Title
Low Impact Development Update
Recommended Action
UAC Deliverable:
Update only
Staff Contact:
Laura Keehan, Acting Planning and Engineering Manager, 360.753.8321
Previous UAC Consideration: January, 2015
Background and Analysis:
As discussed with the UAC during the January 2015 meeting, the Washington State Department of Ecology defines low impact development (LID) as a stormwater and land use management strategy that strives to mimic natural hydrologic processes such as infiltration, filtration, and evaporation of precipitation. The strategy emphasizes natural resource conservation, site planning, and small-scale stormwater management practices that are integrated into the project design. Low impact techniques include careful site design and innovative stormwater management approaches such as permeable pavement surfaces, bioretention, and compost-amended soils.
The City of Olympia is in the process of comprehensively evaluating development codes and standards in order to "make LID the preferred and commonly used approach to site development" as mandated by the State. Low impact work is a major UAC work effort.
Staff anticipates providing the UAC with a complete analysis of staff recommendations in September.
In the interim, progress is continuing. Olympia's Public Works and Community Planning and Development Departments, in concert with SCJ Alliance, a local planning and engineering firm, have completed drafts of 23 issue papers. Each issue paper addresses a specific low impact development technique such as reducing parking, use of permeable pavement, and minimizing site disturbance. The issue papers compare traditional development techniques with the low impact technique, evaluate options, and propose a staff recommendation. The draft issue papers continue to be refined as summary documents are also prepared. Ultimately, recommendations will lead to specific revisions of code language that define standards for new developme...
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