Council hears staff presentation on stormwater ordinance changes tied to House Bill 1037

At a Greenwood Common Council meeting in June, Chris Jones, director of stormwater management, presented proposed amendments to the city’s stormwater management ordinance intended to address requirements in House Bill 1037 and to clarify erosion and sediment control permitting for land disturbance on individual lots of less than 1 acre.

“This ordinance that you have in front of you is in response to the House Bill 1037, which limits permitting activity for stormwater underneath an acre,” Jones said. He told council staff believes the state law conflicts with the city’s current ordinance and described proposed language that would classify certain soils and allow an applicant to avoid the city’s additional requirements by submitting a site-specific soil report prepared and supported by a certified environmental engineer demonstrating the proposed disturbance will not pose a risk of erosion or sediment under typical rainfall and mineral conditions. Jones said the city would accept such a report in lieu of the additional local requirements.

Council members did not vote on the ordinance at the meeting; Jones’ presentation was informational. The agenda listed the item as “An ordinance to amend the stormwater management ordinance regarding erosion and sediment control permits for land disturbance on individual lots of less than 1 acre,” sponsored by Council member Copper. The director offered to answer questions and staff indicated it would return with any requested clarifications or a final ordinance for formal readings.

If adopted later, the changes would adjust local permitting for small-lot land disturbance and create a path for site-specific engineering documentation to substitute for parts of the local permit process. No final decision or adoption vote occurred in June.