municipalities deliver
850 billion gallons of untreated overflows to urban waters each year.3
Retrofits to stormwater infrastructure will be necessary to reduce runoff and pollution, but the capital
investment is daunting. Upgrades to stormwater and combined sewer systems, like other utilities, are
capital intensive projects. EPA estimates current wastewater infrastructure needs an investment in excess
of $200 billion, with $10 billion needed for stormwater management and $60 billion needed for combined
sewer overflow (CSO) correction.4 While this needed investment presents a significant economic burden,
it also presents an opportunity to re-evaluate the most efficient way to invest in infrastructure and
environmental programs.
Using green infrastructure for urban stormwater retrofits can reduce stormwater pollution while
simultaneously reducing the burden and demand on existing infrastructure. However, water quality and
quantity benefits are not the only advantages green infrastructure has to offer. Green infrastructure
enhances communities by bringing aspects of the natural environment into inhabited space. Trees provide
shade, act as wind breaks and noise barriers, and improve air quality. In many instances, green
infrastructure has been found to be less costly than or cost competitive with traditional infrastructure.
Green infrastructure provides additional environmental and economic benefits for the investment rather
than traditional stormwater management approaches that literally bury the investments out of sight. The
additional benefits that green infrastructure provides include:
Green infrastructure effectively counteracts urban heat island by substituting soils and
vegetation for hard, heat absorbing materials common in urban areas, creating shade, and
emitting water vapor.
Green roofs and other vegetation incorporated on and around buildings, help shade and insulate
buildings from wide temperature swings, decreasing the energy needed for heating and cooling.
Green infrastructure improves air quality as vegetation absorbs gaseous air pollutants and
adsorbs particulates.
Research indicates that property values increase when street trees are planted and vacant lots are
greened, providing private benefits to homeowners, increased property tax revenue, and more
livable communities.
The distributed green infrastructure network is designed to limit the conversion of precipitation to runoff
by capturing rainwater where it falls, managing stormwater at the surface, and maximizing soil and
vegetation contact during treatment. This combination allows green infrastructure to reduce stormwater
volumes, peak flow rates, and pollutant concentrations.
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Traditional stormwater controls have focused almost exclusively on reducing pollution without
addressing the increased volume of stormwater discharged from urbanized areas. The benefits gained
from removing pollutants are often overshadowed by the magnitude of the runoff volume. Even with
stormwater controls and high rates of pollutant removal, absent volume reductions, urban areas will
contribute more pollution than pre-development conditions making it difficult to achieve water quality
standards. Table 1 highlights this condition with the familiar example of the runoff from a one-acre
meadow and one-acre parking lot after one-inch of rain.
Table 1. Runoff Volume and Pollutant Load from One-Acre Parking Lot with Treatment and
Meadow for a One-Inch Rain Event.5'6
Land Use
Paved Parking Lot
with Treatment
Meadow
Pollutant
TSS
Concentration
(mg/L)
130
25
%
Removal
80
0
Effluent
Concentration
(mg/L)
26
25
Runoff
Volume
(gal)
25,800
1,600
Pollutant
Load
(Ibs)
5.6
0.34
Table 1 demonstrates that even when treatment measures are able to achieve pollutant concentrations
similar to pre-development conditions, the large difference in runoff volume produces a pronounced
increase in pollutant load from urbanized areas. And with the lack of any controls in many urban areas,
the pollutant loadings are much greater than displayed in Table 1. Green infrastructure's ability to reduce
both stormwater volumes and pollutant concentrations is critical to reducing pollutant loads from urban
areas and improving water quality.
This paper will explore the policies and incentives that municipalities have used to facilitate the use of
green infrastructure within their stormwater programs. While the benefits of green infrastructure are
increasingly understood, incorporating green retrofits into municipal infrastructure has presented
institutional and regulatory challenges. The solutions to overcome these barriers are often dependent upon
the water quality objectives and technologies employed. The policies are presented in this paper by
technology type, but often approaches used for one green infrastructure practice are applicable to another
or there is overlap among goals and outcomes.
Green Roof Retrofit Policy
There are two types of public policy currently in place concerning the implementation of green roofs for
retrofit applications: incentives and regulations. Although many jurisdictions are currently using
incentives alone in the early stages of garnering widespread municipal support for green roofs, these two
policy approaches work well in tandem. An incentive program can initiate a green roof regulation by
introducing the technology and its application on private property before implementing a mandate.
A combination of both incentives and regulation has been effective in Basel-City, Switzerland. Their
incentive program had good publicity and raised awareness of green roof benefits such as energy savings
and biodiversity protection, issues that were important to the community. Consequently, their green roof
regulations did not meet resistance.7
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Excerpt from the City of Toronto Green Roofs Pilot Program
Green Roof Incentive Pilot Program
Program goals
The Green Roof Incentive Pilot Program supports the City's stormwater plan known as the Wet Weather Flow
Master Plan. The overall goal of the Green Roof Pilot Program is to encourage green roof construction in the City.
In addition, the program will:
Result in the construction of a variety of green roof types which could be used for education and
promotional purposes.
Provide an opportunity to showcase various green roof technologies and planting styles.
Provide a grant of $50 per square meter of eligible green roof area up to a maximum of $10,000 for single
family homes and a maximum of $100,000 for all other property owners in the City of Toronto.
Who is eligible
Any private property owner in the City of Toronto with a water account with the City is eligible, regardless of
building size and type, so long as the building is capable of supporting a green roof that meets the specifications
and requirements. Each green roof applicant must demonstrate that the proposed green roof:
Has a continuous coverage of growing media over at least 50% of the roof footprint (roof area) of the
building.
Has a vegetation mix as opposed to a monoculture and a sustainable organic growing medium that
replenishes nutrients and retains moisture.
Has a maximum slope of 10 percent.
Has a depth of at least 150 mm (6 inches) for a new building. The depth will permit greater flexibility in
terms of the type and variety of vegetation that can be incorporated and will help ensure greater survival
of plants (existing buildings with a lesser growing medium thickness may be considered for the pilot
program if the applicant (or manufacturer) submits test data indicating the performance of the system with
respect to water runoff coefficient and plant survival ability.
Is installed over heated spaces (non-heated spaces, such as underground garages will not be considered
for the pilot program).
Incentives
A green roof can have up to twice the lifespan of a conventional roof, making the long-term cost of the
two comparable.8 However, since the initial cost of a green roof is significant, a policy that focuses on
alleviating that initial cost burden appears to be most successful.
Subsidy
The most common way to reduce the initial cost burden is through a subsidy program. Subsidies are
usually provided per square foot of green roof area, up to an established maximum amount or percent of
the total cost. For example, the City of Toronto's Green Roof Incentive Pilot Program will fund $50 per
square meter of green roof up to a maximum of $10,000 for single family homes and $100,000 for other
building types (Canadian dollar values).9
The funding for subsidy programs often comes from stormwater fees collected by the municipality to
mitigate for post-construction levels of runoff quantity and pollutants. By investing in green roofs, the
municipality is eliminating runoff before it enters the municipal stormwater system. The use of public
money on private land is validated because of the reduced municipal facility cost, size, and maintenance
burden.
After the first year of Toronto's Green Roofs Pilot Program, the incentive offered for building green roofs
was found to not be high enough to attract broad interest.10 Consequently, the financial incentive was
raised from $10 (CAD) to the current $50 (CAD) per square meter. However, this amount is more than
the cost of the stormwater benefit to the city and alternative funding sources have to be found in order to
sustain the program. Since green roofs also reduce energy use in buildings making more energy available
for other users and delaying the need for capacity upgrades, Toronto is considering funding the Green
Roof Incentives Program with energy conservation funds as well as stormwater management funds.11
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Local market development is an additional benefit
of financial incentives. As more property owners
elect to build green roofs, the demand for local
green roof services will increase and the cost of
the technology will eventually decrease as a result
of a competitive market. This may eventually
reduce or eliminate the need for a financial
incentives program.
Consultation
Lack of information about the site-specific costs,
maintenance needs, and benefits of a green roof
can discourage property owners considering
retrofitting an existing roof. Providing a free
consultation with a green roof professional can
allow property owners who are interested in green
roof retrofits to overcome initial uncertainty.
Stuttgart, Germany has a financial incentives
program, and also provides free consultations and
informative brochures that detail benefits, weight,
waterproofing issues, and maintenance
considerations.
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Excerpt from the City of Minneapolis
Stormwater Utility Fee
Applying for Stormwater Quantity Credits
Property owners can apply for either the "Standard
Quantity Reduction Credit" or the "Additional Quantity
Reduction Credit."
Standard Quantity Reduction Credit. The
Standard Quantity Reduction Credit is a 50
percent credit on a property's Stormwater fee.
The "Standard Quantity" credit is based on a
property's Stormwater quantity management
tools/practices being able to retain the 10-year,
24-hour type IISCS storm event to pre-
developed conditions. To qualify for this credit,
the property owner must demonstrate that
Stormwater from the property is controlled with
an on-site constructed Stormwater quantity
management tool/practice (BMP).
Additional Quantity Reduction Credit. The
Additional Quantity Reduction Credit is a 100
percent credit on a property's Stormwater fee.
To be eligible for the "Additional Quantity"
credit, a property's Stormwater quantity
management tools/practices must be able to
retain the 100-year, 24-hour type II SCS storm
event to pre-developed conditions. To qualify
for this credit, the property owner must
demonstrate that Stormwater from the property
is controlled with an on-site constructed
Stormwater quantity management tool/practice
(BMP).
Fee Reduction
An incentive that can be used to ensure the long-
term effectiveness of a green roof is a Stormwater
fee reduction. In areas where Stormwater utility
fees are in place, credit for reducing impervious
area, and thereby runoff volume, can be given to property owners who install and maintain green roofs. In
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 50% of the Stormwater fee can be waived if the property owner can demonstrate
that the runoff from a 10-year, 24-hour storm event can be managed on site. If a property owner can
demonstrate that the runoff from a 100-year, 24-hour storm event can be managed on site, the entire
Stormwater fee is waived.13
Regulation
There are very few cities in North America that directly mandate the use of green roofs. The City of
Chicago has requirements in place to mitigate urban heat island effects by addressing the solar reflectance
of roofs. These requirements set a minimum reflectance for low and medium sloped roofs. However,
green roofs are exempt. By installing a green roof, the solar reflectance requirements are met.
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Excerpt from the City of Chicago Energy Conservation Code Revised Januarys, 2003.
303 URBAN HEAT ISLANDS
18-13-303.1 Roof Reflectance. To minimize the undesirable "urban heat islands effect," low and medium
sloped roofs shall comply with the following requirements when tested in accordance with ASTM E408. The
roof surface of low sloped roofs (2:12 or less) shall have an initial solar reflectance greater than or equal to
0.65 and shall maintain a reflectance equal to greater than 0.50 for three years after installation. Medium-
sloped roofs (greater than 2:12 and less than or equal to 5:12) shall have a solar reflectance equal to or greater
than 0.15 initially and for three years after installation. Minimum emissivity shall be 0.9.
Exception: Roofs or portions of roofs that utilize photovoltaic, solar thermal or roof garden systems.
Urban heat island provisions. The reflectance and emittance requirements of Sections 18-13-303.1 through
18-13-303.2.1 are intended to minimize the urban heat island effect, as defined in Section 18-13-202,
Definitions.
1. The portion of the roof that is covered by a rooftop deck covering 1/3 or less of the aggregate area of the
roof, or a rooftop garden, or a green roof, is exempted from the requirements of this section.
2. An area including and adjacent to rooftop photovoltaic and solar thermal equipment, totaling not more than
three times the area that is covered with such equipment, may be exempted from the requirements of this
section.
18-13-303.2 Solar Reflectance. All roof exterior surfaces shall have a minimum solar reflectance as specified
in 18-13-303.2.1 when tested in accordance with ASTM E903, ASTM E1918 or by testing with a portable
reflectometer at near ambient conditions.
18-13-303.2.1 Roofing materials used in roofs with slopes of 0 in 12 to 2 in 12 shall meet the following
requirements:
1. Roofs installed prior to and including 12/31/08 shall have a minimum solar reflectance, both initial and
weathered, of 0.25.
2. Roofs installed after 12/31/08 shall utilize roofing products that meet or exceed the minimum criteria to
qualify for an Energy Star label as designated by the USEPA Energy Star program.
Downspout and Impervious Cover Disconnection Retrofit Policy
There are various reasons why municipalities pursue a downspout or impervious cover disconnection
program. Disconnection refers to the practice of breaking the direct link between impervious areas such as
roofs or paved surfaces and the storm or combined sewer system. Disconnection can reduce combined
sewer system overflows; reduce potable water demand when the runoff from roofs is used for applications
such as landscape irrigation and toilet flushing; recharge ground water, helping to restore the natural
hydrologic cycle; reduce stormwater discharges to waterways; and reduce or eliminate the need for large,
municipally owned stormwater management facilities.
Using a combination of incentives, compliance assistance and regulations seems to be very effective at
obtaining a high rate of retrofit disconnection. The regulation sets the timeframe for compliance.
Incentives and assistance programs make compliance easily attainable for the target audience.
Incentives
Fast-track Project Review
Philadelphia has implemented a fast track review process for redevelopment projects with 95% or more of
the impervious area disconnected from the combined or separate storm sewer. The Philadelphia Water
Department will review the stormwater management portion of a project submittal within five business
days for projects that qualify for the Green Project Review.14 This is a low or no cost program for the City
and it provides the project with a time savings that usually also translates into a financial savings. Because
of the low cost of implementing this program, it is not subject to budget cuts or lapses in grant funding,
and is not likely to be met with tax payer opposition.
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City of Philadelphia Stormwater Management Guidance Manual Version 2.0
4.2.1 Green Project Review
PWD (Philadelphia Water Department) offers a Green Project Review for redevelopment projects that are able to
disconnect 95% or more of the impervious area in the post construction condition. When performing a Green
Project Review, PWD is committed to providing review of the stormwater management component within 5
business days of receipt of a complete project submittal. A Green Project Review may not necessarily include
review of additional elements outside stormwater management such as Private Cost or Act 537 review. To be
eligible for a Green Project Review a project must meet the following criteria:
Project is redevelopment;
95% or more of the post construction impervious area is disconnected;
Project may not adversely impact or further exacerbate rates and quality of runoff contributing to public
infrastructure; and
Public Health and Safety issues may preclude a project from a Green Project Review.
The submittee MUST identify their project as eligible for a Green Project Review in the letter of transmittal sent
with the technical submittal. PWD may not be able to provide review comments within 5 business days without
this notification.
Stormwater Utility Fee Discount
Portland, Oregon uses a stormwater utility fee discount as an incentive to encourage residential and
commercial property owners to manage stormwater on site. Property owners with disconnected
downspouts are able to apply for fee discounts. For example, residential property owners pay a monthly
stormwater charge of $17.33. A discount of $6.07 applies to properties with disconnected downspouts,
reducing the monthly charge to $11.26. A Residential Discount Calculator and a Commercial Discount
Calculator can be found on the Clean River Rewards website.15
Compliance Assistance
The cities of Bremerton, Washington and Portland, Oregon elected to implement similar compliance
assistance programs to achieve retrofit disconnection.
Reimbursement
Bremerton developed brochures and self-help videos describing how to separate roof drain leaders from
the sewer system and offered free site assessments and technical assistance. In addition, Bremerton
simplified their permit process and eliminated the fees for work done to disconnect downspouts. They
also reimbursed residential property owners ($25 to $500) for materials used in the disconnection effort.16
As a result, 417,000 square feet of impervious area were disconnected. The program lasted 34 months and
cost $270,000. The city obtained a grant for $150,000 from Washington Department of Ecology, and used
$120,000 of its stormwater and wastewater utility funds. The use of wastewater utility funds was easily
justified because the disconnection project reduced combined sewer overflows by 99%; the grant money
was earmarked for public projects so the utility money was directed towards private property.17 The
program also reduced, and in some situations eliminated, the need for large scale, municipally owned
stormwater management facilities, further justifying the use of stormwater and wastewater utility funds.
Bremerton estimates that the cost per gallon of stormwater removed was $1.04 for a one inch rain event,
whereas the cost of municipally owned stormwater management facilities is $5-$10 per gallon.18
Free Disconnection
Portland, Oregon implemented a similar compliance assistance program that offered reimbursement of
$53 per disconnected downspout for property owners wanting to disconnect their own downspouts.
Alternatively, property owners could apply to the City to do the disconnection work for free.19 This
flexibility provides compensation for property owners who want to do the work themselves, and free
disconnection service for those who can not or do not want to. Portland's program is responsible for
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successfully disconnecting over 50,000 downspouts and removing 1.5 billion gallons of stormwater a year
from the combined sewer system.20
Portland City Code
Chapter 17.37.050 Disconnection Reimbursement in Voluntary and Mandatory Program Areas
(Amended by Ordinance No. 170113, effective May 15, 1996.) Disconnection reimbursement will be paid in the
following manner:
A. Disconnection reimbursement will be made for the least expensive method of disconnection that will be
effective, as determined by the Director. Reimbursements will not be processed until the new disposal
system has been inspected and approved. Owners will not be reimbursed for downspouts disconnected prior
to receiving official notification from the Downspout Disconnection Program that they are eligible for
downspout disconnection reimbursement. Reimbursement will only be provided within the target areas
identified in section 17.37.030 B.1. and 2.
B. Downspout disconnection to surface systems will be reimbursed as follows:
1. Owners who complete the disconnection work themselves or use their own contractor and receive a
satisfactory inspection will be compensated according to the following unit costs per downspout:
a. $25 per downspout disconnected for supplies;
b. $13 per downspout for time and effort;
c. $15 per downspout for landscaping and miscellaneous;
Owners who receive free supplies from the City for their disconnection work will not receive the $25
amount for supplies.
Regulation
Both the Bremerton and Portland programs were successful in part because they required that downspouts
be disconnected by a specified future date. Portland's regulations require that downspouts be
disconnected one year after notification from the City.21 This provides the incentive for property owners
to participate in the compliance assistance program. In Bremerton, the regulations required that property
owners disconnect their downspouts by 2005.22 Their compliance assistance program began around 2001
giving property owners time to become informed about the issue, get involved in the compliance
assistance program, and comply with the regulation before the disconnection requirement date.
Portland City Code
Chapter 17.37.030 Establishment of Downspout Disconnection Program
B.3. Owners of eligible property located in mandatory program areas are required to disconnect their
downspouts within one year following written notice from the City. For purposes of this section, notice shall be
deemed to have been received upon the mailing of said notice by first class mail or upon delivery of the notice
in person.
Chapter 17.37.090 Enforcement Charges
(Added by Ordinance No. 170113, effective May 15, 1996.) In the event that the City needs to enforce the
terms of the Code Hearings Officer's order referred to in Section 17.37.080, an administration fee of $300 for
each occurrence shall be made a lien on the property in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 22.06.
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Bremerton Municipal Code Title 15.04.130
ELIMINATION OF IMPROPER STORMWATER INFLOW TO THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM.
(a) Purpose.
The purpose of this section is to significantly reduce improper stormwater inflow to the wastewater
system in order to eliminate or reduce instances of combined sewer overflow events and
surcharged sanitary sewers due to the improper inflows, which are detrimental to public health and
welfare; and to maximize efficient operation of the wastewater collection system and treatment
plant.
(b) Disconnection Required by 2005.
Disconnection of all improper stormwater inflow to the wastewater system shall be made by January
1, 2005, unless continued connection is authorized by the Director where no practicable alternative
for elimination of the improper stormwater inflow is available.
(c) Director's Authority to Order Early Disconnection.
(1) Purpose. The Director has the authority to order the disconnection of improper stormwater
inflow to the wastewater system prior to January 1, 2005, where that disconnection is
necessary to meet combined sewer overflow reduction plans and for elimination of sanitary
sewer surcharging. The Order of Early Disconnection will generally be in target areas as
defined elsewhere in this section.
(2) Notice. Notice of a Director's Order for Early Disconnection will be provided in writing. The
notice will establish an effective date by which the improper stormwater inflow shall be
discontinued. The effective date shall be no sooner than ninety (90) days from the date of the
letter. The effective date may be extended in writing by the Director.
(d) Target Areas.
The Director may identify target areas within the wastewater service area (sewer or storm drainage
basins or subbasins) which have the highest priority for reduction of improper stormwater inflow to
the wastewater system based upon combined sewer overflow events and sanitary sewer surcharge
problems.
Permeable Pavement Retrofit Policy
With so many paved surfaces in the urban environment, there are plenty of opportunities to retrofit
sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, plazas, roads, and alleys with permeable materials. Paved surfaces fall
into two categories from a retrofit policy perspective: paved surfaces on private property and publicly
owned paved surfaces.
Public Property Retrofit
Publicly owned paved surfaces account for a large portion of the impermeable cover in urban areas. The
City of Chicago, for example, has over 1,900 miles of alleys. Because many of these alleys were not built
with connections to the combined or storm sewer system, stormwater pools on paved surfaces, often
flooding nearby garages and basements.23
The Chicago Green Alley Handbook
About the Green Alley Program
While one solution to this problem is to install expensive connections to the City sewer system, the Green Alley
Program also looks at other more sustainable solutions. In particular, where soil conditions are appropriate,
water is allowed to infiltrate into the soils through permeable pavement or infiltration basins, instead of being
directed into the sewer system or onto adjacent property. This not only solves a persistent problem, but it also
provides an environmental benefit by cleaning and recharging the ground water. Furthermore, by not sending
additional water to the combined sewer system a green alley can help alleviate basement and other flooding
issues.
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Philadelphia Code § 14-1603.2. Environmental Controls for the
Wissahickon Watershed
(4) Special Environmental Controls, The following special
environmental controls are imposed (in addition to any applicable
provisions of Section 1603.1) to regulate: setbacks from water
courses, construction and earth moving activity on slopes,
impervious cover, and, earth moving plans.
(a) Setbacks from Water Courses Within the Watershed. There
shall be no new impervious ground cover constructed or
erected within 200 feet of the bank of a surface water body or
within 50 feet of the center line of a swale within the Watershed
(b) ....
(c) Impervious Coverage.
(.1)
In 2006, Chicago piloted the Green
Alley Program using permeable
pavers, permeable concrete, and
permeable asphalt to manage
stormwater and recharge
groundwater. Approximately 20
alleys are resurfaced each year.
Costs vary depending on material
use, soil type, and size of the paved
area. The sometimes higher cost of
construction is offset by the
avoided costs of maintenance and
sewer improvements that would
have been needed if the alleys were
redesigned and resurfaced with
impermeable pavement. In
addition, the cost of alternative
paving materials is decreasing as
they become more common. The
2008 cost of permeable concrete in
Chicago is about $100 less per
cubic yard than it was when the
program began in 2006.24
In addition to water quality and
quantity benefits, the use of light
colored pavers and concrete
reduces both the urban heat island
effect and smog levels, improving
outdoor air quality. The program
also uses recycled materials,
reducing the burden on landfills
and conserving natural resources.
For these reasons, the Green Alley
Program was given the Chicago
Innovation Award in 2007,
sponsored by the Chicago Sun-
Times and Kuczmarski &
Associates.25
Private Property Retrofit
As Chicago "greens" its alleys in
the public right-of-way, it invites
residents to participate in
"greening" the City by retrofitting
their properties through The
Chicago Green Alley Handbook.
The handbook describes the environmental benefits of recycling, composting, planting trees, and using
native landscaping. It also explains the benefits, costs and uses of rain gardens, rain barrels, permeable
pavement and green roofs. The American Society of Landscape Architects gave the handbook a 2007
Communications Honor Award for its clear and user-friendly content and graphics.
Basic Impervious Coverage. No building, paving, street or
other impervious ground cover shall be constructed or
placed on any property within the Watershed in excess of
the requirements of the following categories as designated
on Map "B" cited in Paragraph (4)(c)(.4):
Category 1: There shall be no impervious ground coverage
in excess of twenty (20) percent of the lot area or
subdivision.
Category 2: There shall be no impervious ground coverage
in excess of twenty-seven (27) percent of the lot area or
subdivision.
Category 3: There shall be no impervious ground coverage
in excess of thirty-five (35) percent of the lot area or
subdivision.
Category 4: There shall be no impervious ground coverage
in excess of forty-five (45) percent of the lot area or
subdivision.
Category 5: There shall be no percentage limitation of
impervious ground coverage on land deemed to be
developed or otherwise disturbed from its natural state,
provided that parcels in excess of one-half acre may be
further developed only as follows:
(.a) The increased surface water runoff leaving the site
shall not adversely affect adjacent property.
(.b) The method of handling runoff on the site shall be in
accord with sound engineering practices and shall not
significantly accelerate on-site erosion.
(.c) Such development shall not significantly diminish the
infiltration capacity of the site.
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As residents experience environmental
improvements in their neighborhood,
awareness increases. In addition, exposure to
stormwater management increases the
likelihood that residents will consider the use
of other complementary practices such as
rain barrels and rain gardens on their
property.
While Chicago has taken a "lead by
example" approach to private property
retrofits, Philadelphia requires limited
imperviousness by way of local code.
Property owners in the Wissahickon
Watershed are required to meet impervious
ground cover percentage maximums based
on location. Since impervious cover
includes buildings and pavement, the
requirement acts as an incentive to reduce impervious cover through whatever means work best for the
site. For example, a property owner may install permeable pavement if new paved surfaces are desired, or
retrofit impermeable paved surfaces with permeable pavement in order to increase building size. The code
allows for additional impervious coverage if stormwater is managed such that the infiltration capacity of
the site is not diminished and runoff leaving the property does not have negative impacts off site. Because
Philadelphia's impervious coverage regulation does not specify the manner of compliance, it leaves room
for flexibility and creative solutions while achieving the desired environmental performance.
Chicago Green Alley.
Photo: Chicago Department of Transportation
Philadelphia Code § 14-1603.2.(4)
Environmental Controls for the Wissahickon Watershed
(.1) ...
(.2) Additional Impervious Coverage, Additional impervious coverage shall be permitted by the City
Planning Commission, after review and comments by the Water Department and other appropriate City
agencies according to the standards and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Water
Department. Such standards and regulations shall assure that:
(.a) Storm water leaving the property shall be substantially similar in effect to that under the basic
impervious coverage limitation.
(.b) Countermeasures shall not require excessive or significant maintenance.
(.c) Design of countermeasures shall take account of storm water runoff that enters the property from
adjacent land.
(.d) The method of handling runoff on the site shall be in accord with sound engineering practices
and shall not significantly accelerate on-site erosion.
(.e) Such development shall not significantly diminish the infiltration capacity of the site.
(.3)
(.4) The map designated as "Impervious Coverage Categories" shall define the areas where the
restrictions imposed under this Section shall apply and is made part of this ordinance (Map "B"). Where a
parcel crosses category lines, each portion of the parcel shall be governed by the controls applicable to
that portion.
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Bioretention Retrofit Policy
Bioretention retrofit applications fit largely into two categories: those aimed at treating runoff from
private property such as roofs and driveways, and those focused on treating runoff from the public right-
of-way such as roadways. The policy approaches are different based on the constraints and opportunities
of each. Policies governing public right-of-ways tend to be in the form of regulation and policies used for
private property more often takes the form of incentives.
When implementing bioretention in the right-of-way, the constraint is most often space. The advantages
are easy access and adequate authority. So while a narrow, linear space may be difficult to retrofit, a
municipality usually has ample access, both physically and legally, to the property. Bioretention practices,
such as rain gardens on private property usually have fewer space limitations. However, gaining access to
build or maintain rain gardens on private property is a constraint.
Public Property Runoff Retrofit
Public Right-of-Way Retrofits
The Green Street Policy adopted in Portland, Oregon defines a "Green Street" as one that manages
stormwater on site through the use of vegetated practices that provide water quality benefit and
infiltration capacity. The policy requires that infrastructure projects incorporate these practices or be
subject to an off-site project or off-site management fee requirement.26
Portland's Green Streets have been successful in many respects.
The SW 12th Avenue retrofit project that introduced bioretention
planter boxes into the landscaping strip between the sidewalk and
the street, manages 180,000 gallons of runoff annually. The
planters reduce the peak flow of a 25-year storm event by 70%.27.
And at a cost of only $30,000 for the construction of the SW 12th
Avenue bioretention planters, the project demonstrates a cost-
effective solution. For these reasons, the American Society of
Landscape Architects awarded the project the General Design
Award of Honor as part of the 2006 Professional Awards.
28
Using Easements
Burnsville, Minnesota solved a similar problem of managing road
runoff in a slightly different way. Lacking space in the right-of-
way to implement bioretention practices, Burnsville launched a
one month long public outreach campaign in an effort to get
residents involved in the solution. Eighty-five percent of the
residents agreed to participate in the rain garden retrofit project
and allow the city to build rain gardens on the edge of their
property to treat road runoff. The city obtained an $117,000 grant
from the Metropolitan Council and contributed $30,000 of the
City's funds to build the rain gardens. Each rain garden cost $7,500: $500 for plants, $8.00/square foot for
construction, and $4.50/square foot for education, design and construction supervision. The City has
easements to maintain the rain gardens, which have been successful at reducing runoff by 90%.29
Portland Streetside Infiltration Planters.
Photo: Martina Frey.
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City of Portland, Oregon
Green Streets Policy
Goal: City of Portland will promote and incorporate the use of green street facilities in public and private
development.
City elected officials and staff will:
1. Infrastructure Projects in the Right of Way:
a. Incorporate green street facilities into all City of Portland funded development, redevelopment or
enhancement projects as required by the City's September 2004 (or updated) Stormwater
Management Manual. Maintain these facilities according to the May 2006 (or updated) Green
Streets Maintenance Policy.
If a green street facility (infiltrating or flow through) is not incorporated into the Infrastructure
Project, or only partial management is achieved, then an off site project or off site management
fee will be required.
b. Any City of Portland funded development, redevelopment, or enhancement project, that does not
trigger the Stormwater Manual but requires a street opening permit or occurs in the right of way,
shall pay into a "% for Green" Street fund. The amount shall be 1% of the construction costs for
the project.
d....
e. Develop standards and incentives (such as financial and technical resources, or facilitated permit
review) for Green Streets projects that can be permitted and implemented by the private sector.
These standards and incentives should be designed to encourage incorporation of green street
facilities into private development, redevelopment, and enhancement projects.
Findings
A "Green Street":
Handles Stormwater on site through use of vegetated facilities;
Provides water quality benefits and replenishes groundwater (if an infiltration facility);
Creates attractive streetscapes that enhance neighborhood livability by enhancing the pedestrian
environment and introducing park-like elements into neighborhoods;
Serves as an urban greenway segment that connects neighborhoods, parks, recreation facilities,
schools, mainstreets, and wildlife habitats; and
Meets broader community goals by providing pedestrian and where appropriate bicycle access.
Private Property Runoff Retrofit
Grant Program
In an effort to protect Lake Michigan and increase the number of rain gardens in Milwaukee County, the
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District launched the Lake Michigan Rain Gardens Initiative. Grants
are offered to property owners who are interested in planting their own rain garden. Grantees receive
appropriate plants at a "two for one" discounted price. Applicants apply in January and, if awarded the
grant, pick up their plants in June. An additional incentive is available for those who provide the total
square footage of their roof, number of downspouts, and number of downspouts to be redirected. Their
application is fast-tracked and they may be awarded early grant approval.30
This program not only encourages the creation of more rain gardens by reducing the cost to homeowners,
but also provides a useful mechanism for tracking the size of rain gardens and the amount of impervious
area that is disconnected within the watershed.
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Excerpt from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
Rain Garden Grant Information
WHAT DOES THE GRANT PROVIDE?
Grants will be awarded in the form of plants for your rain garden. For every 2.5 inch plant purchased at $3.60,
grantees will receive a second plant for free, about a 50% discount compared to retail prices. The number of
plants required is typically one per square foot of rain garden installed.
EXAMPLE: the application is for a 10 x 10 foot rain garden, or 100 square feet. The number of plants needed
is 100. The applicant orders 50 plants from GMF at a price of $3.60 each. The grantee receives 100 plants
and pays $180.00.
There are no cash awards.
Costs for planning, design and construction of the rain garden are not grant eligible.
Voluntary Offset Program
The Mt. Airy Rain Catchers program is a pilot project administered by U.S. EPA as part of an effort to
better understand the effectiveness of incentive programs. The objective of this voluntary offset program
is to provide the largest benefit to the environment for the least amount of money spent. Participation in
this unique program is voluntary and the offset (monetary compensation) received is determined by the
individual property owner.
The pilot program is being conducted in the Shepherd Creek Watershed of Cincinnati, Ohio. Since
residential roofs and driveways account for 50% to 72% of the total impervious area in the relevant
sub water sheds, rain barrels and rain gardens are the desired solution.31 Using an auction-based method,
property owners place a bid for a rain garden or rain barrels to be installed on their property for free, and a
dollar value they would like to be compensated for accepting these practices on their property. The bids
are weighted according to cost, soils, and percent imperviousness of the site. Then the bids are ranked
according to least cost and largest environmental benefit, and projects are awarded until available money
is expended. In the summer of 2007, 50 rain gardens and 101 rain barrels were installed. They will be
maintained for the property owner until 2010. Homeowners received an owner's manual and will
continue to receive quarterly emails during the establishment phase explaining maintenance protocols.
This helps the homeowners become familiar with the activities they will become responsible for in
2010.32 The program also has a user-friendly web page that keeps residents up to date by providing
seasonally appropriate information.
The program held a second auction in May 2008 followed by installation of the second phase of rain
barrels and rain gardens. Most applicants did not request monetary compensation in exchange for theses
practices being installed on their property.33 The program has been successful in implementing rain
barrels and rain gardens on private property at a low cost.
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Excerpt from the Mt. Airy Rain Catchers Brochure
U.S. EPA is offering Mt. Airy homeowners a free rain garden and rain barrel!
U.S. EPA is sponsoring a limited number of rain gardens and rain barrels in the Mt. Airy neighborhood.
Interested households must bid in an auction to receive them. Houses will be chosen based on lowest bids
coupled with some environmental factors.
Bid forms will be coming in the mail next week. Send in bid-forms early! Put in a low bid to increase your
chances of receiving a free rain garden and/or rain barrel. Winning households will receive their bid
amount as a one-time payment after the installation is complete. U.S. EPA's contractor Tetra Tech, Inc., and
its partner Horticultural Management, Inc., will install and maintain the gardens and barrels for three years.
This unique opportunity is a one-time offer only for Mt. Airy homeowners in the spring of 2007. During this
summer and for the next three summers, U.S. EPA will monitor local streams for changes in runoff quantity
and water quality resulting from the combined effects of individual rain gardens and rain barrels.
Visit the model rain garden planted at the bottom
Green Lot Retrofit Policy
Part of the difficulty in implementing green infrastructure practices in dense urban environments is
finding the space and having the influence to make changes in a static built environment. One way around
this dilemma is the conversion of vacant lots into "Green Lots." Green Lots are vacant or abandoned lots
that have had debris and paved surfaces removed and vegetation and trees added to deliver economic,
social, and environmental benefits.
Vacant lots can attract dumping, harbor toxic chemicals, depress property values, and attract criminal
activity.34 In contrast, Green Lots can increase property values, reduce urban heat island effect, improve
air quality, provide habitat for small wildlife, increase infiltration, and recharge groundwater.
Vacant Lot Stabilization
Philadelphia began the process of vacant lot transformation in 1995 when the Pennsylvania Horticultural
Society (PHS) partnered with the New Kensington Community Development Corporation to address the
1,100 parcels of abandoned land in the New Kensington neighborhood. The strategies included stabilizing
vacant lots with grass, trees, and wood fencing; creating community gardens; planting trees; renovating
parks; and transferring vacant lots to adjacent homeowners for private use. Funded by the City's Office of
Housing and Community Development, with support from the Pew Charitable trusts and the William
Penn Foundation, from 1995 through 2002, 480 new trees were planted, 145 side yards were settled, 217
lots were stabilized, and 15 community
gardens were created.
35
While the intangible benefits can often be
hard to quantify, a study done by the
Wharton School of the University of
Pennsylvania evaluated the economic value
of Philadelphia's Green Lot pilot project in
New Kensington. The Determinants of
Neighborhood Transformation in
Philadelphia: Identification and Analysis
The New Kensington Pilot Study by
Professor Susan Wachter found that Green
Lots increased adjacent property values by as
much as 30%. Tree plantings increased the
collective value of property in the
community by $4 million and lot
improvements by $12 million. In addition,
Excerpt from the Vacant Land Management Pennsylvania
Horticultural Society
There are two basic ways in which the City contracts with
Philadelphia Green to revitalize vacant spaces. The first is
known as the Vacant Land Stabilization Program.
Philadelphia Green begins stabilization by cleaning and
mowing the grounds, laying topsoil, planting seeds, and
adorning the area with new trees and fencing. In the past six
years, nearly 4 million square feet of land have undergone
this treatment and continue to receive care.
The second approach is a project called Community
LandCare, in which vacant land receives routine cleaning and
mowing, but isn't refurbished with topsoil, trees, or fencing.
Nine community groups oversee the maintenance of vacant
land in 16 Philadelphia neighborhoods. Currently 4 million
square feet are regularly cleaned through this program.
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the more desirable the neighborhood becomes,
the more people will move in to the
community, providing a higher tax base for
the City.36
Concerns about how to keep the lots clean
remained after the initial effort to transform
vacant properties into Green Lots. A
maintenance program was established by
hiring and training community residents. This
not only provides local jobs, but also provides
informal community education as employees
tell neighbors about their work.
Excerpt from the article "Seeing Green: Study Finds
Greening is a Good Investment" on the Pennsylvania
Horticultural Societywebpage(taken July?, 2008)
Key Findings of the Wharton School Study
Cleaning and greening of vacant lots can increase
adjacent property values by as much as 30%.
Planting a tree within 50 feet of a house can
increase its value by about 9%.
Location of a house within 1/4 mile from a park
increased values by 10%.
Neighborhood blocks with higher concentrations of
unmanaged vacant lots displayed lower house
prices, about 18%.
Before and after conditions of a lot in Philadelphia
treated under the Vacant Land Stabilization program.
Photo: Cooperative Conservation America,
Before: Lot at 2300 North 3rd Street
Green Lot, Philadelphia, PA.
Photo: The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
After: Lot at 2300 North 3rd Street
Green Lot, Philadelphia, PA.
Photo: The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
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Stormwater Offsets
The Maryland Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area 10% Rule Guidance Manual allows
abandoned lots to be converted to Green Lots, and set aside in perpetuity as mitigation for development
projects elsewhere in the watershed that can not treat their stormwater on site. The Manual defines an
offset as "structures or actions that compensate for undesirable impacts"37 and lists four options, one of
which is reducing the imperviousness of an existing property. This means that as compensation for adding
impervious area elsewhere in the watershed, an abandoned lot can be restored to a Green Lot by removing
impermeable pavement and revegetating the site, returning it to its natural hydrologic function within the
watershed. The Green Lot remains a permanent open space. Green Lots provide a creative way to use
abandoned properties to restore infiltration rates in the watershed and address urban runoff quantity and
quality.
Excerpt from the Maryland Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays
Critical Area 10% Rule Guidance Manual
Option 4: Reducing the Imperviousness of
an Existing Property
Some older waterfront areas are so intensely developed that there is no available land for most offset options.
As an alternative, these jurisdictions may consider the option of reducing or eliminating impervious cover on
publicly or privately owned lands. Some jurisdictions have acquired tax-delinquent properties within the Critical
Area, these abandon properties may be purchased by a developer seeking an offset and can be subsequently
converted to vegetated open space and maintained in a perpetual easement. Developers also have the option
of purchasing private land for this purpose.
Conclusions and Recommendations
Regardless of whether a community expects high rates of growth in the future or very little growth,
existing development and its impervious surfaces will continue to dominate water quality and quantity
problems in urban areas. Just as green infrastructure approaches should be pivotal components of all new
and redevelopment, policies that focus on retrofitting the built environment with green infrastructure
should be a major element in any community's plans for addressing urban stormwater challenges.
Because green infrastructure provides benefits in many arenas, such as climate change, air quality, water
quality and quantity, urban heat island effect reduction, and energy conservation, creative solutions can be
found through cross-disciplinary partnerships. As organizations with different focuses come together to
resolve their concerns through a common solution, funding and other resources can be leveraged to
accomplish multiple goals.
Two common themes seem to arise from successful green infrastructure retrofit policy: removing
obstacles and creating incentives. As demonstrated by the examples discussed in this paper, when
selecting a retrofit policy option, the first step involves determining the most significant barriers to
implementation and using an incentive program, a compliance assistance program, or regulation to target
and overcome that obstacle.
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Overcoming Green Infrastructure Retrofit Obstacles
1. Determine the actual, local obstacles to green infrastructure implementation.
There can be perceived obstacles and/or real obstacles. Obstacles may be common to many locations or
specific to a particular location. Consequently, taking the time to accurately identify the biggest local obstacle to
implementation will give credibility to an incentive or compliance assistance program when seeking approval or
funding since the likelihood of success will be greater. (See "Determining Green Infrastructure Retrofit Goals")
2. Determine what will bridge the gap.
Once the biggest obstacle is known, a creative solution to fill the gap between the current rate of installation and
the desired rate of installation can be invented. (See "Steps to Creating a Successful Green Infrastructure
Retrofit Policy")
3. Establish funding sources for the incentive or compliance assistance program.
Since Green Infrastructure helps achieve many environmental, social and economic objectives, there are
diverse funding options that may be possible. Some include:
Stormwater Utility Fees
Sanitary Sewer Fees (where the program addresses CSOs)
Flood Control District funds
Grants
Energy Companies (where the green infrastructure practice reduces energy demand)
4. Conduct a pilot test.
Obstacles can only be overcome by an incentive program if the program is targeting the right obstacle and to
the right degree. For this reason, a short term pilot that implements the incentive in a limited area or to a limited
audience for a limited amount of time, helps determine if the incentive program is worthy of more funding or if it
needs to be modified to accomplish the environmental goals.
5. Assess the success of the incentive or compliance assistance program.
The use of the pilot program should be measured to determine if the rate of green infrastructure installation is
increasing to the level necessary to meet the environmental or watershed goals.
6. Modify, continue, or expand.
After the pilot period, based on the results of the use of the implementation program, either the incentive
program may need to be modified to better fill the implementation gap, continued because it is successful, or
expanded to cover an even broader audience or wider area of application.
Retrofit policies can gain greater community support when they directly address local needs or concerns.
For example, if water supply is a local concern, the infiltration capacity of green infrastructure practices
to recharge groundwater and/or the benefits of rainwater harvesting in conserving potable water sources
should be emphasized. If energy costs are a local concern, energy savings associated with green roofs
should be clearly communicated.
To date, green infrastructure retrofit policies have largely been driven by municipalities' immediate
regulatory concerns with CSOs and stormwater runoff. However, future programs to encourage retrofits
should capitalize more fully on the multiple benefits provided by green infrastructure. Chicago's Energy
Conservation Code is a good example of this approach. By granting an exception for green roofs from the
reflectance and urban heat island provisions, the City is simultaneously encouraging broader adoption of
green roofs and recognizing the multiple benefits they provide.
In addition to water quality problems, municipalities will be increasingly challenged by sustainably
managing infrastructure and addressing potential impacts of climate change. More than 700 mayors have
signed on to the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement with the goal of a local 7% reduction in carbon
dioxide emissions compared to 1990 levels. That goal, coupled with multi-billion dollar infrastructure
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needs, creates a challenging environment in which to craft policy. Future policies should look beyond the
compartmentalization of traditional media and establish criteria for urban sustainability.
Green infrastructure implementation can be encouraged by establishing codes and regulations that
mandate reductions in both energy usage and discharges of stormwater. This integrated approach would
lead to a more comprehensive system of environmental management but would also require coordination
across departments to facilitate funding and compliance assurance. This approach would also more fully
establish a policy framework that recognizes the relationship between water conveyance and treatment,
energy, and climate.
Setting Green Infrastructure Retrofit Goals
1. Identify watershed goals.
Identifying the watershed goals that green infrastructure will be used to meet helps determine which practices to use
and how many will need to be implemented in order to achieve the environmental goals. This ensures that the green
infrastructure retrofit policy being created is focused on real environmental improvement, from the outset. Watershed
goals can include obtaining a particular level of:
Volume reduction
Pollutant load reduction
Reduced flooding
Groundwater recharge
Water supply/ reduced energy demand
2. Identify applicable green infrastructure practices.
Land use is a critical criterion for selecting appropriate practices. Some green infrastructure practices are better
suited for urban application, and some are more appropriate for rural use. Also, some are better at removing certain
pollutants than others, and some allow for infiltration, whereas others don't. A particular green infrastructure practice,
or combination of practices, can be selected depending upon the goals and application conditions.
3. Determine the level of implementation that will meet the watershed goals.
Once the most applicable green infrastructure practices have been selected, the degree of implementation that will
accomplish the environmental goals should be determined. For example, how many square feet of green roofs need
to be installed to accomplish the volume reduction necessary to protect the receiving water? Or, how many square
feet of bioretention practices are needed in order to maintain natural groundwater aquifer levels?
4. Measure goal attainment.
The most important measure of green infrastructure retrofit success is evidence of beneficial impacts in the
environment (e.g., healthy groundwater aquifers, healthy stream habitat, or reduced pollutant levels in receiving
waters). A method to measure environmental improvement should be a part of a green infrastructure retrofit effort. If
a green infrastructure retrofit incentive program or regulation is not resulting in measurable environmental
improvement, the program and/or regulation should be reevaluated and modified to better achieve the watershed
goals. In addition, it is useful to compile the number of green infrastructure practices installed or number of square
feet of functioning green infrastructure practices in order to determine the effectiveness of the retrofit incentive
program or regulation at increasing the number. However, success in implementing green infrastructure practices
should not be mistaken for the importance of confirming the achievement of watershed goals.
Policies should also make use of the economic advantages that green infrastructure provides.
Simultaneously addressing several environmental requirements with one program uses municipal
resources more efficiently; reducing the burden on infrastructure can limit additional capital investments.
These savings can be incorporated into incentive programs. Tax abatements have been used to encourage
development in economically distressed urban areas. This concept could also be applied to green
redevelopment efforts. A predetermined period of tax abatement could be provided to projects that meet
certain green infrastructure requirements. The reductions in tax revenue from this type of policy can be
justified by the decreased demand on municipal services provided by green infrastructure.
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Each jurisdiction has its own set of unique challenges and opportunities, and successful green
infrastructure retrofit policies capitalize on those opportunities to develop creative and sustainable
solutions.
Steps to Creating a Successful Green Infrastructure Retrofit Policy
1. Establish the local green infrastructure objectives.
Determine which green infrastructure practices should be implemented, and to what extent, in order to meet local
watershed goals for stream health. (See "Setting Green Infrastructure Retrofit Goals")
2. Identify the biggest implementation obstacle.
There is often more than one obstacle to implementation. However, by targeting the most prevalent obstacle, the
largest audience is reached. Taking the time to understand the real, local obstacle is important as each
community has different perceptions about green infrastructure and different levels of available resources, such
as funding, technical expertise, and local contractors. (See "Overcoming Green Infrastructure Retrofit Obstacles")
3. Target the biggest implementation obstacle with an incentive or compliance assistance program.
Create an incentive program that targets the biggest obstacle to implementation. Where the biggest obstacle is
initial investment, the incentive program should provide money for installation costs. Where the biggest obstacle
is technical knowledge, providing technical expertise would be an appropriate incentive. Operating the incentive
program Years 1 through 3 allows time for the program to be publicized, and modifications to be made if the
incentives aren't effective, and also provides enough time for people to take advantage of the incentives before
the regulation takes effect.
4. Check local regulations or ordinances for internal obstacles.
Before launching an incentive program or a compliance assistance program, local regulations and ordinances
may need to be modified to allow compliance. For example, if the incentive program involves disconnecting
downspouts and under the current requirements a permit is needed to do the work, a solution such as creating a
waiver and/or eliminating the permit fee may help the incentive program operate as intended.
5. Create regulations that become effective at a future date.
Creating regulations that go into effect in Year 5 provides the ultimate incentive to take advantage of the
opportunities for early implementation.
6. Publicize the incentive or compliance assistance program and regulation.
Use targeted outreach, as well as press releases, to ensure that the regulations, and the incentive program that
helps people meet the regulations, is known and utilized by a broad audience. Targeted outreach helps reach
those most likely to utilize the incentive program. For example, giving a presentation about a rain garden incentive
program to Garden Club members who are likely to be interested in utilizing gardens for rainwater treatment can
help jump start the program so that it can spread by word of mouth. Other mechanisms, such a press releases
that may result in newspaper articles, communicate the purpose and benefits of the program and regulations to a
wider audience and increase awareness about program and future requirements.
7. Monitor the success of the incentive or compliance assistance program, and modify if necessary.
A true incentive program provides an actual "incentive" to implement the green infrastructure practice. If an
incentive program is underutilized, either the "incentive" is not enough, or not enough people are aware of the
program. After a year of implementing the incentive program, the success of the program should be evaluated. If
the program goals have not been met, the incentive program should be modified to better meet the program goals
in Year 2.
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Where to Start (or Starting on Public Property)
Starting green infrastructure retrofitting on public property such as community centers, public parking lots,
plazas, schools, City Hall, public libraries, public roads and sidewalks can provide benefits, including:
1. The public develops familiarity with green infrastructure practices.
By implementing green infrastructure practices in the public realm, members of the community have an
opportunity to come in contact with them, perhaps frequently, and even learn about the practices from
educational signs. Public areas provide high visibility locations for green infrastructure applications. As the
public is exposed to these practices and can witness them functioning through out the changing seasons, they
become more familiar and more comfortable with the practices.
2. The private sector can monitor success of green infrastructure applications.
Individuals or organizations interested in installing green infrastructure practices on their property, but unsure
of its level of effectiveness or maintenance needs can observe or inquire about applications they see installed
on public space.
3. Costs decrease as a local market for green infrastructure is created.
As more and more green infrastructure practices are installed, efficiencies and improvements to the process
bring cost savings and often a better product. For example, as Chicago DOT utilized more porous concrete,
the price decreased making it a more viable alternative for private property owners to install.
4. Growing local supplies and local business.
As the public sector invests in green infrastructure, it is investing in local, green businesses. This allows those
businesses to grow and provide an even better product with more experienced installers.
5. Giving the municipality first hand experience with design, construction, and maintenance before
requiring it of others.
As municipalities begin to require green infrastructure practices in their jurisdictions, property owners will ask
questions about design, construction, and maintenance related to local climate, soil types, local suppliers and
labor, and other local or regional variables. If the municipality has green infrastructure applications that they
own, operate, and maintain, they will be able to answer questions and help private property owners to
successfully implement green infrastructure approaches.
6. Easy access for monitoring and tours.
Public property applications of green infrastructure practices are easily accessible to the public for monitoring
by students or tours by those interested in implementing something similar in their community or on their
property.
1 U.S. EPA, National Water Quality Inventory: Report to Congress, 2002 Reporting Cycle, Office of Water, EPA-
841-R-07-001, October 2007.
United States Geological Survey, Water Quality and Nonpoint Sources in Urban Watersheds: Key Findings from
the First Decade ofNAWQA Studies. National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program, 2008, available at
http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa.informing.urbanization.html (accessed January 2008).
3 U.S. EPA, Report to Congress: Impacts and Control ofCSOs and SSOs, Office of Water, EPA-833-R-04-001,
August 2004.
4 U.S. EPA, Clean Watersheds Needs Survey 2004 Report to Congress, Office of Wastewater Management, January
2008.
5 Thomas R. Schueler and Heather K. Holland, The Importance of Imperviousness: Article 1 from The Practice of
Watershed Protection, The Center for Watershed Protection, 2000.
6 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Impact of Redevelopment on TSS Loads, Runoff Management,
available at http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/runoff/pdf/rules/nrl5l/Impact_of_RedevTSSLoads_021308.pdf (accessed
June 2008).
7 Green Roofs: A Resource Manual for Municipal Policy Makers, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, May
2006.
8 See note 7.
9 City of Toronto Green Roofs Pilot Program webpage, available at
http://www.toronto.ca/greenroofs/incentiveprograni.htm. (accessed June 2008).
10 Toronto Staff Report April 18, 2007
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11 Toronto City Council Decision, Planning and Growth Management Committee, Item 4.1, Considered by City
Council on May 23, 24 and 25, 2007
12
13
12 See note 7.
City of Minneapolis Stormwater Utility Fee webpage, available at
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/stormwater/fee/StormwaterQuantitvCredits.asp. (accessed June 2008).
14 City of Philadelphia Stormwater Management Guidance Manual Version 2.0, available at
http://www.phiUvriverinfo.org/progranis/SubProgramMain.aspx?Id=StormwaterManual. (accessed June 2008).
15 Clean River Rewards website: www.cleanriverrewards.com.
16 Centennial Clean Water Fund Grant #00000127 "Cooperative Approach to CSO Reduction" Final Report July
2003, available at http://www.citvofbremerton.com/content/forms/FinalReport CSOReduction.pdf. (accessed June
2008).
17 Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, The Application of Stormwater Runoff Reduction Best Management
Practices in Metropolitan Milwaukee, December 29, 2005.
18 See note 16.
19
Portland Bureau of Environmental Services, Downspout Disconnection Program, available at
http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.cfm?c=43081&. (accessed June 2008).
20 See note 18.
21 Portland City Code Title 17.37, available at http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?c=28181.
(accessed June 2008).
22 Bremerton Municipal Code Title 15, available at: http://www.codepublishing.com/wa/bremerton.html. (accessed
June 2008).
23 Conscious Choice: Chicago's Green Alley Program, March 2008, available at
http://www.consciouschoice.com/2008/03/commish0803.html. (accessed June 2008).
24 Center for American Progress, It's Easy Being Green: Chicago's Alleys Get a Makeover, April 23,2008, available
at http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/04/green_alleys.html, (accessed June 2008).
25 See note 22.
26 Portland Bureau of Environmental Services, Portland Green Street Program, available at
http://www.portlandonline.com/BES/index.cfm?c=44407. (accessed June 2008).
27 Portland Bureau of Environmental Services, SW 12th Avenue Green Street Project Report, available at
http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=167503, (accessed August 2008).
28 American Society of Landscape Architects 2006 Professional Awards, General Design Award of Honor, available
at http://www.asla.org/awards/2006/06winners/341.html. (accessed June 2008).
29 Public Funding Incentives for Private Residential and Commercial Watershed Protection Projects: Report on Key
Case Studies and Community Workshop; Montgomery County, Maryland Department of Environmental Protection,
Division of Environmental Policy and Compliance, June 2007.
30 Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, Lake Michigan Rain Garden Initiative, available at
http://v2.mmsd.com/lmrgi.aspx, (accessed June 2008).
31 Decentralized Stormwater Management: Retrofitting Homes, Restring Watersheds, Allison Roy, Matthew Clagett,
Theresa Hoagland, Matthew Morrison, William Shuster, Joshua Templeton, Hale Thurston, HeribertoCabezas
available at http://www.epa.gov/ord/scienceforum/2006/pdfs/the built environment final posters/BE-30 Roy.pdf.
(accessed June 2008).
32 Buranen, Margaret, Rain Gardens Reign, Stormwater, May 2008.
33 See note 30.
34 Cooperative Conservation America, Cooperative Conservation Case Study, available at
http://www.cooperativeconservationamerica.org/viewproject.asp?pid=999, (accessed June 2008).
35 Seeing Green: Study Finds Greening is a Good Investment, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, available at
http://www.pennsylvaniahorticulturalsociety.org/phlgreen/seeinggreen.htm, (accessed June 2008).
36 See note 33.
37 Maryland Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area 10% Rule Guidance Manual, Critical Area
Commission for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays available at
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/criticalarea/guidancepubs/10percent rule.html. (accessed June 2008).
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