Business View - November 2015 161
to create a maximum containment area for the soil. The
Silva Cels are then filled with soil and the system is paved
over as it would be normally. In this respect, suspended
pavements are essentially soil-delivery systems, allowing
lightly compacted, high-quality soils to be made available
for tree roots in cities and other heavily-paved environ-
ments. In addition to aiding urban tree growth, the soil
is also used for on-site, storm water management, main-
taining pre-development hydrology, minimizing non-point
source pollution and flooding, and recharging watersheds.
“We’ve had a number of street tree plantings that we did
in coordination with that project,” notes Ballard. “We did
those on every tree well; healthier tree growth is what
you’re going for.” Now that the Toomer’s Corner project
is complete, the city is continuing to implement initiatives
outlined in its CompPlan 2030, which is its 20-year plan
for future growth and development; its Downtown Master
Plan, passed by the City Council earlier this year; and its
Greenspace and Greenway Master Plan, which is where
Ballard’s Watershed Management Division is taking the
lead. “Right now, we’ve got a really neat greenway project
that we’re working on,” he says. “One of the main streams
that flow through our town on the north side is called Sau-
gahatchee Creek. The master plan identifies potential gre-
enway corridors throughout the city. We’re trying to imple-
ment one of the principal corridors in that plan which is
along Saugahatchee Creek. It’s a fairly large creek – it’s
navigable, seasonally, via kayak and canoe. We’re hoping
to get people on the water. We value our local water re-
sources, not just for human health and consumption but
for its recreational benefits, too.”
Ballard sums up Auburn’s identity in the following way:
“We’re a wonderful community,” he says. “We value our
quality of life and look at it holistically. We’re a business-
friendly community, but we also acknowledge our own
responsibility as a steward of the environment.” Whether
working to re-imagine its downtown core, or enticing its
residents to enjoy the city’s natural places, Auburn’s Wa-
tershed Management Division is intent on keeping this
town “The Loveliest Village on The Plains.”
PREFERRED VENDORS
Stacey Norman Architects, LLC
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INFRASTRUCTURE
