Resident raises concerns about impervious-surface definitions and stormwater credits; staff advises Commission-level review

Resident and applicant Craig Thompson raised a technical concern about how the city calculates impervious surface and the credits allowed for permeable pavers, noting what he said were inconsistencies between the stormwater-utility definition and the land-development regulations' ISR (impervious-surface ratio) calculations.

Thompson said the city's approach to credits for permeable pavers could allow total effective coverage higher than the written ISR limit and argued the city should review the calculation to better align with the comprehensive plan's goals to reduce runoff and preserve the urban tree canopy.

Staff response and board reaction: Planning staff and the city attorney advised that stormwater-utility definitions and rates are a Commission-level policy issue and recommended the resident present the analysis to the City Commission and city manager so staff and the city engineer can evaluate the technical details. Board members said they were sympathetic to the concern and asked that if Thompson wishes to pursue changes he coordinate with planning staff and the city engineer so any proposal to the Commission comes with technical review.

Next steps: Staff suggested the applicant send his materials to the city manager and city planner; if the Commission chooses to pursue code changes, the item would return to the board as part of the formal ordinance process. No board vote was taken on policy changes.