08-15-1983 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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jarcs the runoff :haractcristics of vement and con* s to other kinds irking areas. jeetive of porous ts for this pro runoff and asso- lity degradation, s from porous as- nclude: (1) Atten- off rate and vol- d erosion control; of water quality moff from imper- potential for he ated; (4) A reduc- it in the need for sewer installation ) Maintenance of Dn and drainage luction or elimina- ce factor to pedes- ist from standing iporary storage in (7) Increase in the ndwater recharge in water defficient iproved road safe- her friction coeffi- hydroplaning and :oi.cern using po- s its susceptibility »d on past experi- >m should not oc- > and maintenance effectiveness during the melt- accumulated on lin occurs when frozen. The test showed that this • intage in the use :nt is that some odes are not in- / technology. For mlibnal draining , gutters inlets, y required in all en the construc ts pavement in- 5S less economi- B Grass Conquers Concrete Hardly anyone in Stuttgart takes notice of the pleasant grassy areas that are used as parking lots around the sports stadium, parks and residential areas. On closer examination these turn out to be surfaced with perforated building blocks that have grass growing out of the 2 to 3 inch square openings. Only by walking atop the lawn surface or when seeing cars parked surprisingly on what looks just a lawn, is one aware that the grassy meadow is in reality a parking lot. The solution not only looks better than blacktop or wall-to-wall concrete, it helps the city "breathe" with many more acres of greenery that absorb water and give off oxygen to improve the microclimate. When Arno Loessner, who teaches public ad ministration at the University of Delaware asked city officials about the lawned lots on a visit to Stuttgart last year they expressed surprise at his interest. "Why, we've been doing this for years," was the tenor of the response, isn't everyone'" Well the answer is No, very few communities in the U.S., it seems, are on to this good and simple idea that improves the environment, helps the urban- climate, looks nice, and takes just a little bit more of an effort than conventional hard surfacing. We don't have an actual cost compari son, but have asked for one. (The perforated blocks themselves run about $5.00 per square meter, surface preparation is extra.) The Stuttgart public works department points out that the perforated blocks manufactured by several suppliers need to be bedded into a thin layer of sand (about 1/2 inch). The top of the seeded top soil that is swept into the holes must be about 1/2 inch below the surface of the slotted or perforated block to prevent com pacting. The lawn blocks are also used for garage driveways in housing areas, for walkways in cemeteries and gardens, to prevent erosion on slopes adjacent to roads and waterways as well as to protect ind set off ornamental trees in re 'dential areas. They are not suitable for parking lots used throughout the day, as the surface needs four to five hours of daylight on an average to keep the grass green. This limitation makes lawned parking lots the perfect solution for residential areas and public facilities that are not used continuously throughout each day. Examples: sports installations, schools, libraries, museums, parks, zoos, some government buildings, post offices, etc. The U,S. military inadvertently handed this good idea to Stutt gart's city fathers when the latter borrowed miles of temporary metal runways back in 1961 to serve as parking lots for the Federal Carden Show. Soon after the corrugated rolls of slotted track were turned back, having served their purpose, local authorities, concerned over the adverse envir onmental impact of asphalted parking lots, looked around for a permanent solution. Not exactly a space program spin-off, but surely a beneficial one. Now all that is needed to complete the circle is an American community to re-import the idea from Germany ■ Post Office Box 66 • Cryst Calvary Mem< 24 20 Dunwoo' Wayzata, MN cc: Bert H NOTICE OF F Date of Mee Votes: Planning Cc Ap Ap De Tc Tc NOTES AND S landscaping variance so be presente Appi.ic Applic addit; meetir for tl In all cast requested : or the Cit^ If the app! contact th< If you de they are and appro