Pervious Cover Minimums and Incentives

• Author: Kerrigan Owens
• Pages: 75-79

Part 2: Create Incentives 75

PERVI OUS COVER

MINI MU MS A ND INC EN TIV ES

Kerrigan Owens (author)

Jonathan Rosenbloom & Christopher Duerksen (editors)

INTRODUCTION

is regulation provides local governments with t he exibility to either create

incentives, set requirements, or do a combination of both for the minimum

use of permeable pavements for certain projects. Local governments may

choose the type and size of projects to be subject to permeable requirements

or incentives and may choose the appropriate level of permeable surfaces.

Permeable pavement or surfaces refer to any paving system that provides

a usable hard surface but also a llows for inltration of water through the

surface.1 Permeable pavements come in a number of dierent forms, with

new technologies and techniques consta ntly being developed.2 Such systems

include a variety of surfaces, such as pavers that connect to form a surface

with small gaps to al low water to pass through3 and porous concrete that

forms a single or multi-slab coarse concrete surface. Porous concrete has a

number of small gaps throughout to allow water to ow though the sur face.4

e dierent types of permeable pavement have unique costs and benets

that deve lopers should consider and that loc al govern ments should consider

when drafting this ordinance.5 Some alternatives may be less desirable for

high-trac areas such as highways or areas w ith signicant snow and freez-

ing temperatures that limit permeability.6

EFFECTS

Traditional concrete pavement, asphalt, and other impermeable surfaces have

a number of potentially adverse environmental eects.7 Whi le most codes

may require some type of paved surfaces , there are several alternatives that can

replace or reduce the detrimental eects of impermeable pavement.8 Doing

so may help divert run-o from entering into local stormwater management

systems or a bodies of water.9 Local stormwater utilities that often ma in-

tain storm sewers and other drainage systems bea r the costs associated with

impermeable pavement.10 In addition, run-o can increase ooding either