Title
Low Impact Development (LID) Code Revisions - Public Hearing
Recommended Action
Public Hearing; no action required.
Report
Issue:
Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to hear testimony about proposed LID-related revisions to Olympia’s development codes.
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 Olympia Drainage Design and Erosion Control Manual (DDECM), and portions of the Engineering Design and Development Standards (EDDS) and Olympia Municipal Code (OMC).
Planning Commission will 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 to make LID the preferred and commonly-used approach to site development.
During fall 2015, Olympia’s Utility Advisory Committee (UAC) reviewed proposed LID technical and policy recommendations, specifically 22 issue papers (www.olympiawa.gov/LIDcode), and forwarded their recommendation to the Commission and Council.
In order to help facilitate the Commission’s review and understanding of the draft code amendments, staff has prepared margin notes for the proposed OMC changes (Attachment 2), and tables outlining the proposed changes to the EDDS and DDECM (Attachments 3 and 4).
Additionally, Attachment 5 provides an overview of staff and UAC’s recommendations.
Although the Commission has received two briefings prior to the public hearing, staff will provide a brief overview of the draft LID code revisions prior to the public hearing for the benefit of members of the public.
Next Steps
Six Planning Commission meetings between January and March 2016 are reserved for the Commission’s review and recommendation on low impact development code revisions. Below is the remaining schedule.
• February 1: Public hearing
• February 22: Deliberation
• March 7: Deliberation
• March 21: Conclude deliberation and make recommendation to Council
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.
The written public comment period extends through Friday, February 12, 2016. As of the writing of this staff report no written comments have been received, except for the UAC’s January 14, 2016 letter. Any public comments received by February 12th will be forwarded to the Commission at the February 22nd meeting.
Options:
Public Hearing; no action required.
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.
Attachments:
1) Hyperlink www.olympiawa.gov/LIDcode
2) Proposed OMC amendments with margin notes
3) Summary Table of Proposed LID-related Changes to the EDDS
4) Table of Changes 2009 to 2016 City of Olympia Drainage Design and Erosion Control Manual
5) LID Recommendations Table