City Of Tucson Developin Green Streets Policy 02-12-2013
City Of Tucson Developin Green Streets Policy 02-12-2013
City Of Tucson Developin Green Streets Policy 02-12-2013
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>Developin</strong>g <strong>Green</strong><br />
Infrastructure <strong>Policy</strong> for the<br />
<strong>City</strong> of <strong>Tucson</strong><br />
Tory Syracuse<br />
Associate Director<br />
Watershed Management Group<br />
February <strong>12</strong>, <strong>2013</strong>
Project Overview<br />
• Arizona State Forestry Department Community<br />
Challenge Grant<br />
• Project Goal: Assist in the development of<br />
green infrastructure policy and designs to<br />
promote the planting and growth of shade<br />
trees irrigated by stormwater in all new and<br />
renovated road construction in the <strong>City</strong> of<br />
<strong>Tucson</strong>.<br />
• Current Status: Pending TDOT review;<br />
tentatively scheduled Mayor & Council vote in<br />
March
Project Objectives<br />
1. Work with <strong>City</strong> of <strong>Tucson</strong> to organize a<br />
stakeholder committee to draft GI policy<br />
2. Build support through community<br />
presentations<br />
3. Develop GI designs for streets with redevelopment<br />
and new construction<br />
4. Present policy to mayor & council for approval
Why?<br />
• <strong>City</strong> of <strong>Tucson</strong> as leader in the Southwest<br />
• Multiple benefits of green infrastructure<br />
• Reduced water/maintenance costs<br />
Arizona Daily Star, Nov. <strong>12</strong>, 20<strong>12</strong> Inside <strong>Tucson</strong> Business, March 2, 20<strong>12</strong>
How?<br />
Key aspects of policy development:<br />
1. Scope: Would apply to new construction or<br />
reconstruction of publicly funded roadways within<br />
the <strong>City</strong> of <strong>Tucson</strong>.<br />
2. <strong>Green</strong> infrastructure features should serve multiple<br />
purposes.<br />
3. Design team coordination from the outset to<br />
provide integrated benefits.<br />
4. Performance-based, not prescriptive.
How? Performance Standards Under<br />
Consideration<br />
1. Stormwater runoff from the roadway should be<br />
directed through green infrastructure features<br />
before entering storm drains or natural drainages.<br />
2. Additional standards related to:<br />
• Amount of rainfall required to be captured by GI<br />
features<br />
• Quantity of vegetation – groundcover and tree<br />
canopy<br />
• Infiltration rate<br />
• Water budget – vegetation should be able to<br />
survive on harvested rainwater<br />
• Maximizing shade on sidewalks
How? <strong>Developin</strong>g Supporting Documents<br />
1. <strong>Green</strong> <strong>Streets</strong> <strong>Policy</strong> Suggested Best Practices<br />
2. Suggested Resources<br />
3. Sample Designs
Lessons Learned<br />
1. Importance of municipal<br />
connections/support<br />
2. Political feasibility<br />
3. Understanding local construction process for<br />
specific municipality<br />
4. Performance-based instead of prescriptive =<br />
easier said than done!
Questions?<br />
Tory Syracuse<br />
Associate Director<br />
Watershed Management Group<br />
tsyracuse@watershedmg.org<br />
520-396-3266
Change language