Title
Low Impact Development Code Revisions Update
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
N/A
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive the update on low impact development code revisions. Briefing only; no action requested
Report
Issue:
Last year, City Council requested that the Land Use and Environment Committee be regularly updated on the City's low impact development code revision project. The last Committee update occurred in June 2015. The Public Works and Community Planning and Development Departments will brief the Committee on the status of the project and upcoming plans for Planning Commission and Council review.
Staff Contact:
Andy Haub, P.E., Water Resources Director, Public Works, 360.753.8475
Leonard Bauer, Deputy Director, Community Planning & Development, 360.753.8206
Presenter(s):
Same
Background and Analysis:
Washington State defines low impact development (LID) as a stormwater and land use management strategy that promotes infiltration and evaporation of rainfall rather than the generation of stormwater runoff. The strategy emphasizes natural resource conservation, careful site planning, and small-scale stormwater management practices that are integrated into project designs. Low impact techniques include environmentally-sensitive site design and innovative stormwater management approaches, such as narrow streets and porous pavements.
The City of Olympia is required by the State Department of Ecology to evaluate our various codes and regulations in order to "make LID the preferred and commonly used approach to site development." The Public Works and Community Planning and Development Departments assembled an LID Code Revision Work Group in February, 2014.
The LID work group has made steady progress on the project since the June, 2014 study session with City Council. Staff foresees completing the work effort in mid-2016, well ahead of the January 2017 State deadline.
Key tasks that are completed or u...
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