14 Apr New Watershed Protection Ordinances Expected by Dec. 2012!

Meeting at the One Texas Center, a group of over 40 Stakeholders led by Matt Hollan of Watershed Protection, collectively summarized their findings from Aug. 11 through today, Apr. 13.

The group was directed by City Council to review and overhaul the current Ordinance Manual that has been in place since 1986. The stakeholders had met bimonthly for 8 months, discussing potential changes and simplifications to review creek and floodpalin protection.  An equally high priority was balancing  these potential ordinances with the newly adopted Imagine Austin Plan; a blueprint for future urban growth and development.

"The balancing act, Hollan said," is to improve environmental quality with equivalent developmental opportunity."

A graph displayed the resut of increasing impervious cover, or impact of unchecked development. 5% impervious cover results in 4% run-off into our creeks and streams, which could contain contaminants and toxins from cars and personal debris.  This increases all the way up to 80% with a parallel result of 69% run-off.  The current ordinance allows up to 80% impervious cover in some instances for commercial use property.

"We are way past due reviewing and overhauling this Ordinance," Hollan said. " In the past, we have seen our creeks erode and homes fall right into the creeks.  This is the type of train wreck we'd like to avoid," 

The proposed revisions look at several areas:

• Creek Protection by widening buffer zones on either side of creek beds, or in some cases averaging buffer widths
• Floodplain protection
• Add erosion hazard safeguards such as including community gardens, rain gardens and vegetative filter strips within the critical water quality zones
• Improve stormwater controls
• Simplify regulations, allowing for mitigation, coordination with regional County partners (TCEQ) and
• Maintain developmental opportunity

"I have been waiting for this," said Mary Arnold, a previous Board member when the 1986 Ordinance was passed.

The Stakeholders aren't quite done yet.  Recovening back in August, they will review the official Draft Ordinance until Oct when it goes before the Environmental Board and then City Council.  Maintaining affordability is also a key component in the revisions.

"Two years from beginning to end"  Hollan said. "Not bad for the improvement and restoration of our greenway and waterway systems."