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Resident and landscape designer urges Encinitas to revise residential BMP enforcement
Summary
During oral communications on May 1, landscape designer and UFAC chair Brad Lefkowitz told the planning commission that current city instructions for resident bio‑retention basins (BMPs) are counterproductive and urged a policy review; he said builders have been directed to install liners or sump pumps that prevent percolation and that the city’s
At the start of the May 1 meeting during oral communications, landscape designer and chair of the Urban Forest and Advisory Committee (UFAC) Brad Lefkowitz urged the Planning Commission to revisit how the city enforces residential bio‑retention basins (BMPs) used for stormwater capture on single‑family lots.
Lefkowitz said he works across the region but prioritizes local projects and that his experience shows current BMP installation protocols in Encinitas can defeat stormwater infiltration goals. He told commissioners he has seen contractors required to fill BMP basins with gravel, which he said will silt up and reduce permeability over time, and more recently that builders were told by the city to install liners that “effectively kill percolation and defeat the entire purpose.” On one recent job in neighborhood clay soils, he said staff directed a builder to install a sump pump and discharge water to the street after homeowners had spent “well into five figures” digging a retention pit.
Lefkowitz described several alternatives and offered to show commissioners or staff examples on local properties; he said he will bring the issue to the city council and that a network of local professionals is willing to help the city “course correct.” He closed by leaving his contact information with the clerk and offering to accompany commissioners or staff to job sites to demonstrate better BMP techniques.
Why it matters: Lefkowitz’s comments raise operational and enforcement questions about how the city’s stormwater and building-related BMP requirements are applied at the residential scale. Commissioners did not take formal action at the meeting on this item; Lefkowitz indicated he plans to raise the matter with city council, which is the appropriate venue for policy or code changes.
Ending: No formal action was requested of the commission; the speaker indicated he will bring the matter to city council and offered to work with staff and local professionals on potential technical and enforcement changes.
