Green driveway on Eastwood Avenue, just north of Kingston Road
There’s a new environmentally friendly driveway that’s drawing attention on Eastwood Avenue.
Homeowners Nancy and John L’Estrange left a green strip down the middle of their new driveway to increase the amount of water that can be absorbed into the ground on their property.
Inspired by basement flooding
They came up with the idea after this summer’s flooding in Birch Cliff, which was partly due to runoff that overwhelmed the sewer system.
Nancy L’Estrange says that installing greener driveways is important to counter the impact of clearing trees and paving roads in our increasingly urbanized society.
The water’s got to go somewhere and L’Estrange says it’s best to let it percolate into the ground wherever possible.
Looking down a sanitary sewer (separated)
Proposed sewer user fee in Mississauga
The timing of this is interesting in light of a proposal in Mississauga to impose a user fee on homeowners based on the amount of water that flows into the storm sewers from their property.
According to an article in today’s Globe and Mail, the user fee was prompted by the realization that the sewer infrastructure in Mississauga needed to be replaced after widespread flooding in 2009.
Interesting to note that the sewers in Mississauga are only about 30 years old — much, MUCH newer than they are in Birch Cliff.
Not inexpensive
L'Estrange driveway on Eastwood Ave
The L’Estrange’s green driveway is not inexpensive, but it’s definitely cutting edge.
L’Estrange says hers was the first request the concrete company had ever had for this kind of driveway. (It has to be concrete because asphalt will pull up).
L’estrange, who runs the company Down to Earth Garden Design (416-807-2906), says she’s looking forward to gardening on her driveway in the spring. She’s planning to use low-lying plants that are 4 to 6 inches tall.
that strip in the driveway is brilliant, more expensive but considers the bigger picture. There is a lot of short sightedness when it comes to price tags sometimes.
Great idea! eco friendly and pretty!!
Variations on old ideas always come around again. Check the original 1940 driveway at 35 White Birch Rd. Two strips of concrete with grass between and on each side.
I just looked it up on Google Earth – interesting!
Makes a lot of sense – a smart politician would lobby city council to create a tax credit or other incentive to have more homeowners choose this option – cheaper than replacing those all those old sewers. Unfortunately they are too busy fighting over whether to ban plastic bags.
Bob you’re correct about a tax credit. Apparently the City did give homeowners a tax credit if you put in what is called a ‘perculating driveway’. That tax credit hasn’t been around for quite a few years now. However, now with the extreme weather we are experiencing and all the flooding occurring it is certainly something the city should reconsider. I’m hoping I will create a movement and Gary Crawford will jump on board.
I like this — A great place to put in those invasive plants that look good like lamiastrum ( if in shade) An alternative to cement would be brick pavers – most likely more expensive. Gravel seems to work for us in NS, but we don’t have a slope to wash it away – disadvantage – harder to shovel.