[CANUFNET] Underground utilities and Municipal Design Standards

[Wood, Crispin]

Hello folks,

I'm looking to get some perspective from across the country.

In Halifax, we are encountering the issue of finding suitable locations to plant street trees in new subdivisions. The frontages are already very narrow for many of our suburban lots, and the utilities (site services), based on our design standards, are located in the lawns, challenging the plantings of trees in said lawn.

In most other jurisdictions that I have worked, the utilities (site services) are often located under the driveways, which opens the lawn to planting trees without conflict. While I haven't sat down to speak with the Utilities in Halifax, or the Engineers responsible for our design standards just yet, I'm trying to get a sense, from other judications, as to why Halifax might differ. I suspect a reason to locate utilities under a driveway would be to free the lawns to planting, but also suspect the utilities may have reason not to want their assets under the driveway for maintenance.

I would appreciate any perspectives or experiences with this matter. Or to put it another way... if other municipalities have design standards requiring the utilities be located under the driveways, how did they accomplish this so that I might learn. Was it a tree planting argument? or were there other reasons?

Any perspective, constructive comment, or advice is appreciated.

Crispin Wood
MANAGER of Urban Forestry
INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE & OPERATIONS
Public Works

HΛLIFΛX
PO BOX 1749
HALIFAX NS B3J 3A5
halifax.ca<http://www.halifax.ca/>

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