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HomeMy WebLinkAbout21078 1 ORDINANCE NO. 21,078 2 3 AN ORDINANCE TO ALLOW THE USE OF LOW IMPACT 4 DEVELOPMENT (LID) TECHNIQUES AS AN OPTION FOR 5 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT WHEN DEVELOPING 6 COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, AND MULTI-FAMILY GREATER 7 THAN MF-6 UNITS PER ACRE PROJECTS, WITHOUT HAVING TO 8 SEEK A VARIANCE FROM THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK PLANNING 9 COMMISSION; AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 10 11 WHEREAS,the City of Little Rock is committed to reducing the volume of nonpoint source runoff, 12 including stormwater, flowing into its storm sewer system, improving the water quality of its surface 13 waters, and decreasing underground stormwater conveyance that may ultimately runoff into the Arkansas 14 River; and, 15 WHEREAS, Unlike traditional storm water management, which collects and conveys storm water 16 runoff through storm drains,pipes, or other conveyances to a centralized storm water facility,Low Impact 17 Development (LID) takes a different approach. It utilizes design techniques to maintain as closely as 18 practical the site's pre-development runoff rates and volumes for the required event. The goal of LID is to 19 mimic a site's pre-development hydrology by using design techniques that infiltrate, filter, store, 20 evaporate, and detain runoff close to the source.; and, 21 WHEREAS,the City of Little Rock has determined that allowing LID techniques to be utilized when 22 developing commercial, industrial, and multi-family greater MF-6 units per acre sites protects water 23 quality, reduces runoff, reduces impervious spaces, encourages open spaces, protects significant 24 vegetation,and reduces land disturbance; and, 25 WHEREAS, the City of Little Rock does not currently allow the utilization of LID techniques as an 26 option for stormwater management requirements in land development projects without first having to 27 obtain a variance from the City of Little Rock Planning Commission or Board of Adjustment; and, 28 WHEREAS, it is the intent of the City of Little Rock to provide an optional provision for 29 implementing stormwater LID techniques for commercial, industrial, and multi-family greater than MF-6 30 units per acre development; 31 NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY 32 OF LITTLE ROCK,ARKANSAS: 33 Section 1. The City of Little Rock shall allow the use of Low Impact Development techniques when 34 developing commercial, industrial, and multi-family greater than MF-6 units per acre as approved by the [Page 1 of 3] 1 Public Works Director, or his/her designee, without having to seek out a variance from the City of Little 2 Rock Planning Commission. 3 Section 2. The Public Works Director shall have the discretion to determine whether the LID 4 techniques employed have reached the standards and guidelines set forth in the Stormwater Management 5 and Drainage Manual. 6 Section 3. Definitions. 7 The following terms used in this ordinance shall have the following meanings: 8 Low Impact Development (LID) is an approach to land development (or re-development) that works 9 with nature to manage stormwater as close to its source as possible. LID employs principles such as 10 preserving and recreating natural landscape features, minimizing effective imperviousness to create 11 functional and appealing site drainage that treats stormwater as a resource rather than a waste product. 12 Stormwater runoff means water that results from precipitation which is not absorbed by the soil, 13 evaporated into the atmosphere, or entrapped by ground surface depressions and vegetation, which flows 14 over the ground surface. 15 Section 4. Applicability. This ordinance shall apply to all of the lands located within the City of 16 Little Rock including its extraterritorial jurisdiction. This ordinance applies to commercial, office, 17 industrial, and multi-family units greater than MF-6 units per acre. It does not apply to facilities in the 18 public right of way. 19 Section 5. Low Impact Development Site Design Strategies. 20 (a) Generally, site design strategies address the arrangement of buildings, roads, parking 21 areas, and other features, and the conveyance of stormwater runoff across the site. LID site 22 design strategies are intended to complement the natural and built environment while minimizing 23 the generation of runoff. The LID design strategies should address some or all of the following 24 considerations: 25 (1) Necessary grading and land disturbance should be designed to encourage sheet flow and 26 lengthen stormwater flow paths. 27 (2) Natural drainage divides should be maintained to keep flow paths dispersed. 28 (3) Areas of impervious surfaces should be separated and stormwater should be conveyed 29 across vegetated areas. This assists runoff filtration and encourages infiltration. 30 (4) Small-scale LID techniques should be distributed across the development site in order to 31 maximize benefits. 32 (5) Naturally vegetated areas and soil types that slow runoff, filter pollutants and facilitate 33 infiltration should be preserved. [Page 2 of 3] 1 (6) Low Impact Development systems and structures should be integrated into the natural 2 and built landscape with attention to flow paths, infiltration areas and the use of 3 appropriate native plant materials. 4 Section 6. Submittal Requirements. The applicant shall submit a drainage report that provides all 5 necessary information to support the LID design elements within the development. It shall include 6 specifications and technical information for the site specific design details that supports the proposed LID 7 systems and structures. 8 A maintenance plan shall also be submitted so that the LID facility shall remain effective as originally 9 approved. 10 Section 7.Severability. In the event any title, section, paragraph, item, sentence, clause, phrase, or 11 word of this ordinance is declared or adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional, such declaration or 12 adjudication shall not affect the remaining portions of the ordinance which shall remain in full force and 13 effect as if the portion so declared or adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional were not originally a part 14 of the ordinance. 15 Section 8. Repealer. All laws, ordinances,resolutions, or parts of the same that are inconsistent with 16. the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency. 17 PASSED: August 4,2015 / 181. APPROVED. 19 � 20 Ifni .009. f �1 i • 21 1.717,ngley,City Clerk Mark Stodola,Mayor 22 • ' ' ' 1 i,,1 AS TO LEGAL FORM: 23 24 41A 25 Bill ' ann,C i'ef 1 eputy City Attorney 26 // 27 // 28 // 29 // 30 // 31 // 32 // 33 // 34 // 35 // [Page 3 of 3]