Depaving
Type of Development
Redevelopment, Restoration
Topography
Hills, Valleys, Baylands
Longevity
Environment
Urban
Maintenance
Medium
Cost
Cost considerations include the price for obtaining permits, soil testing, equipment rentals, asphalt hauling, permeable paving, and landscaping.
Overview
Depaving is the process of removing pavement materials like concrete and replacing them with vegetation or permeable pavement materials. The removal of impermeable pavements helps reduce stormwater pollution and increase the amount of land available for habitat restoration, urban farming, trees, and native vegetation. Depaving projects can vary in scale, from an entire downtown street transformation to excess driveway pavement removal at a single family home. Depaving projects often happen at the community level in partnership with local organizations. For example, a local church can gather volunteers to remove excess pavement next to a building. After depaving, the community can design a new greenspace, such as a native plant garden or outdoor gathering space.
Function
Depaving removes materials like concrete, creating more space for vegetation and green space in urban areas.
Benefit
Depaving reduces the chance of flooding and creates alternative drainage areas for stormwater or the revegetation of land with trees and plants. Depaving also allows more pollutant filtration to occur before water reenters our waterways, protecting local streams, rivers, and habitats. Additionally, depaving reduces urban heat by removing materials like concrete that retain heat and increase local temperatues.
Dependency
Development Considerations
Some depaving projects may require site preparation, such as soil contamination testing, and development permits.
Environmental Considerations
Projects should consider soil types and stormwater management during design.
Maintenance Consideration
Maintenance depends on scale of project and project features.
Cost Considerations
Cost considerations include the price for obtaining permits, soil testing, equipment rentals, asphalt hauling, permeable paving, and landscaping.