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Council reviews swale rules, drainage problems and permitted materials
Summary
Council heard that roadside swales—designed for passive drainage—have been compacted by parking and need policy fixes; staff will consult engineers and draft options on permitted swale materials (turf block, supported turf, pavers, artificial turf) and maintenance responsibility.
The workshop shifted to stormwater and the materials towns allow in roadside swales, with staff reminding council that swales are the town right-of-way but the adjacent property owner is typically required to maintain them.
A town legal/utility advisor warned that "over decades of being parked on, they don't percolate and drain right now" and recommended consulting engineers and considering longer-term, more expensive fixes—such as installing supported turf systems that allow parking while maintaining percolation. At the same time, staff noted the code already grandfathered existing hard surfacing placed prior to 06/24/2019, provided it is maintained.
Council members said the current maintenance burden is unfair for homeowners who must maintain swales they cannot modify and asked staff to return with mapping of problematic swales, engineering recommendations, and potential stormwater‑utility funding options to support larger repairs.
