Clearwater Commons Site Plans
The Clearwater Commons is a Deep Green Development. We are using many Low-Impact Development techniques throughout the site. Our plans include the building of the community as well as restoring the stream and wetlands on the property to a more natural and native state. Click on the image below to see the overall site plan.
Low Impact Development (LID) projects result in fewer disturbances to the environment and the site, while performing functional alternatives to traditional stormwater management systems (curb and gutters, concrete roads, storm sewer piping, detention ponds). LID techniques provide cost effective alternatives to typical housing development infrastructure.
Click on the image to the right to see the overall site plan. Scroll down to see some of the features and details of the design.
LID Methods used:
- On site stormwater management
- Minimal site disturbance
- Rain gardens
- Permeable paving
- Small building footprints
- Pin pile foundations
- Green roofs
- Rainwater harvesting
- Native plantings
Community goals
- Restore the creek and wetland
- Create wildlife habitat
- Pedestrian friendly layout
- Centralized parking area
- Conserve energy
- Solar electric (community)
- Solar hot water (district)
- Build sustainably
- Maximize indoor air quality
Site Plan Features
Scroll through this section to learn about some of the features of our site.
Pedestrian Friendly
The site is designed to be pedestrian friendly and the entire residential portion of the Commons is pedestrian access only. Parking is restricted to the perimeter lot, but there is limited access for emergeny vehicles and for loading or unloading of large items or other special circumstances. The centralized partking area minimizes the amount of pavement required on the project, reducing the costs and improving appearances.
Green Roofs
All homes will use "green roofs" for stormwater management by minimizing runoff onto the site. Excess water will drain into cisterns and rain gardens where there is additional capacity to handle rain from storms.
They also have the added benefits of increased energy efficiency, air quality and noise reduction while extending roof life and improving aesthetics. Green roofs work well with solar panels because they maintain a more moderate roof temperature thus increasing the efficiency of the solar panels.
Rainwater Harvesting
Excess rainwater will be captured from building roofs in above ground cisterns or in bladders located under the homes. The harvested water will be used for irrigation around the homes. The common buildings will also harvest rainwater for community watering needs and water features.
Rain Gardens
Rain gardens are shallow landscaped depressions that are designed to mimic natural site conditions. The soil structure and vegetation allow stormwater to be stored and slowly released through infiltration thus minimizing the impact on North Creek. Rain gardens will be used along 194th St. SE as a technique for managing stormwater runoff. They will also be used onsite to capture roof water once the cisterns are full.
Permeable Pavement
Permeable pavement will be used in several locations on site and is designed to allow water to flow through it into a layer of base rock below which holds the water while it slowly infiltrates into the site. This is another feature that allows rainwater to be absorbed on site instead of having it run off into a stormwater system and ultimately North Creek.
Pin Pile Foundations
These foundations replace the traditional poured concrete foundations. Whereas standard foundations create small dams limiting subsurface ground waters natural flow, pin foundations allow shallow groundwater to move unhindered under the house thus mimicking traditional flow paths.
The house foundations are small concrete pods that support the structure of the building without digging down into the soil. They are roughly egg shaped and have steel pins that go down into the soil like roots to hold it in place. Here is a link to the manufacturer's site: Pin Foundations
Native Plantings
North Creek and a couple of wetlands areas are major features of the site. In these areas we plan to remove the invasive Reed Canary grass and other non-native invasive weeds and restore the site with native trees and plants. The site will evolve over the years from a pasture to a wetland woods and meadow. We are currently working with Snohomish County to secure a grant for a North Creek restoration project - some of this money has already been secured and invasive species removal has begun.
District Solar Water Heating
One energy production technique we are researching is a district solar hot water system. The common house would feature arrays of solar water heating tubes that will heat water and place it into holding tanks. This heated water will be piped to the houses in insulated pipes. Each house will be able use this pre-heated water and then heat or cool as needed to the proper temperature for domestic household uses.
Solar Electric
We plan to have community solar electric panels that will generate electricity for common buildings. Excess summer electricity will be fed back into the utility grid and we will receive credits which we can draw off of during the cloudy winter months. Similar systems will be prepped for at each home and the homeowners will determine when and if they want to produce their own solar electric power.
Community Plaza
Adjacent to the Common House and overlooking the North Creek ravine, the plaza is another place to gather. It will have an outdoor barbecue and an area for tables.
Community Garden
A community garden will be located near the south end of the site where members can participate in gardening activities, poultry production as well has have garden plots for personal use.
Playfield
There will be a grass playfield for sports activities near the south end of the site..