El Paso New Community Plans Environmental Standards

These standards provide that in case of conflict of requirements in the zoning code’s requirements, the natural environment shall have priority in the more rural zones (T1—T3) and the built environment shall have priority in the more urban zones (T4—T6). Trees should be planted below the grade of the sidewalk and the street in structural cells with sufficient root space. Rain gardens and bioswales should be installed to infiltrate runoff from parking lots, thoroughfares, plazas and other impervious surfaces. Where vegetative solutions are not feasible, porous concrete or porous asphalt should be specified for sidewalks, parking lots, and plazas to infiltrate stormwater. There shall be designated wetlands subject to a standard of restoration, retention, and mitigation as specified below for each transect zone.