United States
Environmental Protection
Agency

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GREENING VALLEY CITY
D THE SHEYENNE RIVER IN
RURAL NORTH DAKOTA

VALLEY CITY, NORTH DAKOTA
JANUARY 2017

https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/what-epa--doing-support-green-infrastructure-0

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Technical Assistance Projects are EPA programs aimed in providing technical assistance
to communities across the country to support implementation of green infrastructure
practices nationwide. The program focuses on significant technical, regulatory, and
institutional barriers to green infrastructure and building community capacity by sharing
lessons learned.

Valley City, North Dakota, was chosen in 2016 to receive this assistance.

More information is available at

https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/what-epa-doing-support-green-infrastructure-0

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

V

INTRODUCTION

06

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

08

SITE ANALYSIS

09

DESIGN OPTIONS

13

NEXT STEPS & FUNDING

30

APPENDIX

33

Greening Valley City and the Sheyenne River in Rural North Dakota

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Julie Kinsey, Life Scientist, EPA Region 8

Stacey Eriksen, Urban Watershed Revitalization Coordinator, EPA Region 8

City of Valley City Project Team

David Schelkoph, City Administrator
Madeline Luke, City of Valley City

Consultant Team

Stockwell Engineers, Inc.

Jon Brown, PE, Principal in Charge
David Locke, PLA, Landscape Architect
Annie Remmerde, Landscape Architect in Training

Photography credits:

All photographs and graphics were either created by or the rights are owned by
Stockwell Engineers, Inc., unless denoted otherwise.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The city of Valley City, North Dakota, requested assistance from the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through its Greening
America's Communities Program to create a cohesive vision of green
and complete streets, parking lots and public spaces throughout their
community. The city wants to create a new model for addressing storm
water and flooding issues while making pedestrian and vehicle traffic
safer and more comfortable.

This report includes a description of the three-day workshop held in
the project area to engage stakeholders, residents, business owners, and
community members in a process that outlined goals for the project and
developed design options that respond to those goals. The report also
outlines assets and challenges that informed the design options for four
focus areas. The city chose these locations based on their potential to
help area businesses and residents, address storm water and flooding
issues, and their capacity to illustrate the transformative potential of
green infrastructure. The design options show improved amenities and
safety features for pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as integrated green
infrastructure components such as storm water planters, bioswales,
permeable paver systems, and street trees.

Greening Valley City and the Sheyenne River in Rural North Dakota

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INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

The city of Valley City, North Dakota is located on the
banks of the Sheyenne River. Storm water management
is a large issue for the community, as they are subject
to frequent and substantial flooding events. Cold
winters and springtime flooding are common as well as
occasional heavy summer rainfalls. The city of Valley
City requested assistance from the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) to provide innovative storm
water practices and sustainable green techniques
(landscape elements that collect and treat storm water
runoff) as options for a solution to their storm water
issues while also enhancing the project areas by:

Incorporating green infrastructure and other storm
water management practices to help reduce flooding
and increase water quality. See the Appendix at the
end of this report for further information on each of
the practices mentioned in this report.

Enhance user experience by creating a cohesive
design throughout the community with aesthetic
improvements at identifiable sites.

Improving pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular
circulation.

The consultant team selected and hired by EPA was
tasked with developing design options for four areas:

1.	Barnes County Public Library

2.	Valley City Post Office

3.	Central Avenue North cul-de-sacs

4.	Epworth United Methodist Church

The design options for each of the four focus areas
demonstrate green and complete sites that can manage
their own storm water and create safer and more
desirable areas for pedestrians and bicyclists while
creating better connections to local destinations. A
"complete street" or "complete parking lot" aims to
be both a great public space that is shared by all users,
including pedestrians, bicyclists, and transits riders,
as well as, but not dominated by, drivers. Secondly,

the street or parking lot must perform in a way that
is sensitive to the environment. This is achieved by
incorporating green infrastructure in the form of rain
gardens, bioswales, permeable paving systems, street
trees, and storm water planters that mimic the natural
environment by capturing and cleaning polluted storm
water and letting it absorb into the ground (a process
known as ""bioretention") rather than flowing untreated
into the Sheyenne River and flooding areas of Valley
City.

As part of an initial site visit, the design team worked
with city staff, Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) staff, North Dakota Emergency
Management staff, local business owners, government
officials, residents, and other stakeholders to assess the
existing conditions of the corridor. Concerns centered
on a lack of storm water management resulting in
localized flooding, lack of street trees and vegetation,
pedestrian safety, and a lack of visual identity and
cohesion throughout the city. These assessments guided
the design team as they developed design options to
enhance each of the focus areas. Major themes of the
design options include storm water planters, street
trees, permeable paving systems, wayfinding elements,
designated pedestrian zones, and more attractive and
accessible public spaces. These design options and
green infrastructure solutions can be implemented at
a wide range of sites and scales and would serve as a
pilot project for the city of Valley City and surrounding
communities.

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INTRODUCTION

Figure 1: Design Concept Locations

1.	Barnes County Public Library

2.	Valley City Post Office

3.	Central Avenue North Cul-de-sacs

4.	Epworth United Methodist Church

Greening Valley City and the Sheyenne River in Rural North Dakota

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WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

Add vegetation and trees.

Allow for utility and post office drop-off.

The fourth stakeholder group meeting focused on
the Epworth United Methodist Church site. Meeting
participants included church staff and city employees.
Priorities identified for the area included:

Provide storm water management solutions to keep
and treat water on site.

Provide adequate parking opportunities and
conditions.

Provide special considerations for ADA access to the
parking lot.

Add vegetation and trees.

Create safe and convenient conditions for school bus
drop off and pick up.

Provide storm water management solutions as water
flows onto the site.

Create pedestrian spaces away from parking areas.
Provide adequate parking opportunities.
Add vegetation and trees.

Provide ADA access throughout the site.

Account for future building expansion.

The third stakeholder group meeting focused on the
parking lot just north of the Valley City Post Office.
Meeting participants included nearby business owners
and community members. Priorities for the area
included:

Provide storm water management solutions to keep

and treat water on site.

Provide adequate parking opportunities and

conditions.

Create safe and comfortable pedestrian conditions.

The city of Valley City hosted a three-day design
workshop in the middle of October 2016. The design
team held one public meeting and four focus group
meetings with stakeholders, with each group discussing
the vision and priorities for the four focus areas.

The first stakeholder group meeting focused on the
cul-de-sacs along Central Avenue North in northern
Valley City. Meeting invitees included residents
and homeowners from the focus area as well as city
employees. Priorities determined for the area included:

Provide storm water management solutions as water
flows off the courts and onto private property.
Provide pedestrian scale elements and circulation
routes.

The second stakeholder group meeting focused on the
Barnes County Public Library. Participants included
library staff and board members as well as city
employees. Priorities for the area included:

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SITE ANALYSIS

City staff and neighborhood partners selected the four
focus areas for the Greening America's Communities
assistance because they include a mix of assets and
challenges that make it desirable for investments and
improvements that can benefit the community as well as
the environment.

The first focus area to be analyzed was the Barnes
County Public Library. The library is located at the
northeast comer of Central Avenue North and 4th Street
Northeast. It was dedicated in 1903 and is one of only
three remaining original Carnegie libraries in the state
of North Dakota. The library is in downtown Valley City
and acts as a landmark for visitors to the area.

The library has a gravel parking lot with only one access
which is from Central Avenue North (Figures 2 & 3).
The one access is located on the northwest corner of the
property and is shared with the parking lot directly to
the north. A concrete retaining wall separates the higher
north lot from the lower library parking lot. The eastern
portion of the property is in the 500-year flood plain.
During rain events, water flows from the Central Avenue
North and the northern parking lot through the access
drive and cracks in the retaining wall. In particularly
large rain events, water may flow over the retaining
wall. The library parking lot is sloped from west to east,
causing storm water to move along the north edge of the
parking lot to an area where it ponds at the north and
northeast portions of the lot. This excess water can cause
muddy and icy conditions.

The only ADA access to the library is from the southeast
entrance. Most library visitors park in this area, utilizing
street parking along 4th Street Northeast. Most of the
vehicles that park in the northern gravel lot are library
employees and visitors of the high school and the Hi-
Liner Activity Center (HAC). Both of those facilities are
located across Central Avenue North to the west. The
entire site is poorly lit, especially in the southeast comer
of the property. Tins causes a safety concern for visitors

Figure 2: Barnes County Public Library parking lot, facing
northwest.

Figure 3: Barnes County Public Library parking lot, facing east.

Greening Valley City and the Sheyenne River in Rural North Dakota

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SITE ANALYSIS

using the book return which is located just off site to the
southeast in the neighboring business driveway.

The next focus area to be analyzed by the design team
was the parking lot directly to the north of the Valley
City Post Office at the southwest comer of 2nd Avenue
Northeast and 3rd Street Northeast (Figures 4 & 5).

This parking lot is owned by the city of Valley City. It
serves the entire downtown area and is not metered or
regulated. The parking lot is accessed from multiple
points. There are two driveways to the north allowing
access from 4th Street Northeast, one access to the
east from 2nd Avenue Northeast, no access from the
south, and access to the mid-block alley that runs along
the entire west side of the parking lot. The access to
the alley extends the entire length of the parking lot,
allowing users to pull in and out of spaces directly to
and from the alley. Tins causes a safety concern for both
vehicles and pedestrians using the site. It is assumed
that traffic in the alley is one-way, although there is no
signage stating one-way usage. The parking lot is very
flat. Any storm water that enters the site slowly flows to
the eastern edge of the site, near the 100-year flood level.

A post office drop-off box and a Valley City utility
drop-off box are located near each other along the
southern edge of the parking lot. In winter months, snow
is plowed away from these boxes and to the north end
of the parking lot, between the two access driveways.
The snow is then trucked off site. There is very little
vegetation on the property and the few existing trees
provide very little shade to users.

The design team then analyzed the neighborhood
consisting of three "keyhole" cul-de-sacs Court A, Court
B and Court C in northern Valley City along Central
Avenue North (Figures 6 & 7). The neighborhood of
approximately 30 residences has been built into the side
of a hill and has multiple storm water issues. There are
no storm water sewers in this area. During most rain
events, water flows into lower properties and down

Figure 4: Valley City Post Office parking lot, facing northwest
towards Barnes County Public Library.

Figure 5: Valley City Post Office parking lot, facing south
towards Valley City Post Office.

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SITE ANALYSIS

streets into storm water systems four blocks away,
picking up pollutants and sediments along the way and
causing localized flooding in downhill neighborhoods.
Each court has a relatively steep cross slope and
minimal slope to Central Avenue North. Before having
an opportunity to flow west to Central Avenue North,
water flows to the south edge of each of the courts and
overflows the curb and onto driveways and adjacent
properties.

The last site the design team analyzed was the Epworth
United Methodist Church property. The church is located
on the northwest corner of 8th Avenue and Viking Drive
near the Valley City State University facilities and the
Sheyenne River. This area is a particularly low area of
Valley City and is subject to frequent flooding, especially
along Viking Drive and at its 8th Avenue Southwest
intersection. The property has a lot of lawn space along
the north, east and south sides of the church. This lawn
space provides much needed pervious area for water to
percolate into the soil on site. The church parking lot is
located directly west of the church (Figures 8 & 9). It is
hard surfaced and in poor condition. There is minimal
landscaping around the lot and no shade provided for
users. A patio space extends from the church towards
the parking lot just north of the church's main entrance.
The lot is generally flat and entirely within the 100-year
flood plain. It is accessed from the north via a gravel
mid-block alley that runs the entire length of the parking
lot and by two driveways to the south along Viking
Drive. The southwest corner of the property is poorly lit,
causing some safety concerns for the parking lot users.

Figure 6: Cul-de-sac at Court C, facing north.

The parking lot is rarely full and almost always provides
adequate parking for users. The lot is not only used for
church activities. Washington Elementary to the north
uses the parking lot weekdays in the afternoon for child
pick-up. Vehicles often line up along the northern edge
of the lot, facing north and completely block access into
and out of the church parking lot from the gravel access.
The lot is also filled during most Valley City State

Figure 7: Intersection ofCourt B and Central Avenue North,
facing north.

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SITE ANALYSIS

University basketball and football games. The parking
lot's proximity to the Field House and football stadium
make it a desirable parking location for activities. Area
school buses also utilize the parking lot. Buses line up
along the west side of the parking lot on 9th Avenue
Southwest turning the area into a pick-up and drop-off
site for parents.

Figure 8: Epworth United Methodist Church drop-off and
parking lot, facing south.

Figure 9: Epworth United Methodist Church parking lot and
access drive from 8th Avenue Southwest, facing east.

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DESIGN OPTIONS

DESIGN OPTIONS

The design options respond to the challenges and assets described in the Site Analysis section, as well
as feedback received from the workshop participants. The city of Valley City chose the design option
locations because of their challenges with storm water management, flooding, a lack of green space, and
their potential to help create a more aesthetically pleasing public identity.

Key ideas that informed the design options and responded to community concerns included:

Incorporating green infrastructure and other storm water management practices to help reduce
flooding and increase water quality.

Enhance user experience by creating a cohesive design throughout the community with aesthetic

improvements at identifiable sites.

Improving pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular circulation.

Greening Valley City and the Sheyenne River in Rural North Dakota

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DESIGN OPTIONS

FOCUS SITE ONE:

BARNES COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Barnes County Public Library sits at the northern end of downtown Valley City. The building acts
as a historic landmark and is easily recognized by community members. A potential addition to the
northeast portion of the library is in early development stages. A large gravel parking lot northwest of
the library is used by library staff and visitors as well as the nearby high school and HAC visitors. A
steeply sloping site and minimal storm water management in the area causes muddy and icy conditions
in the parking lot.

The design option for this area would address storm water issues by containing storm water on site
and treating it with storm water planters. These storm water planters would not only add permeable
surfacing, but also add visual appeal with landscaping and trees. These plants would also act as
screening from adjacent businesses and parking lots while providing shade for parking lot users. The lot
would be regraded and resurfaced to eliminate ponding issues.

Currently, there are minimal opportunities for the library to utilize outdoor programs and events. This
is largely because they have little usable outdoor space to work with. The design option would create
a turf outdoor amphitheater space as well as a hard-surfaced plaza. These two different types of spaces
would offer many opportunities for library activities as well as a casual public meeting place. All the
design elements together create a safer, more attractive space for visitors while helping to reduce storm
water runoff and flooding.

-J

Figure 10: Context map showing the location of Focus Site One.

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DESIGN OPTIONS

Figure 11: Current condition of the Barnes County
Public Library parking lot.

Figure 12: Design concept for the Barnes County Public Library parking lot showing an amphitheater and turf space, a hardscaped
plaza space, a new parking lot, storm water planters, and the library addition.

Greening Valley City and the Sheyenne River in Rural North Dakota

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DESIGN OPTIONS

BARNES COUNTY
PUBLIC LIBRARY

4TH STREET NORTHEAST

LEGEND:

Concrete
Colored concrete
Asphalt
Turf

Storm water planter

Landscape bed

Location of before/
after rendering
(Figures 11 and 12)

Figure 13: This plan shows the
design concept for the Barnes
County Public Library parking
lot.

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DESIGN OPTIONS

DESIGN COMPONENTS:

© Driveway

Access to the library is from Central Avenue
North. The driveway has been shifted south and
access from the northern adjacent parking lot has
been cut off.

© Storm water planter

A storm water planter runs along the parking lot's
northern retaining wall. This planter collects,
stores and treats storm water that enters the site
from the northwest corner of the property and
north parking lot and filters it as it moves east
through the planter.

©

©

Parking lot

The asphalt surface parking lot includes 20 parking
stalls. Regular spaces are 9.5" wide and 20" deep.
The parking lot is graded to move water from the
impervious asphalt surface to the adjacent storm
water planters to the east.

Retaining walls

A tiered retaining wall system brings grade from
the library parking lot down to the level of the east
adjacent parking lot and property. A series of storm
water planters runs along the top of each wall. As
the top (west) planter fills with water, it overflows
to the lower (east) planter, allowing more water to
be collected, stored and treated on the property.

Stairs

A series of stairs brings pedestrians from street
level along Central Avenue North and the parking
lot down to the library plaza and courtyard. The
stairs also act as seating for the open turf space and
create an amphitheater that can be utilized for a
variety of activities.

©

©

Turf space

An open turf space adds permeable surfacing to
the property while allowing for a wide variety of
activities.

Pedestrian plaza

A pedestrian plaza is located near the entrance of
the proposed library addition. The hard surface
provides a space for many programs and activities.
Tree planters with seat walls are situated down the
center of the plaza and provide shade and seating
opportunities for visitors. Bike racks are also
included in this area for employees and visitors.

® ' Future library addition

As part of a future phase, a two-story addition to
the library is planned to be located north of the
eastern portion of the original building.

©

Sidewalk connection

A sidewalk connects the new turf space and
pedestrian plaza to the west entrance of the library.

As a part of the library project, landscaping around
the existing building could be assessed and updated.
Any new landscaping should include drainage away
from the building and plants that are tolerant of
North Dakota's harsh winters. Plants could include
shrubs such as burning bush, dogwood, hydrangea,
lilac, ninebark, potentilla, serviceberry, spirea,
sumac, and viburnum. Perennials could include
aster, astilbe, catmint, coneflower, coreopsis,
daisy, daylily, hosta, salvia, sedum, yarrow, and
ornamental grasses.

Greening Valley City and the Sheyenne River in Rural North Dakota

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DESIGN OPTIONS

FOCUS SITE TWO:

VALLEY CITY POST OFFICE

The parking lot just north of the Valley City Post Office is owned by the city and is heavily used by
downtown employees, residents and visitors. Currently, the site is in poor condition. It is a hard surface
lot with minimal vegetation and trees. The only permeable surfacing on the site are two narrow strips of
turf running along the outside of the lot. The design option would resurface the lot and drain all storm
water on the site into landscape planters that surround most of the lot. These storm water planters help
manage storm water by storing and treating water. The planters also add visual appeal, screening and
shade for area visitors and site users.

The design option would also help transform the parking lot into a hub for the downtown community.
There is a pedestrian plaza at the northwest comer of the lot. This area would allow for bicycle parking
and wayiinding signage. This area would act as a precedent for the entire Valley City community.
Wayfinding hubs like this one could be located all over the city, creating a cohesive identity for Valley
City.

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Figure 14: Context map showing the location of Focus Site Two.

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DESIGN OPTIONS

Figure 15: Current condition of the Valley City Post
Office parking lot.

Figure 16: Design concept for the Valley City Post Office parking lot showing the wavfinding kiosk, bike racks and storm water
planters.

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DESIGN OPTIONS

4TH STREET NORTHEAST

VALLEY CITY PO$T
OFFICE

LEGEND:

Concrete
| Colored concrete
| Asphalt
Turf

Storm water planter

Stonn water grate

SI Annuals

< Location of before/
after rendering
(Figures 15 and 16)

Figure 17: This plan shows the
design concept for the Valley
City Post Office parking lot.

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DESIGN OPTIONS

DESIGN COMPONENTS:

®l Alley access

Access to the mid-block alley runs one-way, north
to south, from 4th Street Northeast to 3rd Street
Northeast.

(2)1 Wayfinding plaza

A small plaza located at the northwest corner
of the parking lot acts as a wayfinding hub for
downtown visitors. An information kiosk at
the west end of the plaza leads pedestrians to
key locations in the community. Bike racks are
available just to the east of the kiosk and moveable
landscape planters are situated along the northern
edge of the plaza to provide separation between
the plaza and the adjacent sidewalk.

©

®

©

Access

There are four total accesses to the parking lot.
They include two driveways north to 4th Street
Northeast, one driveway east to 2nd Avenue
Northeast, and one access west to the adjacent
alley. The alley access is a left in / left out access
because of the alley's one-way orientation.

Storm water planters

A storm water planter runs along the east and south
edges of the parking lot. The storm water planters
collect, store and treat storm water that runs off of
the parking lot while adding screening between the
parking lot and nearby streets and businesses.

^5^1 Landscape buffer

A landscape planter buffers the parking lot from
adjacent buildings and the alley. The planter
also increases pervious surfacing and therefore
groundwater infiltration to the city's property
while providing shade for the nearby parking
spaces.

Utility drop off

The city utility drop off box is located at the
southwest corner of the parking lot. It is accessed
from the alley.

®l Parking lot

The asphalt surface parking lot includes 48 parking
stalls. Regular spaces are 9.5' wide and 20' deep.
The parking lot is graded to move water from the
impervious asphalt surface to the adjacent storm
water planters.

~q) Storm water grate

A metal grate spans the impervious asphalt
driveway and allows storm water to move from
the eastern storm water planter to southern storm
water planter and overflow inlet.

©

©

Inlet structure

In the event of a large rain event, an overflow inlet
structure at the southeast corner of the property
allows for excess water from the site to move from
the storm water planter into the city storm sewer
system.

Post office drop off

The post office drop off box is located further
south along the east side of the alley and on the
post office property. It is accessed from the alley.

Parking lot lighting

Decorative lighting throughout the parking lot
improves user safety conditions while creating an
impressive and consistent identity for the parking
lot. These lights could be used at other sites across
the city to further develop an identity for Valley
City.

Greening Valley City and the Sheyenne River in Rural North Dakota

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DESIGN OPTIONS

FOCUS SITE THREE:

CENTRAL AVENUE NORTH CUL-DE-SACS

The cul-de-sacs at Court A, Court B and Court C in northern Valley City are prone to many storm water
management issues. There are no storm water inlets or stonn sewer systems in this neighborhood and
all rain water must be addressed on the surface. Currently most of the storm water in this area makes
its way downhill over streets and lawns. Storm water that does not permeate the earth's surface or pond
on private property eventually makes its way to Valley City's storm water system approximately four
blocks away, picking up pollutants and sediment along the way.

The design option for this area would include curb cuts to quickly get stonn water off of hard surface
roads and into highly permeable areas. These areas include rain gardens and bioswales. These BMPs
(best management practices) would help collect and treat storm water at designated areas, away from
structures. In large stonn events, excess water would enter an underdrain system and daylight in the
Central Avenue North boulevard further south. The BMPs would be planted with native and water
tolerant plants. The design option would address storm water management while also adding beautiful
plant beds to the area.

Figure 18: Context map showing the location of Focus Site Three.

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DESIGN OPTIONS

Figure 19: Current condition of the cul-de-sacs at
Court A, B and C at Central Avenue North.



Figure 20: Design concept for the cul-de-sacs at Court A, B and C at Central Avenue North showing a bioswale along the southern
edge of Court B.

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DESIGN OPTIONS

COURT B

COURT A

LEGEND:

Concrete
Asphalt
Bioswale

<

Location of before/
after rendering
(Figures 19 and 20)

Figure 21: This plan shows the
design concept for the cul-de-
sacs at Court A, B and C at
Central Avenue North

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DESIGN OPTIONS

DESIGN COMPONENTS:

©
©

©

The following design components have been
applied to each of the Central Avenue North cul-de-

sacs:

Cross walk

A marked pedestrian cross walk adds visual
interest while increasing pedestrian safety.

Underdrain

An underdrain system collects excess water from
the bioswale and brings it further down Central
Avenue North, between properties and away
from homes. The underdrain is a perforated pipe
installed underneath the bioswale. As the soil
column saturates with storm water, the water
drains to this pipe and is directed away from
homes.

Bioswale

A bioswale runs along the downhill (south) side
of the court. The inverted ditch-like structure is
planted with water tolerant native plant species
that help treat and store storm water that makes its
way to the bioswale.

Note: Much like bioswales, rain gardens may be
implemented on private property to help reduce
area flooding by capturing, storing and treating
storm water. Rain gardens provide a bowl like
ground structure that has been planted with water
tolerant native plant species. Water permeates over
time into the soil column, eliminating the need for
an underdrain system.

©

©

Street surface

Adjustments have been made to the surface of the
streets to allow for drainage towards the bioswale
curb cuts and away from homes.

Curb cuts

Sections of curb have been removed to allow for
street storm water to flow into the bioswales.

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DESIGN OPTIONS

FOCUS SITE FOUR:

EPWORTH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Epworth United Methodist Church has a large impervious parking lot that is in poor condition. It is
generally flat and situated along Viking Drive, an area that is known to flood frequently. There are no
trees or vegetation near the parking lot. The design option would create pervious surfacing by adding
storm water planters around most of the parking lot as well as a wide storm water planter down the
middle of the parking lot. The storm water planters would be filled with vegetation and trees, adding
visual appeal, screening and shade to the parking lot.

The design option would include one-way parking lot aisles and 60-degree parking. This style of
parking would make backing out of parking stalls easier and safer. It also allows for narrower lanes and
therefore increased space for storm water planters and pervious surfacing. In total, the design option
creates a parking lot that addresses storm water issues while increasing safety and visual appeal.

Figure 22: Context map showing the location of Focus Site Four.

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DESIGN OPTIONS

Figure 24: Design concept for the Epworth United Methodist Church parking lot showing a storm water planter island and the
extended patio with bike racks.

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DESIGN OPTIONS

EPWORTH UNITED
METHODIST CHURCI

VIKING DRIVE

LEGEND:

Concrete

<

Colored concrete
Asphalt

Pervious paving system
Turf

Storm water planter

Landscape bed

Storm water grate

Location of before/after
rendering (Figures 23
and 24)

Figure 25: This plan shows the
design concept for the Epworth
United Methodist Church
parking lot.

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DESIGN OPTIONS

DESIGN COMPONENTS:

®, Angled parking

One-way access into and out of the parking lot
allows for 60-degree angled parking.

©Storm water planter island

The parking lot's interior island is a storm water
planter. Storm water from the central portion of
the parking lot flows into this storm water planter
where it is stored and treated. The planter also
provides shade and buffering.

©Parking lot

The parking lot includes 89 parking stalls. Regular
spaces at situated at a 60-degree angle and are 9"
wide. The parking lot is graded to move water to
the adjacent storm water planters where it can be
stored and treated.

©

©

Storm water planters

Storm water planters run along the west and south
side of the parking lot as well as down the middle.
The storm water planters collect, store and treat
storm water that runs off the parking lot while
adding screening between the parking lot and
nearby streets, businesses and homeowners.

Pedestrian accesses

Accesses have been provided across storm water
planters to safely and efficiently move visitors
across the parking lot.

(T)| Patio

The church's outdoor patio has been extended
south to connect to the main entrance. Additional
hardscape area provides space for people to gather
outside of church and space for bike racks. Two
landscape planters provide pervious area and shade
for the patio.

Landscape bumpout

A bumpout from the central island storm water
planter takes the place of parking near the church's
main entrance. Eliminating these parking spaces
allows for safer pedestrian conditions near the
church drop-off.

Pervious paving system

A pervious paving system allows for decorative
patterning across the church parking lot while
allowing for storm water to be cleaned and stored
on site as it flows down through gaps in the paving
and into the ground.

© Sidewalk

A sidewalk has been added along the west side
of the property at 9th Avenue Southwest to allow
school buses to pick up and drop children off
safely. The sidewalk also continues east along the
southern edge of the parking lot.

h o) Storm water grate

A metal grate spans between two storm water
planters over an impervious asphalt driveway. The
storm water grate allows storm water to overflow
across the driveway from one storm water planter
to another and eventually the overflow inlet.

©

Inlet structure

In the event of a large rain event, an overflow inlet
structure at the southeast corner of the property
allows for excess water from the site to move from
the storm water planter into the city storm sewer
system.

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NEXT STEPS & FUNDING

NEXT STEPS & FUNDING SOURCES

The design options presented in this report could
serve as a catalyst to help the city of Valley City make
improvements and create a more cohesive vision of
green and complete streets, parking lots and public
spaces throughout their community. This chapter
includes options for near- and long-term next steps
that the city and its key partners could take to achieve
their goals for the city of Valley City. This chapter also
notes potential funding sources that were identified and
discussed during and after the design workshop.

Near-term (2017 to 2021)

•	Continue to study drainage issues at Court A,
Court B and Court C and implement trial strategies
to determine which types of best management
practices work in this area and which practices are
acceptable to neighborhood residents. The city could
further develop designs for this area, implementing
portions on a trial-basis as funding becomes
available. The city would regularly gather feedback
and information from nearby homeowners, residents
and maintenance workers to determine successful
aspects of the project as well as challenges that have
presented themselves.

•	Conduct further design and engineering studies

including cost estimates for project areas. If funding
could be identified, further design and analysis could
lead to a defined project scope for a more detailed
design for each area.

•	Develop design standards and a maintenance

plan for complete and green streets and parking
lots. The city of Valley City can develop design
standards and a maintenance plan for complete
and green streets and parking lots to facilitate
the implementation of the design options and
other concepts that will come from developing
policies and plans. Several standard and guidance

documents are available online, but two resources
in particular could be helpful to Valley City: The
Institute of Transportation Engineers" Designing
Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive
Approach1 and the city of Philadelphia Water
Department's Green Streets Design Manual2. The
Philadelphia Water Department also has a good
maintenance manual for green infrastructure:
Philadelphia Water Department's Green
Infrastructure Maintenance Manual Development
Process Plan3. EPA has a Green Infrastructure
Wizard4 that is a searchable database of EPA
resources related to green infrastructure. Search
queries are based on who the user is and what
information is being sought.

• Identify and implement initial improvements

to the city parking lot north of the Post Office.
The city could undertake a more detailed design
of this parking lot to further green infrastructure
strategies and goals identified in this report. If the
city can identify funding, the city could then prepare
construction documents for the project.

1	Institute of Transportation Engineers. Designing Walkable
Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach: An ITE
Recommended Practice. 2010. http://www.ite.org/css/online/index.
html.

2	Philadelphia Water Department. "Green Streets Design Manual."
2014. http: //www. philly watersheds .org/imp/GSDM/GSDM_
FINAL_20140211.pdf.

3	Philadelphia Water Department. "Green City, Clean Waters." http://
pliillywatersheds.org/what_were_doing/documents_and_data/cso_
long_term_control_plan. Accessed Nov. 15, 2016.

4	EPA. "Green Infrastructure Wizard." http://www2.epa.gov/
conmiunityhealth/green-infrastracture-wizard. Accessed Nov. 15,
2016.

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NEXT STEPS & FUNDING

•	Identify and implement improvements to the

Epworth United Methodist Church parking lot. The
church could develop a more detailed design for
the parking lot. When funding becomes available,
they could prepare construction documents for the
parking lot project.

•	Further develop the existing storm water
ordinance to provide incentives to developers and
land owners who manage and treat storm water on
site through green infrastructure techniques and
limit their use of the city's storm water system.

These ordinances could also provide disincentives to
developers that do not work towards limiting their
use of the city's storm water system.

Long-term (2022 to 2026)

•	Identify and implement initial improvements

to the Barnes County Public Library. The city of
Valley City and Barnes County would create a more
detailed design for the parking lot and grounds. If
funding can be identified, construction documents
may be prepared for the project.

Federal funding sources available
through the state of North Dakota

•	EPA's Clean Water Act Section 319 Grants are

directed to demonstration projects that reduce
nonpoint source pollution, can be used only for
items not required under a storm water program, and
are subject to state priorities. Green infrastructure
elements of the design concepts could be eligible for
funding through this program.5

•	Green Project Reserve, part of the EPA's Clean
Water State Revolving Fund, is a water quality
financing source that helps communities meet the
goals of the Clean Water Act. Nonpoint source
pollution control and green infrastructure can be
eligible for funding through this program.6

• Expand green infrastructure implementation to

other Valley City community projects. City staff
can continue to discuss newly identified projects or
new funding opportunities that will allow phased
implementation throughout the community.

• Review and update operations and maintenance
plans for complete and green streets and parking
lots. The operations and maintenance plan should
remain current with best management practices and
be regularly updated with information gathered from
staff feedback, community input and monitoring of
green infrastructure strategies.

5	EPA. "Clean Water Act Section 319." http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/
nps/cwact.cfm. Accessed Nov. 14,2016.

6	EPA. "Green Project Reserve." http://water.epa.gov/grants_funding/
cwsrf/Green-Project-Reserve.cfm. Accessed Nov. 14, 2016.

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NEXT STEPS & FUNDING

State funding sources

•	The North Dakota Public Finance Authority
and The North Dakota Department of Health
administer The Drinking Water State Revolving
Fund as well as The Clean Water State Revolving

Fund which provide grants and loans for wastewater
treatment facilities, non-point source pollution
control project and public water systems.7

•	The State Water Commission has adopted a
policy to support local sponsors in development
of sustainable water-related projects with its State
Water Commission Cost-Share Program.8

•	The Outdoor Heritage Fund by the North Dakota
Industrial Commission provides grants to state
agencies that enhance conservation practices in a
multitude of directives. One of these directives is
conserving and creating natural areas such as parks
and other recreation areas.9

Community & other funding sources

Valley City can initiate a Capital Improvements
Program to make parking lot improvements. These
improvements can respond to the issues identified
through the project.

•	Private Property Investments by The Epworth
United Methodist Church and other groups
interested in implementing these design solutions
may help fund projects that have been identified
through the project.

•	A storm sewer fee may be issued to Valley City
property owners with an incentive given to owners
who utilize green infrastructure practices.

7	North Dakota Public Finace Authority. "State Revolving Fund
Program." http://www.nd.gov/pfa/srf.htrnl. Accessed Nov. 14,2016.

8	North Dakota State Water Commission. "Cost Share Policy" http://
www.swc.nd.gov/. Accessed Nov. 14, 2016.

9	North Dakota Industrial Commission. "Outdoor Heritage Fund."
http://www.nd.gov/ndic/outdoor-infopage.htm. Accessed Nov. 14,
2016.

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APPENDIX

APPENDIX

Hie following is a list of green infrastructure and storm water management practices that have been discussed in this
report. These practices can be used to help reduce flooding and increase water quality.

Bioswale

A bioswale is a gently sloped drainage course or swale that collects surface runoff. The swale
is vegetated, typically with native plant species. Runoff is filtered when silt and pollution is
removed from the water as it passes through the plant material and into the ground. The geometry
of the swale is designed to maximize the time water spends in the swale, which aids the trapping
of pollutants and silt. A wide, shallow and meandering swale allows for maximum infiltration.
(Image credit: Soil Science Society of America)

Landscaping and trees

While often overlooked as a taie storm water facility, trees and landscaping provide the very
first form of runoff treatment during storm events. The foliage and bark of trees and plants can
collect rainfall and slow it down before it reaches the landscape or pavement surfaces. The
rainfall collected on trees may also evaporate into the air before it reaches the ground. When
water does reach the ground, plant roots help in the uptake of storm water and limit the amount of
downstream runoff. (Image credit: EPA)

Pervious paving

Pervious paving systems describe a range of paving techniques that allow surface water to move
vertically through the installed surface. These systems reduce runoff while effectively trapping
and filtering suspended solids and pollutants in the water. Examples include pervious concrete,
pervious asphalt or interlocking pavers. These materials allow storm water to percolate and
infiltrate surfaces that are traditionally impervious to the soil below. (Image credit: EPA)

Rain garden

A rain garden is a small depression that captures storm water runoff while adding aesthetically
pleasing focal points to a project. Much like bioswales, a rain garden allows for filtering of
pollutants and silt as water is absorbed by plants and the earth. Ram gardens can be highly
versatile. They can be built in any shape and are designed to capture and manage more significant
amounts of runoff than most other types of storm water facilities. (Image credit: Ocean County
Soil Conservation District)

Storm water planter

Storm water planters are landscape zones adjacent to large areas of impervious surfacing such
as streets or parking lots. These landscape systems are designed to capture storm water flow
and manage it within the recessed landscape area. These planters are often long and narrow
depressions that can be used to convey storm water runoff towards a storm sewer inlet structure.
As water flows across a storm water planter, it is slowed by the plant material and soil, allowing
sediments and pollutants to filter and settle out. (Image credit: EPA)

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