Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Stormwater Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Staff recommends amending design standards manual to align stormwater threshold with state code
Summary
Planning staff proposed initiating a DSM text amendment to raise the stormwater conversion threshold from 10,000 sq ft to match state code (up to 1 acre), citing burdens from over-design, maintenance and inspection on small developments.
Staff presented a proposed amendment to the county’s Design Standards Manual (DSM) at the Jan. 21 work session to make the county’s stormwater conversion threshold consistent with state code. Staff said the current DSM applies a 10,000-square-foot conversion threshold while state rules allow up to one acre; the mismatch has required smaller developments to design larger stormwater facilities and increased maintenance and inspection burdens.
Staff recommended initiating the amendment so the county standard would match the state standard, which staff said should "make it a little bit easier for all involved." Commissioners asked questions and staff offered to answer follow-up questions; a public hearing initiation was placed on the evening agenda.
Why it matters: Changing the DSM threshold affects which development projects must install regulated stormwater facilities and be subject to annual inspections and staff oversight. Raising the threshold to match state code would reduce regulatory burden on smaller projects but could change the number of sites subject to local inspection and maintenance requirements.
No ordinance text or fiscal impact was adopted at the work session; the commission was asked to initiate the public hearing for the formal process.
