---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:
Richard Pedersen <richardpedersen@caaprofessionals.com>
Date: Tue, Apr 13, 2010 at 8:51 AM
Subject: Re: curb policy
To: CURTIS BLANKINSHIP <
curtis.blankinship@gmail.com>
Cc: Michael Tree <
cmanager@ci.twentynine-palms.ca.us>,
commdev@ci.twentynine-palms.ca.us
Mr. Blankinship:
I appreciate your efforts and the concern we share with regard to recharging our underground water supply and the creation of beautiful landscaping.
However, due to high silt and sand in the desert, we have determined that the permeable curb and pavements tend to become less effective as time passes. We have found, through much experience that even our natural-bottom retention basins tend to "silt up" and hold water for weeks. These ponding waters can become a public safety issue. As a result we have included a dry well system in the design of all retention basins. Additionally, with the freezing and thawing that occurs on occasion during winter months, we would anticipate any water trapped within these permeable materials would cause much damage to the curbs and pavements. As a result, we would not consider these types of construction methods in the City of Twentynine Palms.
If you would like to discuss this issue further, please contact me at 760-801-7615.
Richard Pedersen,
City Engineer
On Apr 12, 2010, at 3:31 PM, CURTIS BLANKINSHIP wrote:
> Mr. Pederson
> I am a sustainable designer in 29 palms. While the GPAC committee was working on the towns general plan it came up that there was no drainage plan. I am trying to build a house out here and found out Iam to pay a huge curb fee. Because of this I have been looking at the curbs around town. I am not criticizing your curb design skills. However, there are new design parameters for curbs in sustainable cities.
> The Desert Knoll housing project uses curbs to direct water down the hill to an open lot where it creates a gully. The marine housing project near there has a recharge basin of sorts. The older housing lots around the area use retaining walls to allow water to soak in and water their landscapes.
> Can we return to a more permeable curb policy? There is a way to do this that would cost developers and owner builders less money and create a beautiful landscape in the process.
> Can I discuss this with you further?
> thanks,
> Curtis Blankinship
> Blankinship
> Sustainable
> Design
> 760-401-3124
>