1. BROOKLYN
WATERFRONT GREENWAY
West Street Sustainable Stormwater Study
Winter 2009 / 2010

3. Credits
West Street Sustainable Stormwater Study report by Regional Plan Association
and Brooklyn Greenway Initiative
Robert Freudenberg, Regional Plan Association
Robert Pirani, Regional Plan Association
Milton Puryear, Brooklyn Greenway Initiative
Sarah Neilson, Regional Plan Association (former)
www.rpa.org
www.brooklyngreenwayinitiative.org
In collaboration with:
WE Design, LLC
507 Clinton Avenue #1 Brooklyn, NY 11238
info@wedesign-nyc.com
Project Principal: Tricia Martin
Contributions by:
Tuzzolo Vajda Landscape Architects
Myles Throp, PE
Matt Sisul
All designs, unless otherwise noted, prepared by WE Design, LLC.
This project was made possible through a generous grant provided by The New
York Community Trust.
Winter 2009 / 2010

4. Acknowledgments
RPA, BGI and We Design would like to acknowledge and thank the following
for their valuable contributions – as technical, policy and local resources – to
this study. While we have greatly benefitted from the discussions and insights of
these individuals, the report’s recommendations and any errors or omissions are
our own.
Technical & Policy:
Nick Barbaro, NYC Department of Environmental Protection
Nette Compton, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation
James Garin, NYC Department of Environmental Protection
Bram Gunther, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation
Dalila Hall, NYC Department of Transportation
Aaron Koch, Mayors Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability
John McLaughlin, NYC Department of Environmental Protection
Willa Ng, NYC Department of Transportation
Bryan Quinn, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation
David Ramia, NYC Department of Environmental Protection
Amir Rasty, NYC Department of Transportation
Carter Strickland, NYC Department of Environmental Protection
Constance Vivalis, NYC Department of Environmental Protection
Jackson Wandres, RBA
Ted Wright, NYC Department of Transportation
Local:
Michael Heimbinder, Habitat Map
Christine Holowacz, NAG
Julie Lawrence, CB1
Michael Freedman-Schnapp, NAG
Jeanine Rogers, Resident
Lacey Tauber, NAG
Teresa Toro, CB1
Stephanie Thayer, Open Space Alliance
Joseph Vance, Open Space Alliance
Barbara Vetell, Greenpoint West Street Block Association
Cara White, Resident
Kate Zidar, Lower East Side Ecology Center

5. Table of Contents
Brooklyn Greenway Background
Introduction
Project Statement
Methodology
1. Overall Design Goals
1.0 Project Principles
1.1 Project Objectives
2. Project Assumptions
3. Context
3.1 City Context
3.2 Neighborhood Context
3.3 Existing Land-Use and Adopted Zoning
3.5 Watershed Map
3.6 West Street Conditions
3.7 Opportunities and Constraints
4. Phasing
5. Framework
5.1 Decentralized Systems
5.2 Treatment Trains
6. Design
6.1 Phase I - West Street - Primary Treatment
6.2 Phase I - West Street with Secondary Treatment
6.3 Phase II - Incremental Development
6.4 Phase III - Complete Stormwater Network
7. Next Steps and Recommendations
8. Maintenance: Operation and Costs
9. References
10. Appendix
11.1 Engineering Report
11.2 Stormwater Techniques and Methods Precedents
11.3 Plant Lists

6. BROOKLYN GREENWAY BACKGROUND
When complete, the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway will be a 14-mile safe, land-
scaped separated route connecting neighbors and neighborhoods to four major
parks and over a dozen local open spaces on Brooklyn’s historic waterfront. Sepa-
rate paths for bicycles and pedestrians will allow cyclists and walkers to commute,
exercise, explore, and relax from Newtown Creek to the Shore Parkway. This
Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway will also serve as one of the integral links of New
York City’s vastly growing greenway network – linking the Manhattan Greenway
system, Queens Greenway and the Shore Parkway Greenway.
Regional Plan Association (RPA) and the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative (BGI)
have collaborated on the planning and advocacy for this waterfront amenity. RPA
and BGI have developed concept plans for Community Boards 1, 2, and 6 - from
Greenpoint to Red Hook - with on-going funding from the state’s Environmental
Protection Fund/Local Waterfront Revitalization Program sponsored by the Office
of the Brooklyn Borough President (initial planning for Community Board 7 in Sun-
set Park is being undertaken by United Puerto Rican Organization of Sunset Park
and Pratt Center for Community Development.).
Page6

7. BROOKLYN GREENWAY BACKGROUND
These plans, based on community workshops in 2004 and 2007, set out goals,
identify the specific route and partners, and outline key steps toward implementa-
tion. Design Guidelines and a Stewardship Plan provide a framework for the next
phase of development and identify management options for the completed route.
Construction of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway will be funded using federal,
state and city capital funds. To date, BGI has secured over $20 million in federal
funding thanks to the efforts of Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez and the NYC
DOT..
More than 70% of the Greenway is on public rights of way. NYC DOT is now work-
ing on advancing Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway to help move the project from con-
ceptual planning to design and construction by creating a Master Plan and prepar-
ing preliminary designs for specific sections of the Greenway, including West Street
and around the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Through the community workshops conducted by Brooklyn Greenway Initiative and
Regional Plan Association, the Greenpoint/Williamsburg community chose West
Street as the Greenway route and supported the elimination of parking on the street
and its conversion to a one-way road, to allow for the construction of the Greenway.
This decision was formalized by CB1’s April 2008 resolution supporting these ac-
tions. While a final determination on the Greenway route and the future of West
Street will be made as part of the NYC DOT Master Plan process, CB 1’s resolution
is the basis for our assumptions for this study.
Page7

8. Introduction
PROJECT STATEMENT
One of the goals for the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway is to establish a healthy
green edge to Brooklyn, including the integration of sustainable stormwater
management. A successful stormwater management plan includes methods for
detention and cleansing, as well as methods for controlling the movement of wa-
ter from one location to another. Although relatively narrow, landscaping along the
Greenway can be designed to address stormwater generated within its borders.
The Greenway also threads along and through a variety of neighborhoods and land
uses, providing an effective means for moving water and an opportunity to detain
and cleanse water within the adjacent properties.
West Street is the northern-most stretch of the Greenway and is the focus of this
stormwater management study. The opportunity exists to integrate soft infrastruc-
ture including trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, and soil within the public right of
way that will provide critical stormwater infrastructure, reduce (and perhaps pre-
vent) combined sewer overflows, regulate city temperatures, clean the air and
provide a beautiful streetscape for local and future residents and bikers moving
throughout Greenpoint.
METHODOLOGY
To carry out the West Street Sustainable Stormwater Study, WE Design, RPA and
BGI worked over a number of phases. Phase I included an analysis of the existing
conditions of West Street to understand how different stormwater techniques could
be applied. During this Phase, the team developed and consulted with a Technical
and Policy Advisory Committee comprised of relevant City agencies including NYC
Department of Transportation, NYC Department of Environmental Protection and
the Mayor’s Office of Long Term Planning and sustainability. Further, a thorough
precedent study of a variety of techniques was explored and measured against the
constraints presented by the site, city regulations, and the desired program by the
community (see Appendix 10.2).
Phase II involved developing preliminary designs, based on feedback from the
Technical Advisory Committee. These designs were presented to the community at
a full Community Board 1 meeting and shared via the internet for public comment.
The final phase of this project considered stewardship responsibilities for these
designs and the final output of the entire project is presented in this report.
While this study is intended to be conceptual, the policy, technical, and community
work groups help to ensure that the ideas we explored were consistent with city-
wide sustainable goals, technically feasible and as much as possible consistent
with current agency standards, and had widespread community support.
Page8

9. This picture of West Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn demonstrates a typical street section along many of the roadways in the neighborhoods that
border the riverfront. The opportunity exists to maximize the reconstruction of these roadbeds to accommodate new amenities, including green-
ways, which provide the soft landscapes that - in our urban environment – can help mediate both environmental and social problems.
Page9

10. 1.0 Planning Principles
Planning Principles
The guiding principles of the project include the following:
Create site-specific source stormwater controls along West Street that can be repli-
cated in similar contexts along other stretches of the Greenway.
Connect the stormwater system along West Street to the Side Streets and Street
Ends that lead to the river and maximize all waterfront open spaces to receive,
retain and treat rainwater.
Explore the potential of public and private collaborations to connect stormwater
systems along the public right of way with adjacent private development parcels.
Celebrate the ongoing momentum of PlaNYC and other initiatives such as the
Stormwater Management Plan and Best Management Practices Task Force, Park’s
High Performance Landscape Guidelines, and Million Trees NYC.
Page10

11. 1.1 Design Objectives
DESIGNING A GREEN, SOFT STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The project is guided by the following design objectives:
Green in order to contribute to city-wide efforts to increase the number of trees
and biomass within the five boroughs and to beautify the streets.
Flexible in design and construction to increase its replicability along the entire
Greenway and the city at large.
Simple in construction and maintenance to reduce costs and to increase it’s
use in a diversity of applications along NYC’s streets.
Engineered to handle projected volumes of water along West Street and to
at least meet minimum criteria set by the city for preventing Combined Sewer
Overflows (See Appendix 10.1 for a full engineering report).
Connected so that as much as possible the stormwater is prevented from en-
tering the city piped system.
Page11

12. 2.0 Assumptions
ASSUMPTIONS
The study area includes all of the Public Right of Way along West Street including
the sidewalks, streets, and intersections.
The storm event that is being analyzed has 1.7” of precipitation.
(Criteria used by NYCDPR / Greenstreets).
This precipitation is at an intensity of 1=5.95 inches / hr. with a time to concentra-
tion of tc = 6 minutes. This is the 5-year storm as defined by the DEP.
That a capture of .5” - 1” of rainwater will prevent 80% of all CSO events, and
that these smaller volume events have the greatest concentration of “first flush”
stormwater pollutants (source: Sustainable Stormwater Management Plan: 2008: A
Greener, Greater New York).
Since survey data is unavailable it is assumed that the average grades from East
to West and from North to South are +/- 1%.
The water table is approximately 5’ below the existing ground plane (confirmed
from spokesperson from Palin Development - Parcel 9).
Planters must maintain a 10’ horizontal setback from edge of sewer main pipes.
The West Street reconfiguration will include a one-way southbound traffic lane and
a two-way bike lane.
Eventually the Greenway will extend north from Eagle Street and connect to Du-
pont allowing a continuous bikeway connection to the Newtown Creek waterfront.
Page12

13. Reconfiguring West Street to accommodate the Greenway. This configuration was one of the recommendations of com-
munity residents, civic advocates and design professionals at a Community Design Workshop produced by RPA and
BGI. The critical features include street trees, a two-way bike lane and a one-way Southbound traffic lane. (Credit: Sam
Schwartz Engineering.)
Reconfiguration design considerations for
further development as part of NYC DOT
Master Plan:
• Is an additional 10’ building setback per
a zoning amendment possible for West
Street?
• Is the removal of parking on West
Street still appropriate?
• Is a passing lane required?
• Is a southbound one-way configuration
still appropriate for West Street?
Page13

14. 3.1 Context
CITY CONTEXT
West Street is located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn in the Northernmost neighborhood
in Brooklyn with Newtown Creek to the North, the East River to the West, Williams-
burg to the South and Bushwich to the West. The West Street Sustainable Storm-
water Study is one of a number of other projects throughout the five boroughs that
are exploring pilot project opportunities for meeting the sustainable goals outlined
in PlaNYC.
For example, just North of Greenpoint in Queens, EDC is working on a sustain-
able development that includes infrastructure, buildings and waterfront parks for
the Hunters Point South Sites. Other projects throughout the city include Brooklyn
Bridge Park, The South Bronx Greenway, Gowanus Sponge Park and an expan-
sion of the Bluebelt in Staten Island. Each of these projects is fleshing out many
of the important questions and issues that are necessary for applying green prin-
ciples in a dense and highly developed city like New York.
It is critical that the information gleaned from these projects is shared and dis-
cussed with many stakeholders to ensure that the big visions set are implemented
in a timely, efficient manner.
Bronx
Manhattan
New
Jersey
Queens
Brooklyn
Staten
Island A map of New York City, including the
five boroughs and New Jersey. The red
marker designates Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Page14

15. 3.2 Context
NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT
West Street runs through the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn and will
become the Northern-most Class I segment of the Brooklyn Greenway. West
street runs for 12 blocks from Eagle Street to North to Quay Street to the
South. It is the first street East of the waterfront and serves the existing resi-
dential, manufacturing and industry uses along the waterfront.
Page15

16. 3.3 Context
EXISTING LAND-USE
The existing land uses reflect historical zoning and industry. The blocks
adjacent to the waterfront were zoned for Heavy Industrial uses (M3). Just upland
of the M3 zone is M1 Light Industrial characterized largely by warehouses. This
zone forms a buffer between heavy industrial and the eastern residential neighbor-
hoods.
The lots adjacent to West Street are dominated by large parking areas, full block
warehouse buildings, and vacant lots and buildings. A temporary Transmitter Park
opened this past Summer and the permanent park is slated to be complete in
2010. It serves as the only public park along the East River in
Greenpoint. Another park, Barge Park, is North of West Street along Newtown
Creek. It is currently used for active recreation and is paved in asphalt.
An existing bikeway runs along Franklin Street, one block east of West Street.
Due to street and land use constraints, a class 1 Greenway that includes sepa-
rated pedestrian and vehicular conveyance as well as the potential for substantial
plantings, would not be suitable.
ADOPTED ZONING
In 2005 the Greenpoint – and neighboring Williamsburg - waterfront was rezoned
to replace industry and manufacturing with Mixed-Use Residential, Residential
and Commercial land uses. Over time the new zoning will change the character
and physical qualities of the Greenpoint waterfront neighborhood with tall buildings
replacing short-story warehouses, new shorelines replacing damaged bulkheads,
waterfront parks replacing abandoned lots, and an increase of tens of thousands
of residents. A new public esplanade will run north to south along the East River.
Given the substantial numbers of pedestrians anticipated on the 12’ esplanade
path, it will not fulfill the greenway design objectives of a dedicated path for cyclists
that is physically separated from traffic.
Page16

17. 3.4 Context
EXISTING LAND-USE MAP and ADOPTED ZONING
Credit: New
York Department
of City Planning.
Page17

18. 3.5 Context
WATERSHED MAP
West Street is located one block from the East River and is the street
at the lowest elevations of the watershed. If water could flow uninterrupted by
drains, it would flow towards West Street and Commercial Street, making its
way to the East River and Newtown Creek. Although West Street is close to
the waterfront, its entire length is above the 100-year floodplain and does not
appear to have significant flooding problems. There are 6 Combined Sewer
Outfalls within the watershed boundary and 3 additional ones just outside.
Page18

19. 3.6 Context
EXISTING WEST STREET ROADWAY / UTILITY CONDITIONS
The conditions along and under West Street are consistent with many city
streets in New York City. A combined sewer runs along the center of the road
and is relatively shallow between 5’-7’ below the ground plane. The intercep-
tor sewer runs along the western edge of the roadway and it was built in the
1980’s to take combined rainwater and sewage to the treatment plant. The
interceptor is very deep at twenty feet +/-.
Other utilities located under West Street include water lines and electrical lines
that run along the Western edge of West Street and a gas line. The exact
location of all of these utilities are unknown.
Like many city streets, West Street is narrow with 60’ of Right of Way. Its
current configuration includes one north-bound lane, one south-bound lane,
parking on both sides ,and two sidewalks that are fifteen feet +/-. (The 30-ft.
road-bed, does not meet current NYC DOT standards for its current configura-
tion of two travel lanes plus 2 parking lanes).
ADJACENT BUILDINGS ADJACENT BUILDINGS
MANUFACTURING MANUFACTURING /
RESIDENTIAL
60'-0"
30'-0"
15' SIDEWALKS 15' SIDEWALKS
5'-0"
7'-6 1/2"
Water table line: -5' +/- Water table line: -5' +/-
from ground plane from ground plane
WATER LINE
THERE ARE A MYRIAD OF UTILITY
STRUCTURES UNDERGOUND INCLUDING
COMBINED WATER LINES, ELECTRICAL LINES AND
SEWER GAS LINES
INTERCEPTOR
SEWER IS 20 +/-
AN OLD COMBINED SEWER RUNS ALONG
INTERCEPTOR SEWER IS DEEP BUT IS THE CENTER OF THE STREET AND IS
CLOSE TO THE SIDEWALK IN THE EAST - RELATIVELY SHALLOW - APPROXIMATELY
WEST DIRECTION 7' BELOW THE SURFACE GRADE
Existing West Street profile section and
sub-grade conditions Not To Scale Page19

20. 3.7 Opportunities and Constraints
OPPORTUNITIES
The creation of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway along West Street presents
an incredible opportunity to design and build a pilot project that uses sustainable
stormwater management. The following are other opportunities that the site pres-
ents:
1. Few, if any, remnants within the street right of way that need to be preserved or
protected (for example, there are only a handful of trees currently
along the street);
2. West Street is not within the 100’ floodplain, thus reducing the risks for
flooding;
3. There are no (or very few) driveways along West Street providing more opportu-
nity for continuous elements along the edges of the streets;
4. One-block from the river - possibilities of strong connections between West
Street and the East River;
5. Zoning Change: the entire site west of the West Street will be transformed
into medium-high rise residential / commercial structures. Such wide-swept
transformations are opportunities for subsequent changes and improvements; and
6. Opportunities for connecting West Street improvements with adjacent parks and
open spaces associated with private development.
CONSTRAINTS
As with any infrastructural project in New York City there are a myriad of site and
policy driven constraints, including:
1. Narrow street right of way for accommodating multiple amenities
2. Underground sea of utilities and existing infrastructure with different agency
ownership and jurisdiction
3. Relatively high water table - 5’ +/-
4. Possible site contamination due to historical and current manufacturing / indus-
trial uses
5. Uncertain timetable for new developments
6. Shallow combined sewer pipe running along the center of the street-bed
7. Difficult to adhere to DEP standard of 10’ setback from sewer pipes
Page20

21. 4.0 PHASING
CURRENT SCENARIO TO FUTURE SCENARIO
Because the development of Greenpoint’s waterfront is going to evolve over
an extended and indeterminate period of time, it is critical to understand the
sustainable stormwater management network in terms of phasing or scenari-
os.
During Phase I - which responds to the existing condition - a stormwater
management system for West Street is proposed. This is the focus of
this study. During Phase II - as isolated blocks are developed, the opportunity
exists to connect surface treatments using a variety of green techniques on
West Street with the side streets and the waterfront open space develop-
ments. During Phase III, the entire network is connected, with parks, street
end, streets, and waterfront access areas providing stormwater infrastructural
support.
PHASE I PHASE II PHASE III
WEST STREET: CURRENT INCREMENTAL DEVELOPMENT COMPLETE STORMWATER
CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT NETWORK
Page21

22. 5.1 FRAMEWORK
DECENTRALIZED STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Our current stormwater system consists of a city-wide interconnected network
of streets, storm drains and thousands of miles of underground pipes that
combine stormwater with sewage flows before treatment. It is a highly engi-
neered and efficient system. However the system is designed to allow over-
flows during rain events to discharge directly into receiving waters (a “CSO
event”). This study proposes that sustainable stormwater systems adjacent
to waterfronts reduce the impact and number of CSO events with a more de-
centralized system. The advantages of decentralized systems include:
Collects and treats stormwater before it is combined with sewage flows;
Less prone to failure for the whole system;
Allows for incremental development;
Maximizes close proximity to the discharge location - the river
Co-benefits of increased biomass and open space.
Diagram illustrating the micro-watershed
framework for decentralized stormwater manage-
Page22 ment system

23. 5.2 FRAMEWORK
TREATMENT TRAINS
Treatment trains mimic natural hydrology through a series of interventions
to assist with the capture and treatment of rainwater. Due to West Street’s
close proximity to the waterfront, an opportunity exists to drain all water from
the Greenpoint watershed through a series of surface “gardens” that include
stormwater planters, vegetated swales, rain gardens, and greenstreets. For
Phase I, on West Street, only primary treatment can be attained. For Phase II
and III the treatment train commences on West Street street (during primary
treatment) and then flows on the surface along the side streets (secondary
treatment) and ends in waterfront and street-end “wet” parks (tertiary treat-
ment).
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Page23

24. 6.1 DESIGN - PHASE 1 - WEST STREET
PHASE ONE - PRIMARY TREATMENT
The focus of Phase I is the stormwater design for West Street. Stormwater
planters are proposed as the primary treatment allowing an opportunity for
source controls that include trees and plantings within a narrow street bed.
The stormwater planters will run along the west and east sides of West Street
from Eagle Street to Quay Street. Each block stretch will be treated as an
isolated “watershed” with additional treatment options as water flows through
secondary and tertiary treatment systems (see 6.2 and 6.3).
The proposed design for West Street is a response to the site conditions –
constraints and opportunities – and measured against the design objectives
listed in 1.1 Design Objectives: The solution had to be green, flexible in de-
sign, simple in construction and for maintenance, and engineered to meet the
minimum criteria for preventing a CSO event during a 95% storm event. The
stormwater method that best met these objects were stormwater planters
installed on both the east and west sides of West Street.
The planters run along the length of each city block and include one landing
break between each planter. The planters are five feet wide – a minimum
dimension to ensure the healthy growth of trees, shrubs, grasses and perenni-
als – thus meeting the green criteria for the stormwater design.
The following drawings include dimensions for the planters that support the
size of the site area and to accommodate the specific site water volumes;
however, the benefits of stormwater planters are their flexibility and replicabil-
ity for many sites. They can be designed to be different sizes and shapes and
can vary in depth depending on budget, water table depths, bedrock depths,
and water volumes to capture and treat.
This diagram demonstrates the basic concept of the planters. Water is collected from adjacent sidewalk and streets. Water will infiltrate into
the soil and aggregate layers. The soil and aggregate layers will reach their capacity faster then the water can percolate into the ground. The
water will begin to pool up into the surface of the planter where it will be stored for no longer than 48 hours. Any additional water will overflow
into curb cuts located on the down-hill side of the planters.
Page24

25. PHASE ONE - PRIMARY TREATMENT
The other benefit to using stormwater planters is that they are easy to construct
and maintain. Using primarily soft materials, the planters are constructed with
a layer of aggregate, soil, mulch and plants. Curbs are the only hard elements
required and their depth will depend on specific site requirements. Some planters
will also require check dams and sediment traps to reduce clogging and to easily
remove salt and other sediments that enter the planters.
The planters along West Street will retain the first 1” of runoff from the design area,
preventing 80% of CSO events from occurring. Moreover, this first inch of storm-
water carries with it the “first flush” of concentrated pollutants from the streets and
Ash
sidewalks making its retention even more valuable for water quality protection.
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For Phase I - Primary Treatment planters run along the west and east sides of West Street from Eagle Street to Quay
Milton
Street. The plantings and flow of water does not extend across the street intersections. There are four planters per block
with a mid-block break between each planter in the north-south directions. Each planter is approximately 125’ long and 5’
Nwide. The planters slope with the roadway at 1% +/-
oble
Page25
Oak

26. Design considerations and items for
further development as part of the NYC
DOT Master Plan:
• Design will need to consider any exist-
ing driveways that enter on West Street
• Although curb median is mountable for
fire truck and emergency access, final di-
mensions of the one-way traffic lane and
two-way bikeway will need to be reviewed
• The current configuration of south-
bound traffic adjacent to north-bound bike
traffic lane presents a conflict and will
need to be reviewed in final design
• Although the sidewalk widths meet
code and zoning regulations, their narrow
configuration should be reviewed in final
design
- Salt loving plants should be used to miti-
gate plant damage due to salt application
during winter months
Not to Scale
Page26

27. Scale: 1” = 10’-0”
The stormwater planters run along the East and West sides of West Street. Water from the traffic lane flows into the eastern planters as does
the Eastern sidewalk. The western sidewalk and bike lanes flow into the Western planter. Curb cuts are located 10’ on center along the length
of the runs to allow water to flow into the planters from the sidewalk and the streets. Street trees will not be planted on top of lateral sewer
lines to maintain ease of access.
Page27

28. 6.1 DESIGN - PHASE 1 - WEST STREET
SECTIONS
The rainwater retention and treatment is dependant on the infiltration charac-
teristics of the new soil and bluestone aggregate layers. Because of the slope
of the planters, water will flow more quickly over the surface of the soil than
will percolate into the soil. The addition of 1’- 1.5’ bands of aggregate allow
the water to slow down and infiltrate into the larger voids created by the aggre-
gate. Perforated pipes are also located within the aggregate layers to provide
additional water detention during the rain events. Overflow water will continue
to the down-slope end of the planter and will be allowed to pool for approxi-
mately 9” before exiting out the curb cut and into the storm sewer.
Once the rain ceases, the water stored within the aggregate, perforated PVC
pipe and the saturated soil will slowly infiltrate into the subgrade below.
Check Dams are included within the planters to aid with slowing the velocity of
water - which will reduce soil erosion within the planters and provide a means
for easier garbage and sediment removal.
1'-0" '-0" '-0"
2 1
BLUESTONE AGGREGATE TO SLOW
RETENTION BLUESTONE DOWN FLOW OF WATER AND
WEDGE AGGREGATE - 1' INCREASE INFILTRATION
CONCRETE HIGH INFILTRATION
CURB - 1" HIGH SOIL - 2' CHECK DAMS
PERFORATED PVC * Number and size of pipes and aggregate materials
PIPE FOR DRAINAGE
AND STORAGE will be determined by final design engineering
Longitudinal Section: This section illustrates the effects of the 1% slope of the roadway and planters. Check damns and bands of aggregate
are added to slow the water, reduce erosion, and for ease of maintenance.
Page28

29. ADJACENT BUILDINGS ADJACENT BUILDINGS
MANUFACTURING MANUFACTURING /
RESIDENTIAL
60'-0"
30'-0"
15' SIDEWALKS 15' SIDEWALKS
5'-0"
7'-6 1/2"
Water table line: -5' +/- Water table line: -5' +/-
from ground plane from ground plane
WATER LINE
THERE ARE A MYRIAD OF UTILITY
STRUCTURES UNDERGOUND INCLUDING
COMBINED WATER LINES, ELECTRICAL LINES AND
SEWER GAS LINES
INTERCEPTOR
SEWER IS 20 +/-
AN OLD COMBINED SEWER RUNS ALONG
INTERCEPTOR SEWER IS DEEP BUT IS THE CENTER OF THE STREET AND IS
CLOSE TO THE SIDEWALK IN THE EAST - RELATIVELY SHALLOW - APPROXIMATELY
WEST DIRECTION 7' BELOW THE SURFACE GRADE
EXISTING
30'-0"
Mountable Curb /
Flexible Paver Concrete
System Sidewalk
Concrete Sidewalk
1-2 % 1-2 % 1-2% 1-2 %
9"
Structural
2'
Structural Soil
Soil
1'
6'-6"
Water table line: -5' +/- Water table line: -5' +/-
2'
from ground plane from ground plane
15'-0" 5'-0" 10'-0" 1'-0" 14'-6" 15'-0"
INTERCEPTOR
SEWER IS 20 +/-
PROPOSED
East-West Cross Section: This section demonstrates the direction of water flow and the approximate dimensions of
the street right of way. Structural soil is used as the base layer for the concrete sidewalk for tree root access. 2’
setback from the water table is maintained and 10’ setback from the combined sewer is maintained as well. Not
To Scale. Page29

30. PHASE 1 - WEST STREET WITH
6.2 SECONDARY TREATMENT OPTIONS
EXISTING STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The existing stormwater management system is underground and consists of
a series of pipes. While the stormwater planters will collect and retain nearly
70% of the rain water during a 5-year storm event, during heavier rains water
may rush over the planters and overflow much faster resulting in much of the
rain water emptying into the existing drains. Therefore, this study looks at
concepts for ensuring that any overflow water does not enter the existing sys-
tem that results in both sewage and rainwater emptying into the East River.
F
A
B
B
E
D C
Existing Stormwater System: A:
The combined sewer that runs
down the center of the street; B:
The pipes that takes rainwater that
flows into the catch drains to the
center catch basin (C). D: Takes
the sewage and rainwater from the
catch basin and sends it to the in-
terceptor sewer. E: The Intercep-
tor takes the sewage and rainwater
to the treatment plant. F: These
are lateral pipes that send sewage
and roof run-off into the center
sewer pipe.
Page30

31. B A B
C
D
E
Page31

32. PHASE 1 - WEST STREET WITH
6.2 SECONDARY OPTIONS
BEYOND THE WEIR
One solution to preventing a CSO event during storms above 1.7” (only about
95% of rain events) is to take the rainwater that flows into the surface drains
and by-pass the entire piped network by sending the rainwater “Beyond the
Weir.” Some of the side streets contain underground combined sewers. Dur-
ing a rain event water from the interceptor will be sent through a chamber that
measures how much volume is in the system. The treatment plants can only
support a determined amount of volume; the chamber regulates this and once
the system has reached capacity the chamber opens valves that allow the
sewage and rainwater to flow down the street and into the rivers. The “Beyond
the Weir” solution pipes the water around the chamber, therefore the rain wa-
ter is not contributing to the volume of water that triggers the CSO the sewage
will still make its way to the treatment plant and not into the river. Although
some sediment from the rainwater will be emptied into the river, it is assumed
that the soil and aggregate layers of the primary treatment stormwater plant-
ers have treated most of the rainwater.
Page32

33. Axonometric drawing illustrating
the conveyance of rain water by-
passing the chamber and weirs in
order to prevent a CSO event.
Page33

34. PHASE I - WEST STREET WITH
6.2 SECONDARY OPTIONS
HIGH LEVEL STORM SEWER
Another method for by-passing the combined sewer pipes is to install High
Level Storm Sewers along the side streets and development sites that do not
currently have installed piped infrastructure. New York City is requiring new
waterfront development to install such systems. New pipes are installed that
take the overflow water from the surface drains to a new catch basin in the
center of the street that is then connected to new stormwater treatment sys-
tems and that discharge directly into the river.
Although expensive, the opportunity exists to explore options for extending the
pipes up the watershed connecting as many catch drains as possible to the
new high level storm sewer. This will have the effect of removing a significant
volume of rain water from entering the CSO system.
Page34

35. Axonometric drawing illustrating
the conveyance of rain water to
newly installed high level sewers
preventing a CSO event
Page35

36. PHASE I - WEST STREET WITH
6.2 SECONDARY OPTIONS
EXCEEDANCE STRATEGY
The third option eliminates the use of underground infrastructure all together
and maximizes the volume created by the existing side streets for rainwater
storage. As water overflows out of the curb cuts it will flow around the inter-
section, over the sealed or removed storm drains and down a gutter exca-
vated along the edges of the side street. The water is directed towards the
waterfront as the side streets are sloped from West Street towards the East
River. It is important to consider how many inches of water will be entering
the side street at any given time during a rain event and that it does not ex-
ceed the maximum allowable amount.
Page36

37. Axonometric drawing illustrating
the conveyance of rain water along
the surface of the road eliminating
the need for underground infra-
structure.
Page37

38. DESIGN - PHASE II - INCREMENTAL
6.3 DEVELOPMENT
OVERVIEW
During Phase II and Phase III the treatment train can be maximized. Rain-
water will flow through the stormwater planters on West Street and then flow
through connected, surface treatments along the side streets. Any additional
water is collected and retained in waterfront parks, street-end parks, and inter-
tidal habitats.
Page38

39. Page39

40. 6.4 DESIGN - PHASE III - COMPLETE
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT NET-
WORK
OVERVIEW
Once all the developments, proposed parks, and side streets are developed,
the sustainable stormwater network is complete. At this phase there should
be zero discharge of rainwater into the city piped systems and the overall ben-
efits of the vegetated, absorbent treatments are revealed, including:
Reduced stormwater runoff volume, flow rate and temperature
Increased groundwater infiltration and recharge
Treated stormwater runoff
Improves the quality of local surface waterways
Improves aesthetic appeal of streets and neighborhoods
Provides wildlife habitat
Provides shade to nearby buildings to reduce energy costs
Does not require a lot of space (for example, the stormwater planters)
Flexible for use in areas of various shapes and sizes
Page40

41. NEXT STEPS AND
7.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
OVERVIEW
The analysis presented here shows that the concept of using sustainable storm drainage
BMPs to reduce runoff during storm events is a viable idea. In order to move toward a
design of such a system additional information would be required, such as a topographic
survey of the subject site and some level of soils investigation. Once this additional data
is obtained, and the scope of design is defined, a complete storm drainage study and
design can be completed and submitted to appropriate agencies for review and approval.
The following diagram demonstrates the sustainable stormwater planning strategies as
the waterfront zoning transitions from its current to future land uses.
PHASING PLANNING STRATEGIES
STRATEGIES
PRIMARY SECONDARY TERTIARY
PLANTERS - FLOW
THROUGH
BEYOND THE WEIR
PHASE 1 - EXIST- NEW HIGH LEVEL SEWER -
ING CONDITION PRIVATE OR PUBLIC EXISTING PUBLIC
PLANTERS - FLOW
WATERFRONT PARK
THROUGH w/ DE-
TENTION EXCEEDANCE - SURFACE
DETENTION
INFILTRATION DETENTION TANK
PLANTERS
PLANTERS - FLOW
THROUGH
WETLANDS
PHASE 2 AND PHASE 3 - GREENSTREETS- SHORELINE RES-
INCREMENTAL DEVELOP- TORATION / REVET-
MENT MENT POOLS
SWALES
RAIN GARDENS
INFILTRATION
PLANTERS Page41

42. 8.0 MAINTENANCE
MAINTENANCE OVERVIEW
An extensive maintenance business and operations plan is needed to en-
sure the commitments by multiple public, private and non-profit entities. The
Brooklyn Greenway Initiative and the Regional Plan Association have begun
this investigation through the publication of the Brooklyn Greenway Steward-
ship Plan (Winter, 2008). For the purpose of this sustainable stormwater
study, specific maintenance tasks are identified along with their associated
time commitments. For example, debris removal should be conducted on a
weekly basis. This list serves as a guide and will need to be refined as the
design for West Street is progressed.
MAINTENANCE ITEM DAILY WEEKLY MONTHLY QUARTERLY YEARLY AS NEEDED RESPONSIBLE PARTIES
BGI and/or other local Non-
WATERING - FIRST TWO During Hot Spells Profit Stewardship entity,
YEARS
under contract with DPR.
BGI and/or other local Non-
WATERING - AFTER THE Only during the hottest
Profit Stewardship entity,
FIRST TWO YEARS days
under contract with DPR.
During the Summer and BGI and/or other local Non-
WEEDING
Fall Profit Stewardship entity,
under contract with DPR.
SOIL REPLACEMENT BGI and/or other local Non-
Profit Stewardship entity,
under contract with DPR.
Trees and
PRUNING AND plants adjacent BGI and/or other local Non-
TRIMMING to street and Profit Stewardship entity,
bike lanes under contract with DPR.
BGI and/or other local Non-
PEST CONTROL Profit Stewardship entity,
with DPR training.
BGI and/or other local Non-
DEBRIS REMOVAL
Profit Stewardship entity.
SEDIMENT AND SALT
REMOVAL - AT INFLOW More often if there are Salt removal BGI and/or other local Non-
AND OUTFLOW storm events after snow Profit Stewardship entity.
MECHANISMS events Under contract with DPR.
FALL / WINTER CLEAN- BGI and/or other local Non-
UP Adding mulch, removing Profit Stewardship entity,
annuals, weeding under contract with DPR
PLANT REPLACEMENT
DPR
CONTAMINATION
TESTING - SOIL AND University or local Non-Profit
PLANTS with DEP and DPR oversight.
PERIODIC
REPLACEMENT OF
CONCRETE DOT and/or DEP to be
STRUCTURES resolved
MAINTENANCE Local Non-Profit with
MONITORING Stormwater Task Force input
and DEP and DPR oversight.
Stormwater Planters maintenance tasks.
Page42

43. MAINTENANCE COOPERATION
This project crosses bureaucratic jurisdictions outside of the “business-as-usual” operations of the
City. There is a need to forge cooperative relationships amongst City agencies, private interests as
well as neighborhood groups and citizens to ensure adequate maintenance of the system over time.
The chart on the preceding page lays out the specific tasks and time commitments while identifying
the responsible party for each task.
A critical need is for a local, non-profit stewardship entity to help coordinate the efforts needed to
maintain the stormwater system. Brooklyn Greenway Initiative (BGI) is poised to become the primary
stewardship entity for the built Greenway. Where appropriate, the group will enter into cooperative
agreements with relevant city agencies - including DPR, DOT and DEP – and will work closely with
other partners in stewardship including universities and other local non-profits. Together, plans for
stewardship of segments of the greenway will be developed and followed to ensure proper mainte-
nance for the life of the greenway.
ESTIMATED MAINTENANCE COSTS
The following cost estimates are for the stormwater management system that would be developed as
“Primary Treatment.” In addition to being the most critical stormwater capture facility described, it is
also the system that requires the greatest interagency stewardship coordination as mentioned above.
The costs to maintain the “Primary Treatment” approach reflect the need to manage flow through and
infiltration planters installed along West Street sidewalk. There are currently no similar systems in
New York City. These estimates are based on the estimates developed for similar facilities at Green-
streets managed by DPR on DOT property; and comparable bio-filtration systems outside of New
York City.
DPR estimates the annual maintenance cost of its Greenstreets facilities to be $3.00 per square foot.
This estimate does not account for periodic sediment removal from the inflow and outflow mecha-
nisms, which would add a small but recurring cost.
In Portland, OR, cost evaluation for a similar facility as proposed in this report found that maintaining
such a system will be higher during the first two years as the facility becomes established and then
will level out over time. They found costs to be about $4.00 per square foot per year for the first two
years. Once the facility was established, maintenance costs dropped to $1.30 per square foot per
year.
With approximately 18,000 square feet of planters envisioned for West Street, and adjusted for New
York City conditions, that would translate to around $54,000/year to maintain based on the Green-
street cost per square foot. With a stewardship entity in place, along with cooperative agreements
with City agencies, private support and the work of volunteers, these annual costs can be distributed
amongst a number of partners.
Page43

44. 9.0 REFERENCES
REFERENCES
Brooklyn Greenway Initiative: http://www.brooklyngreenway.org/
Regional Plan Association: http://www.rpa.org
Stormwater Management Plan: 2008: A Greener Greater New York: http://
www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/html/stormwater/stormwater.shtml
Stormwater Infrastructure Matters SWIM: http://swimmablenyc.info/
Greenpoint Williamsburg Rezoning: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/green-
pointwill/greenoverview.shtml
Portland Stormwater Information: http://www.portlandonline.com/BES/index.
cfm?c=34598
New York City Department of Environmental Protection: http://www.nyc.gov/
html/dep/html/home/home.shtml
US Environmental Protection Agency: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/
menuofbmps/index.cfm?action=browse
Queens Botanical Garden: http://www.queensbotanical.org/103498/sustain-
able/sustainable_systems/water
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/publications/
manuals/stormwaterplants.html
Page44

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Regional Plan Association (RPA) is an independent regional RPA’s current work is aimed largely at implementing the
planning organization that improves the quality of life and the ideas put forth in the Third Regional Plan, with efforts focused
economic competitiveness of the 31-county, New York-New in five project areas: community design, open space, trans-
Jersey-Connecticut region through research, planning, and portation, workforce and the economy, and housing. For more
advocacy. Since 1922, RPA has been shaping transportation information about Regional Plan Association, please visit our
systems, protecting open spaces, and promoting better com- website, www.rpa.org.
munity design for the region's continued growth. We anticipate
the challenges the region will face in the years to come, and we
mobilize the region's civic, business, and government sectors
to take action.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chairman Bradley Abelow Bruce P. Nolop
Elliot G. Sander Hilary M. Ballon Michael O’Boyle
Laurie Beckelman Vicki O’Meara
Vice Chairman and Stephen R. Beckwith Kevin J. Pearson
Co-Chairman, New Jersey Paul Camuti James S. Polshek
Christopher J. Daggett Frank S. Cicero Gregg Rechler
Judith D. Cooper Michael J. Regan
Vice Chairman Kevin S. Corbett Thomas L. Rich
Douglas Durst Alfred A. DelliBovi Denise Richardson
Brendan P. Dougher Rebecca R. Riley
Vice Chairman and Ruth F. Douzinas Michael M. Roberts
Co-Chairman, New Jersey Brendan J. Dugan Claire M. Robinson
Hon. James J. Florio Fernando Ferrer Elizabeth Barlow Rogers
Barbara J. Fife Lynne B. Sagalyn
Vice Chairman and Paul Francis Lee B. Schroeder
Co-Chairman, Connecticut Timur F. Galen Robert A. Scott
John S. Griswold, Jr. Jerome W. Gottesman H. Claude Shostal
Maxine Griffith Susan L. Solomon
Treasurer and John K. Halvey Thomas J. Stanton III
Co-Chairman, Long Island Dylan Hixon Luther Tai
Matthew S. Kissner David Huntington Marilyn J. Taylor
Adam Isles Sharon C. Taylor
Chairman Emeritus and Counsel Kenneth T. Jackson Richard T. Thigpen
Peter W. Herman Marc Joseph Timothy J. Touhey
Richard D. Kaplan Karen E. Wagner
President Robert Knapp William M. Yaro
Robert D. Yaro John Z. Kukral John Zuccotti
Richard C. Leone
Charles J. Maikish
Joseph J. Maraziti, Jr.
Executive Director J. Andrew Murphy
Thomas K. Wright Jan Nicholson
Brooklyn Greenway Initiative
145 Columbia Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231
www.brooklyngreenway.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Noah Budnick Raymond Hall Milton Puryear
Michael Cairl Robert A. Levine Joseph Vance
Donald Capoccia Robert Pirani
Tom Fox Paul J. Proulx, Esq.