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SMAC tentatively approves seven Rainwater Rewards projects pending FY27 funding
Summary
At its meeting, the Stormwater Management Advisory Commission tentatively approved seven Rainwater Rewards cost-share projects (five rain gardens, two permeable pavement) and discussed program mechanics including a $10/sq ft baseline for permeable pavement cost-sharing and a $10,000 maintenance threshold that triggers longer agreements.
The Stormwater Management Advisory Commission in Raleigh tentatively approved seven projects under the city’s Rainwater Rewards cost-share program, voting by voice to approve the slate and directing staff to route contracts for funding after the new fiscal year begins July 1.
Staff described the Rainwater Rewards program as a cost-share mechanism to treat impervious surface on private property, saying projects included five rain gardens and two permeable-pavement installations. “Rainwater rewards program it's a cost share mechanism to basically treat impervious surface on private property,” a staff member said during the presentation. Staff noted that approvals made at the commission meeting would be funded and routed after July 1, when the FY27 allocation becomes effective.
Why it matters: The program is one of the city’s primary incentive tools to reduce stormwater runoff on private property and to capture nutrient and sediment benefits at scale. Staff told the commission the city expects a larger FY27 appropriation for the program and that earlier approvals were intended to accelerate contracting once the fiscal year opens.
Key details discussed - Cost-share calculation for permeable pavement: Staff said the program pays the incremental cost (the “delta”) between a regular driveway and the permeable system; the guideline baseline used in program calculations is $10 per square foot for a conventional driveway. Commission members asked about the age and rationale for that baseline and whether it should be revisited. - Maintenance-agreement threshold: Staff confirmed policy changes taking effect July 1 tie maintenance-agreement length to project cost: work above a $10,000 city-contribution threshold triggers a 10-year maintenance agreement; projects below that threshold use a five-year agreement. - Equity and special funding: Staff highlighted one project (2209 Maker Road) flagged as 100% funded because it is a 501(c)(3) affordable-housing project that tapped additional funding meant to increase access to the program for historically underserved applicants. - Performance metrics: Project memos included estimated nitrogen removal rates and lifecycle yields; staff explained those values are prorated across maintenance periods and lifetime assumptions used in the program’s cost-benefit columns.
Public comment and policy questions Public comment raised related land-use concerns. A resident who identified herself during the meeting suggested reexamining how the Unified Development Ordinance counts easements and buffers toward impervious-surface maximums, arguing that excluding easements from the impervious total would create more space for root systems and reduce erosion. The commission did not adopt a policy change on that point at this meeting.
Next steps Staff will route the seven tentatively approved projects into funding after July 1 and return any detailed project memos or exceptions to the commission as needed. Commissioners asked staff to consider bringing back a formal agenda item if they want to revisit the $10 baseline used for permeable-pavement cost-share calculations.
The commission took the Rainwater Rewards vote by voice; no roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting minutes.
