Stormwater Design Toolkit: Sustainable Stormwater Update to the Community Redevelopment Area Stormwater Master Plan

Throughout Florida you can see the effects of poor environmental stewardship. The Martin County Community Redevelopment Agency strives to be a leader in Florida to encourage a built environment that reflects sustainability, ultimately resulting in a positive impact on the quality of life for its residents and continued opportunities for its businesses. The Stormwater Design Toolkit is a plain language document outlining best stormwater management practices which enhance both the built and natural environment in our region. As an educational tool, this book seeks to inspire audiences of all ages and backgrounds to learn more about stormwater, the best management practices, and innovative design strategies. The Toolkit demonstrates innovative engineering and best management practices that can be “modularized” to provide alternative approaches, urban strategies and innovative methodologies toward treating and managing stormwater. Various tools found within the Toolkit can be combined to create effective “treatment trains” designed to maintain and treat stormwater runoff. Each tool has the ability to be used as a piece of the development puzzle assisting a property owner to evaluate the capacity of a piece of land and the value of each tool’s potential. Funding and support for this project is provided by South Florida Water Management District and a successful partnership with Martin County Redevelopment Agency.

The Martin County Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is a public entity that finances redevelopment within focused areas. These areas tend to be older neighborhoods where there is a need to reverse deterioration, create jobs, revitalize the business climate, increase property values and encourage active participation and investment by citizens. The Martin County CRA was established under the guidelines of the Community Redevelopment Act (Chapter 163, part III, Florida Statutes) to carry out redevelopment and revitalization within designated communities, employing the most appropriate use of resources consistent with the public interest. Between 2000 and 2001 the Martin County Board of County Commissioners recognized the unfulfilled potential of seven established neighborhoods within the County and designated them as Community Redevelopment Areas: Golden Gate, Hobe Sound, Indiantown, Jensen beach, Old Palm City, Port Salerno and Rio. Each of the seven areas is diverse with characteristics ranging from coastal communities to rural agricultural centers. This diversity provides a wide variety of opportunities to live, work, play and invest. Over the years the CRA has facilitated redevelopment via adequate and efficient provision of infrastructure, housing and other community services. These investments help to preserve, promote, and improve the quality of life within the seven Community Redevelopment Areas.