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Council approves first reading of grading and stormwater code amendment (Ordinance 15 62)
Summary
Council held a public hearing and approved first reading of Ordinance 15 62, which moves grading rules into the unified development code, clarifies permit durations and exemptions (50 cubic yards), adds preload standards and detention vault language, and retains the city's 2005 stormwater manual for local soil conditions.
The Stanwood City Council opened a public hearing and approved the first reading of Ordinance 15 62, a grading and stormwater code amendment that staff described as a targeted update of existing standards and formatting.
Community Development Director Patricia Love summarized the changes: moving grading standards into the Unified Development Code (Title 18) to align with land-alteration rules; aligning grading-permit durations with land-use permits so permits do not expire out of sync; clarifying the longstanding 50-cubic-yard "fill" exemption and thresholds for retaining walls; adding standards for preloading (a practice the city has used on Viking Way and other projects); and adding regulations for detention vaults in addition to detention ponds. Love said the update keeps roughly 90% of the existing stormwater language and retains the city's 2005 stormwater manual because local soils reduce infiltration.
"When we started looking at this project... the stormwater integrated code is working fairly well," Love said, and staff recommended approving first reading and moving to a second reading for final adoption. After no public testimony, a council member moved to approve first reading; the motion passed by voice vote.
Why it matters: the ordinance clarifies permit timing and technical triggers for grading and stormwater controls and adds provisions for technologies and practices (preload and detention vaults) already in local use. Staff and the planning commission flagged no wholesale policy changes; the update is primarily an organizational and clarity effort to match current engineering practice. The council authorized staff to proceed to second reading.
