The San Jose Flea Market development is one of the largest Bay Area redevelopment sites, covering over 120 acres with transit-oriented residential and commercial development. The adjacent construction by the City of San Jose, Valley Transportation Agency, and Bay Area Rapid Transit adds additional runoff into the neighboring Coyote and Upper Penitencia Creeks. Schaaf & Wheeler designed a bioretention system to increase stormwater infiltration and enhance the stormwater quality without impacting a major floodplain.

Schaaf & Wheeler’s unique solution implements a dual ponding system as the centralized treatment for managing storm runoff. The system is comprised of a detention pond and a second, larger treatment pond with a bioretention pump. Constructed adjacent to Coyote Creek, the facility also acts as new habitat for wildlife within the riparian corridor.

The second phase of this project involved a FEMA Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) that utilized new higher resolution topological - LiDAR data of the region. A more detailed hydrologic analyses was developed to guide the site design and reduce flood risks. Removing most of the site from the 100-year floodplain decreased both construction costs associated with placing fill to elevate structures and flood risk to the project.