SWIM Meeting on July 27, 2009
By robin_kriesberg | July 1, 2009
SAVE THE DATE for the next meeting of the SWIM Coalition,
to be held on Monday July 27th
from 11 am to 1 pm
at NRDC, 40 West 20th St, NYC.
The meeting will provide an opportunity to meet Karen Engel, DEC’s Green Infrastructure Coordinator.
Other topics to be discussed include ways to control building to limit impervious surfaces on privately-owned open space in NYC.
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Green Infrastructure Highlighted in State Open Space Plan
By larry_levine | June 18, 2009
The state Environmental Conservation and Parks Departments recently released the “New York State 2009 Open Space Conservation Plan.” (http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/47990.html) It includes not only priorities for land aquisition/conservation (including in NYC — see Part V), but also an “action agenda” that includes sections on green infrastructure and other urban greening/waterfront access issues (see Part III).
SWIM is pleased to report that the green infrastructure discussion includes a reference to Riverkeeper’s “Sustainable Raindrops” report and also cites NYC’s Local Law 5 (which SWIM was instrumental in passing) as a potential statewide model. The plan also expresses the state’s intent to “develop a comprehensive green infrastructure program including technical assistance and web-based resources to local governments, state agencies and commercial nurseries and private citizens.”
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Greening the Schoolyard in Philly
By robin_kriesberg | June 15, 2009
Philadelphia’s water department is implementing an innovative new program, adding a stormwater charge for nonresidential customers as an incentive for greening paved areas to reduce runoff. This tax will be based on the amount of impervious surface, charging customers for the runoff they generate. Turning paved surfaces such as schoolyards green provides the added benefit of shaded and healthier places to play.
http://changingskyline.blogspot.com/2009/06/phillys-need-for-green-acres.html
Topics: News, incentives, storm water runoff | No Comments »
Rainwater Collection System Presentation
By robin_kriesberg | April 27, 2009
This presentation by Bart Chezar features an innovative approach for using a remote drain controlled rainwater collection cistern to reduce stormwater from a residential building near the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn.
http://swimmablenyc.info/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/rdcc-presentation.pdf
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Update: New York City releases Green Roof tax credit application
By rob_crauderueff | April 23, 2009
To their credit, the NYC Department of Buildings and Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability addressed key concerns raised in the public comments while finalizing the green roof rules. The final application is now a much more simple and streamlined process. To apply, a building owner and certified architect / engineer must take the following steps:
(1) Submit an application to the Department of Buildings (green roof tax abatement .pdf).
(2) Submit an application checklist.
(3) Review the Department of Building’s Frequently Asked Questions document re: the green roof tax abatement.
Note: The above information only was applicable for the 2009 tax year (last year). However, projects completed after
In order to accurately fill out the application form, the rules and legislation for the tax abatement should be reviewed as well. The rules can be found here and legislation here.
If you have additional questions then you can contact the department of buildings at greenroofandsolar@buildings.nyc.gov.
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STIMULUS UPDATE: Deadline extended to May 29
By larry_levine | April 13, 2009
The state has now posted the application materials for “green infrastructure” stimulus funds online, and extended the application deadline to May 29th (postmark). See http://www.nysefc.org/home/index.asp?page=688
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2 opportunities to make your voice heard — Water Board and City Council hearings
By larry_levine | March 30, 2009
1. Water Board meeting — rate study — Friday, April 3rd
The city’s Sustainable Stormwater Management Plan states that DEP will present findings of its ongoing “rate study” — including the potential for separating out the stormwater component and charging based on the imperviousness of a site — at the April meeting of the Water Board, which is now scheduled for this Friday, April 3rd, at 8:30 a.m. The meeting location is the Department of City Planning’s Spector Hall, 22 Reade Street, 1st Floor. Members of the public are given an opportunity to speak at each Water Board meeting.
2. City Council, Environmental Protection Committee — oversight hearing on implementation of Sustainable Stormwater Management Plan — Tuesday, April 7th
The City Council has scheduled an oversight hearing on April 7th on implementation of the city’s Sustainable Stormwater Management Plan. The meeting is at at 1pm, in the Committee Room, City Hall. As always, there will be an opportunity for members of the public to offer testimony.
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NY State releases details on how to apply for stimulus funding for “green infrastructure” projects
By larry_levine | March 25, 2009
The federal stimulus bill provided $432 million for clean water infrastructure projects in NY State, and required that 20% ($86 million) be set-aside specifically for green stormwater infrastructure — i.e., projects that maintain, restore, or mimic natural systems to infiltrate, evapotranspirate, or recycle stormwater – as well as water or energy efficiency improvements, or other environmentally innovative projects. DEC just posted information about its new “Green Innovation Grant Program” that will administer the set-aside funds. Government and non-government entities are both eligible to apply. Proposed projects must be “shovel-ready” to start construction by Jan. 1, 2010. Applications are due May 9th.
The full public notice is available here (skip to the middle of the page) — http://www.dec.ny.gov/enb/20090325_not0.html.
[See update posted 4/13 — application materials now available online; deadline extended to 5/29 (http://www.nysefc.org/home/index.asp?page=688]
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SWIM Coalition Meeting
By kimberly_rancourt | March 25, 2009
| March 26, 2009 | ||
| 10:00 am | to | 12:00 pm |
| 10:00 am | to | 12:00 pm |
The next SWIM Coalition meeting will be held at NYC Soil and Water Conservation District, at 121 Avenue of the Americas, in the 5th Floor Conference Room. Hope to see you there!
Topics: Events, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Waterfront Zoning amendments — SWIM submits comments urging special attention to on-site stormwater management
By larry_levine | March 25, 2009
The Department of City Planning (DCP) has proposed to amend the zoning rules governing the design of waterfront public access areas. Among other things, the proposal would require the creation of vegetated, permeable surfaces in waterfront developments. SWIM submitted comments to the City Planning Commission urging that the proposal be stregthened to ensure that site designs maximize the potential for such permeable areas to manage stormwater from adjacent impervious areas. Details on the city’s proposal can be found at http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/waterfront/index.shtml.
UPDATE: On April 1, 2009, the City Planning Commission voted to approve the proposed amendments, with certain revisions, sending them to the City Council for review. The Council has until May 26, 2009 to decide whether to approve the proposal. While (as noted above) the proposal includes some provisions that may create new opportunities for on-site stormwater management, none of SWIM’s additional suggestions related to stormwater were adopted. In response to SWIM’s comments, the Commission’s report (http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/cpc/090239.pdf) states only that:
“The Commission received testimony suggesting the implementation of mandatory storm water management techniques as part of this proposal. The Commission recognizes the importance of storm water management throughout the city, and noted that the proposal has incorporated flexibility into the requirements for paving and planting, in order to accommodate a wide and growing range of advanced storm water management techniques, including many identified in the City’s recently released Sustainable Stormwater Management Plan.” (p. 37)
See http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/waterfront/index.shtml for more information on other changes the Commission did make before approving the proposal.
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