Planet-friendly permeable driveways meet green building codes

Taxes go up. Aquifers go down. What can we do about it?

Rip out more concrete!

Seriously, cities are realizing that greener building codes will save them money, by reducing the stormwater infrastructure they need to build and maintain. And by allowing rainwater to infiltrate into the ground, permeable paving recharges our aquifers and improves both the quality and quantity of locally available drinking water. Which means our cities don't have to build more reservoirs and then pay to pump the water from East Texas, Oklahoma, or the Ogalalla aquifer out west.

The quality of our environment is enhanced, and we don't have to flood people's farms and ranches in other counties (or sue them, or get in fights with the Fish & Wildlife Service!)

So let's look at some of our recent projects with permeable driveways:

This historic estate in Lakewood needed parking for family and guests. But the house sits between two creeks, and a lot of concrete would be both aesthetically and environmentally bad taste. A large circle drive of mixed decomposed granite and pea gravel allows for turning and parking without destroying the country-in-the-city feel of this house, or polluting the creeks with runoff.

Here's a beautiful modern house with a view of White Rock Lake. Again, the owners needed parking for parties, but there's no room behind the house. They didn't want to see cars or parking lots between them and the lake. Sinking the car court out of the view and surfacing it with gravel reduces the impact of this parking on both the eyes and the lake. Trees are planted so that as they grow, they soften the view and shade cars parking between them.

This University Park homeowner really wanted a front circle drive, but was up against the limit of impervious surface he could add to his lot. A gravel drive bordered with bluestone complements the existing stone porch and the formality of the house; the border keeps the gravel out of the street. This driveway is also healthier for the oak trees in the front yard.

This new LEED-certified house needed a 'green' driveway to qualify for its permeability points. The gravel entry court with bands of concrete fits with the modern style of the house, and meets the LEED standards.

Vintage Place, a tiny circle of homes that emulate historic Lakewood styles, aimed for an overall consistency to the landscapes and a 'country lane' sensibility. Each entry drive has a mix of gravel and decomposed granite border with stone, which gives the homes the feel of a timeless and established neighborhood.

Finally, we practice what we preach. This is Dave's front entry courtyard, where the crunching of tires on gravel lets you know that company has arrived. Plants love it too--the Japanese plum yews at the entry grow happily in gravel, because the drainage is perfect and the roots have room to run.