In another study, Kensington Estates — a conventional development with 103 single-family homes on 24 acres in Pierce County, WA — was redesigned using a new state storm water model to illustrate the full range of low impact development practices and technologies available to developers.
The alternative redesign, Natuluk said, would have reduced construction costs by more than 20%, would have preserved 62% of the site as open space; would have maintained the same density of 103 lots; would have reduced the size of storm pond structures and eliminated catchments and piped storm conveyances; and would have achieved “zero” effective impervious surfaces.
With an eye on reducing impervious surfaces and encouraging the natural filtration of water into the ground, Natuluk said that there are a number of concepts behind low impact development, including:
- Analyzing the hydrology on the site to understand how water moves across it
- Looking at smaller spots such as downspouts, streets and driveways to determine how water runoff can be managed there
- Controlling storm water at its source
- Using simple, non-structural methods — such as native soils, grass swales and native plants
- Using multi-functional landscaping and architecture
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