What if the utility company asked you how much you made when you called to start service in a new home? What if they wanted this information to tie your bill to your salary and not to how much gas, electricity or water you used? Would that seem fair? That’s how some communities are treating developers when determining how much stormwater they should be required to manage. But regulations that link stormwater standards to the developer’s ability to pay are neither fair nor efficient. Environmental regulations and their costs should be directly linked to the impact on the environment, not to profit margins.
Stormwater
Sustainable Streets in St. Louis
The city of St. Louis has been testing out a new sustainable streetscape design that calms traffic and helps absorb stormwater. The test run has been so well-received, the city is thinking about rolling out the design permanently.
The Architect's Newspaper
The Model Stormwater City
Portland is well-known for many things in the urban planning community. Now, it's being recognized as a leader in stormwater management.
The Oregonian
Street Greening Upsets Some Portland Businesses
A new street greening project in North Portland that seeks to reduce stormwater runoff is fueling a debate between the area's young, eco-conscious businesses owners and older owners who are worried about interruption from the project.
The Oregonian
The Planetizen News Brief - 7/23/09
4:30 minutes (4.13 MB)
Crime drops in U.S. cities, El Paso tries to block new billboards, and a new green street opens in California -- all on this week's Planetizen News Brief, airing weekly on the nationally-syndicated radio show "Smart City". Read, listen or download.
Soaking Up Runoff For a Greener Street
The city of Santa Monica has just unveiled its first segment of green street, one where rainwater runoff seeps into porous pavement and landscaping.
The Lookout
Legalize Gray Water!
Colorado law prohibits the collection of rainwater, but urban farmers, environmentally-conscious homeowners, and even developers are catching on to its benefits and building momentum for the legalization of rainwater harvesting.
Los Angeles Times
Puget Sound Suburbs Could Follow Cities' Tougher Runoff Rules
After a recent state ruling requiring Seattle and other Puget Sound cities to control polluted stormwater runoff, smaller cities and suburbs could be brought on board as well.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
From Utility to Amenity: Greening the Alleys of Los Angeles
Green alley projects are popping up in cities all over the U.S. and Canada in an effort to make the concrete jungle a little better at absorbing rainwater. A new alley program in Los Angeles goes beyond the runoff to actively integrate these unique spaces into the urban fold.
EPA Failing to Control Urban Runoff
The Environmental Protection Agency has not done enough to control pollution from stormwater runoff in urban areas, according to a report from the National Academy of Sciences.
Associated Press
'Growing Water' Project Gets a Hand
The architecture studio that won The History Channel's City of the Future competition last year has gotten some help making its ideas possible.
Architectural Record
The Unintended Consequences Of Stormwater Regulation
California water quality regulators continue to levy ever-tougher standards for stormwater runoff. But the standards could impact development and cities in a way that is not best for the environment at large.
California Planning & Development Report
What's In A Name?
Sun, 03/25/2007 - 14:16
How important are the names we use? As Shakespeare said, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." I’ve been struck by this thought recently as I’ve been considering the myriad of organizations and stakeholders trying to have their particular term for stormwater management techniques be more widely adopted in the nomenclature.
