CFE agenda 060815 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Attachment 1 • Bouma pulled up the County building permit webpage and described some of the information needed for a building permit, such as the amount of existing impervious surfaces and how much additional impervious area is proposed. Thomas -Ambat noted the City of Raleigh Stormwater is considering a text change to its impervious area exemptions for active stormwater control requirements. She said this change will limit these exemptions to a maximum impervious area based on residential zoning. Based on the recommended revisions, properties that exceed these limitations will be required to provide either a flood study or volume control for the 90% storm. • Hintz made a motion that the CFE go on record of supporting the proposed rule change as long as procedures are established and implemented for monitoring and enforcement, and as long as property owners are made aware of the rules. • Becker said she does not believe this rule change would benefit the environment, and the role of the CFE is not to allow for more development. She recommended the CFE not support the rule change, but perhaps not object to it either. • Shaw reminded members that Planning Director Craig Benedict said the intent of the amendment was to allow for no net increase in runoff from developed properties to receiving water bodies. • O'Connor said an increase in impervious surface could result in a greater loss of habitat and carbon sequestration even with no net increase in water runoff. • Cada agreed, noting also that although the volume of runoff may not increase, the water quality of the runoff could be worse. • Sassaman agreed; more development will result in greater nutrient loading. He said the problem is the cumulative effects of these incremental changes. • O'Connor said BMPs can be expected to fail in the future. The environment is already not doing well; the CFE should not support being less restrictive. • Cada said the County ought to require a letter of credit or a process for the removal of excess impervious surfaces. There should be strict enforcement. Wegman summarized the comments /discussion. She said Becker had suggested that the CFE not support or endorse the proposed rule change. Sassaman proposed sending a memo to the BOCC that states the CFE is neutral or does not object to the proposed rule change, but the CFE wants the County to establish an enforcement process with yearly inspections that sets a certain amount of time for the landowner to remedy the site when the BMP fails to work properly. Hintz added that the CFE is uncomfortable with the proposed rule change because the measures will be difficult to design and enforce without resulting in an incremental loss of habitat. He suggested while the CFE cannot endorse wholeheartedly because of the loss of habitat quantity and quality, loss of carbon sequestration, and reduced water quality despite no expected increase in water quantity. Cada suggested the CFE recommend there be some sort of permit renewal process. The CFE agreed to have staff prepare a draft memo based on the discussion and to circulate the draft memo to CFE members for review and approval via email. The final memo will be submitted to the Planning Board and BOCC for consideration. 2