Orange County NC Website
�n=58 <br /> in the basin. Technical support to improve operations would also be eligible to meet the investment <br /> requirements described by the proposed strategy. The minor facilities are a very small percentage of <br /> the load to Falls Lake (one percent or less), but improvements at these facilities would contribute to <br /> incremental progress in the watershed. <br /> New Development <br /> The UNRBA proposes that the new development rules would mostly continue as currently prescribed <br /> in the Falls Lake Nutrient Management Strategy. Proposals to make slight modifications to these <br /> rules have been discussed at UNRBA meetings. One example is possibly waiving the requirement for <br /> a stormwater assessment by a professional engineer when family property is parceled and inherited <br /> by heirs. Another example is to evaluate the nutrient-related allowances and post-development <br /> nitrogen and phosphorus exports that are inherent to the currently-accepted exclusive use of low <br /> impact development (LID) criteria, as specified in the 2009 North Carolina Low Impact Development <br /> Guidebook to ensure that development meets both the hydrologic goals of LID and the water quality <br /> improvement goals for Falls Lake. <br /> Additional activities that would support implementation of the new development rules and address <br /> concerns with land disturbance are proposed as eligible activities under the revised nutrient <br /> management strategy: <br /> • Include joint consultation among watershed organization members to assess and document <br /> consistent application of new development requirements, <br /> • Consider changes to Unified Development Ordinances to allow flexibility in implementing <br /> beneficial practices and activities. <br /> • Incentivize green infrastructure, disconnected impervious services, soil improvement, low <br /> maintenance lawns, etc. <br /> • Revisit soil improvement practice with NC Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources <br /> (DEMLR). This practice is currently creditable only for existing development but is most <br /> beneficial for new development. <br /> • Adopt policies allowing stormwater treatment within street rights of way or other easements. <br /> • Encourage, partner, and incentivize larger, regional SCMs that treat upstream existing <br /> development and the new development for which new SCMs are being permitted. <br /> Improve information transfer from developers to HOA Boards. <br /> Build from current jurisdictional approaches including current inspection programs, enforcement <br /> programs, etc. <br /> • Coordinate workshops among members to share information about existing programs and best <br /> practices. <br /> Transfer Responsibility of SCMs to Local Governments (Not Recommended) <br /> One suggestion proposed that stormwater systems be transferred into true utilities where existing <br /> and new SCMs would be placed under the jurisdiction of the local government. This migration would <br /> transfer the systems to the local governments so HOAs and private owners would not be tasked with <br /> maintaining them. Several issues were identified as reasons this approach would not be feasible or <br /> successful. These notes are included in this document as the UNRBA anticipates this suggestion will <br /> be posed again in the future. <br /> • There are thousands of existing SCMs with new ones added regularly. <br /> • Local stormwater programs are already underfunded and understaffed; the workload associated <br /> with managing and maintaining thousands of SCMs would be overwhelming. <br /> 39 <br />