Recommendations to limit stormwater runoff from new land development are getting a closer look by Albemarle County officials.
A new report suggests measures that would create better enforcement of a timeline for developers to re-vegetate cleared land, provide incentives for developers to preserve trees and reduce parking lot sizes.
The Board of Supervisors heard the recommendations Wednesday and asked that county staff examine them individually. Mark Graham, the county’s director of community development, said there are some great ideas included in the report and a focus on trying to reduce damage to streams and rivers from stormwater runoff without having to spend a lot of money.
The report was prepared by the Southern Environ-mental Law Center, the Rivanna Conservation Society and the University of Virginia School of Law’s Environmental Law and Conservation Clinic.
Affordability will be a major factor when the county looks at the recommendations, Graham said. And some recommendations, like one that would require 20 percent of business parking lot spaces to be big enough only for compact cars, jump out as something the county would likely reject, he said.
“I’m old enough to remember [that] we did this before, back in the 70s … and it failed as an experiment,” he said, noting, however, that all of the recommendations will be considered.
Supervisor Dennis S. Rooker reacted differently to the idea of setting aside spaces exclusively for compact cars, noting that it would reduce parking lot sizes without decreasing the number of spaces: “It seems like a no-brainer to me.”
Electing to first let county staff further examine the report, which wasn’t commissioned by the board, supervisors spent very little time discussing specific recommendations but complimented its intent.
One of the recommendations would decrease the county’s minimum size requirement for parking lots. Another would require businesses to obtain a special-use permit for parking lots larger than the county’s maximum size standard.
The report also recommends the county provide incentives for homeowners to combat runoff.
One other recommendation would amend the county code to allow for perforated curbs that cause more runoff to flow into vegetation bordering sidewalks.
Though it’s not a formal recommendation, the report urges the county to seek a higher percentage of underground parking or structured parking in the county’s development areas.
Dealing with runoff is something county officials have already focused on, but they are glad attention has been brought to areas where the county could possibly improve, Graham said.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Results Loading...