How I passed Arlington County's stringent stormwater management facilities standards with flying colors
As a follow-on to my first post about the Do-It-Yourselfer's mantra that "if you want something done right, do it yourself"...
Using only a wheelbarrow and a bucket, I loaded about 10,000 pounds of rocks, dirt, and mulch by myself into the stormwater retention planter that Arlington County, VA required at my new construction project as part of the county's so-called "Cheasapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance."
My general contractor's subcontractor wanted about $3,400 for labor and materials for this work. My total out-of-pocket cost was about $500 -- including the cost of the Virginia wild rye that I planted in the planter.
The county requires photographic evidence of the specific types of approved rocks (#57 stone and pea gravel) and soil (a special organic mix) used, as well as the amounts and levels placed into the planter. Knowing how fussy the county's bureaucrats are when it comes to such matters, I applied my legal skills in meticulously documenting everything I did. I also "showed my math" in diagramming how I planted a quart-sized plant for every 1-2 sq. ft. of planter surface area, per the county's requirements:
When it came time to submitting the materials for county approval, the county bureaucrat reviewer -- who is known for rejecting submissions on trivial technicalities -- summarily approved my work. My civil engineer, who helped submit the materials, was duly impressed, noting "[t]hat does not usually happen[,] so great job installing and documenting the [stormwater] B[est] M[anagement] P[ractices]s."
Again, the moral of the story is: "If you want it done right, do it yourself." Or maybe the county bureaucrats have just learned to stop messing with me after my repeated threats to sue them and hold them personally liable for violating my civil rights if they continually stand in my way.
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