Council reviews updated drainage ordinance with new gutter‑spread and detention rules

City staff reviewed proposed updates to Carencro's drainage ordinance that would narrow when roadway sections may be used to store detention volume and set new limits on gutter spread and inlet spacing.

Staff said the changes were intended to prevent developers from relying on the center of the road as temporary storage for stormwater detention and to specify how close inlet openings and gutter spread calculations can be to the road’s centerline. "It's not allowing them to store water in the road as part of their detention volume," a staff member said while describing the revisions; the same speaker also noted changes to calculations that govern spacing of inlet openings so they do not exceed the center line of the road.

Council members and staff encouraged additional explanation for the technical portions; staff asked engineer Andy (first name only) to come forward and explain the draft because, as one councilor put it, "Charlotte's explanation is it's in my head and I can't get it out my mouth." No final action was taken; staff said the ordinance language is in the packet and will be discussed further.

The council did not adopt the ordinance at this meeting. Staff said the item remains under review and invited technical questions ahead of a future vote.