Publication Date
4-7-2007
Abstract
Urban waterfront property in Rhode Island, like many New England states, is being redeveloped from former industrial uses into vibrant coastal developments. In 2006, the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) developed the Urban Coastal Greenways Policy for the Metro Bay Region (UCG Policy). Development projects located within the Metro Bay Region can now receive administrative approval from the CRMC if they meet the UCG Policy requirements of 15% minimum vegetation coverage, implementation of low impact development techniques (LID) for stormwater management, public access to the shoreline, and a designated urban coastal greenway with native and sustainable vegetation. The Harborside Campus at Johnson & Wales University (JWU) is an approximately 110-acre campus situated on a former industrial shipyard located adjacent to Narragansett Bay, New England’s largest estuary. As part of its campus Master Plan, JWU has been constructing academic facilities, student housing, outdoor recreational fields, passive green space, walking trails, and associated infrastructure and parking areas. Approximately 13 acres of surface parking are proposed as part of the Harborside Campus development. Woodard & Curran was contracted by JWU to evaluate LID techniques under the UCG Policy for 13-acres of proposed surface parking at their Harborside Campus. Porous pavement, bio-retention ponds, and underground infiltration stormwater management LID techniques were evaluated for the project with respect to suitability, performance, cost and maintenance. This presentation will discuss and compare the applications, benefits and disadvantages of each stormwater management LID technique with respect to client needs and regulatory considerations.