San Marcos Downtown Area Plan

CHAPTER 4: RECOMMENDATIONS

PUBLIC SPACE & AMENITIES

RAIN GARDENS Rain gardens are on-street landscaped areas used for trees and native plants that are designed to capture and treat stormwater through highly permeable engineered soils. Stormwater flows from the sidewalk or street into the rain gardens where it is filtered, stored, and released slowly to the soil or storm drain. Various design options are possible as shown on the next two pages. Appropriate designs will depend on the available right-of-way and other infrastructure considerations. The City has installed rain gardens and water quality features along CM Allen that have been successful and well-received by the community. Additional similar enhancements are recommended throughout Downtown. A Downtown Urban Plant Palette and Design Guideline Document for both City and private developer use should be created to ensure consistency, appropriateness, and best practices for installation and design throughout downtown. Maintain Existing Streetscape Dimensions with Rain Garden

SLOPE SIDEWALK TO DRAIN TO RAIN GARDEN (1.5% MAX)

18" D MIN BIORETENTION MEDIA

GRAVEL LAYER

UNDERDRAIN AS REQUIRED CONNECT TO STORM

5' SIDEWALK

5'

8' PARALLEL PARKING

RAIN GARDEN

MAINTAIN EXISTING STREETSCAPE DIMENSIONS WITH RAIN GARDEN

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SAN MARCOS DOWNTOWN AREA PLAN