November/December 2015 - Developers have been conditioned to compromise on projects in order to set aside room for storm water management facilities. The engineering community has become adept at squeezing in networks of pipe and ponds to comply with federal, state and local storm water regulations.
This mindset is costing developers millions of dollars for the purchase of land for storm water facilities (2 to 3 acres) and in lost revenue that could have been generated by selling and leasing more space or from having smaller production space. Municipalities may achieve storm water objectives by requiring developments to construct storm water ponds, but lose significant tax dollars on storm water facilities that have little value or are non-taxable.
SOURCE: John B. Ferris, Storm Water Solutions
