Title
Stormwater Low Impact Development (LID) Code Revisions - Briefing
Recommended Action
None; receive briefing.
Report
Issue:
Staff will provide a briefing summarizing proposed LID code revisions in preparation for Planning Commission’s public hearing and review of the proposed code and standards amendments during the first three months of 2016.
Staff Contact:
Laura Keehan, Senior Planner, Public Works Water Resources, 360.753.8321
Todd Stamm, Principal Planner, Community Planning and Development, 360.753.8597
Presenters:
Eric Christensen, Planning and Engineering Manager, Public Works Water Resources
Laura Keehan, Senior Planner, Public Works Water Resources
Todd Stamm, Principal Planner, Community Planning and Development
Background and Analysis:
During early 2016 (January - March), Planning Commission will review and discuss proposed low impact development stormwater updates to Olympia’s development codes. Specifically, this includes the Drainage Design and Erosion Control Manual for Olympia (DDECM), and portions of the Engineering Design and Development Standards (EDDS) and Olympia Municipal Code (OMC). Planning Commission will review specific regulatory language, host a public hearing, and forward a recommendation to City Council in March 2016. City Council anticipates adopting LID code revisions in July 2016, six months prior to the State mandated deadline of December 31, 2016.
The City of Olympia is required by the State to evaluate our various codes and regulations in order to “make LID the preferred and commonly used approach to site development.” Regardless of the State mandate, our community has a strong interest and considerable experience with LID and other environmentally-sensitive development practices. However, unlike past work, Olympia’s code and regulations have not been comprehensively evaluated from an LID perspective.
During fall 2015 (September - December), Olympia’s Utility Advisory Committee (UAC) reviewed proposed LID technical and policy recommendations, specifically 22 issue papers (olympiawa.gov/LIDcode). UAC’s recommendation regarding the LID code update will be available for OPC’s January 25 meeting.
Next Steps
Six Planning Commission meetings between January and March are reserved for the Commission’s review and recommendation on low impact development code revisions. Below is the schedule.
• January 4: Briefing
• January 25: Briefing
• February 1: Public hearing
• February 22: Deliberation
• March 7: Deliberation
• March 21: Conclude deliberation and make recommendation to Council
Staff will provide Planning Commissioners with paper copies of the draft LID code revisions at the January 4 meeting, as well as begin walking through the major elements of LID during the briefing. Attachment 2 provides a snapshot summary of the proposed LID code revisions.
Copies of the proposed amendments will also be available to the public at the January 4 meeting and thereafter. Staff anticipates that written public comment will be accepted by the Planning Commission until at least February 12, 2016.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The LID code revisions build upon neighborhood, development and community interests in environmental protection and sustainable development. The outcomes will help guide development practices in Olympia for years to come.
Options:
Not applicable; briefing only.
Financial Impact:
Public Works and Community Planning and Development are providing the in-house planning and technical resources for the project. Additionally, the Storm and Surface Water Utility funded outside consultant support.