Title
Low Impact Development Code Revisions
Recommended Action
UAC Deliverable: Provide recommendations for Olympia Planning Commission and City Council in December.
Staff Contact:
Laura Keehan, Senior Planner, 360.753.8321
Eric Christensen, Planning and Engineering Manager, 360.570.3741
Andy Haub, Water Resources Director, 360.753.8475
Previous LID Work Items Before the UAC:
Low Impact Development Code Revisions Briefing, January 7, 2015.
Background and Analysis:
The Utility Advisory Committee was introduced to the low impact development work item in January, 2015. The topic is scheduled for additional UAC consideration in October, November and December, culminating in technical and policy recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council. The Planning Commission will review specific regulatory language, host a public hearing, and forward additional recommendations to City Council in early spring, 2016.
As we discussed in January, 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 minimizing impervious pavement surfaces, bioretention, and compost-amended soils.
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 strong interest and considerable experience with LID and other environmentally-sensitive development practices. However, unlike past work, Olympia's code and regulations have not...
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