Stormwater Best Management Practices - US EPA

Using Smart Growth Techniques as

Stormwater Best Management Practices

About the Image on the Cover

The cover illustration depicts development that might occur as a result of the recently updated West Hyattsville (Maryland) Transit Oriented Development Overlay Zone. This area is served by the Metrorail (subway) and is home to the West Hyattsville Green Line station. The elements of the plan include many common features of transit oriented development (TOD): a compact footprint, development intensity focused on the station area, a rich mix of uses and housing types, and a variety of transportation options. These features, as illustrated in this publication, also have benefits related to preventing and managing stormwater, in particular, when considered at the watershed, neighborhood, and site levels simultaneously. The compact design can accommodate a higher intensity of development on a smaller footprint. This format, oriented toward transit and pedestrian travel, also lessens the imperviousness related to automobile-only travel. By accommodating a higher intensity of development in this preferred area, demand that might go elsewhere in the undeveloped parts of the watershed is absorbed.

The West Hyattsville TOD Plan goes further to address water and stormwater throughout the planning area. There is a heavy emphasis on open space, active parks, and integrated stormwater management. In developing the plan, use of natural drainage patterns and habitat restoration were coupled with development of parks, fields, and trails.

Image courtesy of PB PlaceMaking and the Maryland National Capital Parks and Planning Commission - Prince George's County Planning Department.

Acknowledgements

The principal author, Lisa Nisenson from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Development, Community and Environment Division, acknowledges the contributions and insights of the following people: Barbara Yuhas, International City/County Managers Association; Ben Stupka, Michigan Environmental Council; Bill Spikowski, Spikowski Planning Associates; Cheryl Kollin, American Forests; Chet Arnold, the University of Connecticut, Non-Point Source Education for Municipal Officials; Don Chen, Smart Growth America; Dreux Watermolen, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; Frank Sagona, Southeastern Watershed Forum; Dan Emerine, International City/County Managers Association; Diana Keena, City of Emeryville (California); G.B. Arrington, PB Placemaking; George Hawkins, New Jersey Future; Harry Dodson, Dodson Associates Limited; James Hencke, PB Placemaking; Jeff Tumlin, Nelson/Nygaard Consulting; John Jacob, Texas Sea Grant Program; Kathy Blaha, Trust for Public Land; Linda Domizio, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection; Michael Bateman, Stormwater360; Milt Rhodes, Dover-Kohl Partners; Rebecca Finn, City of Elm Grove (Wisconsin); Rob Stueteville, New Urban News; Steve Tracy, Local Government Commission; Tom Davenport, EPA Region 5; and Tom Low, Duany-Plater Zyberk.

In addition, contributors and reviewers from the EPA team: Geoff Anderson, Chris Forinash, Kevin Nelson, Lee Sobel, Lynn Richards, Jamal Kadri, Jenny Molloy, Kol Peterson, Rod Frederick, Robert Goo, Nikos Singelis, Ryan Albert, and Sylvia Malm.

ICF Consulting produced an initial draft of this document under EPA contract 2W0921NBLX for the Development, Community, and Environment Division; Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation. Eastern Research Group edited and designed the report.

To request additional copies of this report, contact EPA's National Service Center for Environmental Publications at (800) 490-9198 or e-mail at ncepimal@ and ask for publication number EPA 231-B-05-002. To access this report online, visit or .

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

SECTION 1: WHY STORMWATER? THE NEXUS BETWEEN LAND

DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS AND WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Summary of How Stormwater Runoff Is Regulated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Connecting Stormwater Management and Smart Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Smart Growth Techniques as Best Management Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

SECTION 2: SPECIFIC SMART GROWTH TECHNIQUES AS STORMWATER

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

1. Regional Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

2. Infill Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

3. Redevelopment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

4. Development Districts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

5. Tree and Canopy Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

6. Parking Policies to Reduce Number of Spaces Needed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

7. "Fix It First" Infrastructure Policies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

8. Smart Growth Street Designs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75

9. Stormwater Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81

SECTION 3: RESOURCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89

SECTION 4: NEW JERSEY--A CASE STUDY IN WEAVING STORMWATER AND

SMART GROWTH POLICIES TOGETHER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99

Goals for Smart Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99

Goals for Water and Stormwater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100

Specific Policies that Meet Both Water

and Smart Growth Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100

ACRONYMS & GLOSSARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105

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