“Permeable Landscape as Neighbourhood Treasure in San Francisco”

After experiencing repeated sewer backups due to rain overloading San Francisco's aging combined sewer system, Ms. Jane Martin, started an organization called Plant*SF to promote permeable landscaping.

Plant*SF works behind the scenes to enable Low-Impact Design (LID) strategies to divert stormwater through de-paving of excess concrete. It hosts a website that offers a "how-to" section for citizens with links to local resources. (The information may also be adapted for plantings on private property, which generally do not require a permit.)

Plant*SF uses the term "permeable landscaping" to describe the model used in a growing number of sites which now appear in nearly every district of the city. Impervious material (paved sidewalk) is removed and replaced with permeable materials (rocks, decomposed granite, and tumbled terra-cotta) and vegetation (trees, perennial herbs, grasses, wildflowers, and succulents).

Plant*SF is a "Park Partner" of the non-profit San Francisco Parks Trust and has worked with City agencies to streamline the permit process for sidewalk plantings.

Plant*SF initiated and, with the Department of Public Works, co-authored a permeable landscape-specific permit in order to encourage sidewalk plantings. This "Sidewalk Landscaping Permit" features a reduced fee (gradated scale from $160-$215 instead of $800) and a provision for increased areas without variance.

From 2006-2008, over 400 permits were granted, representing tens of thousands of square feet of pavement converted to sidewalk gardens.

Go San Francisco's PlantSF website