The video of the meeting will be available shortly (I hope…I’m google dependent here) and I will post the link here when it has finished processing.
IT’S HERE: VIDEO OF 3/16/09 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
In the meantime, a bit of discourse on my part:
It should be interesting to see how Town Council handles the issues involving areas where stormwater is a significant problem. Several months ago, the town was to have made modification to the existing codes concerning stormwater after an audit was performed by the DEQ (Department of Environmental Quality). At the time this was brought before Town Council, it was noted that the DEQ just randomly checks on different jurisdictions to make sure they are in compliance with the state codes and regulations concerning stormwater. Perhaps there is some truth in that, but I haven’t been able to verify it yet. The only information I have been able to find is that audits/reviews are done when complaints have been received to indicate codes are not in compliance.
I requested a copy of this newly modified code section at that time and requested it again 6 weeks later. On both occasions I was told it would be sent to me when it was finished. I’m still waiting and I haven’t seen the Town Council discuss changes in any of the sessions since then. So….in issues concerning stormwater, which version of the code is applicable?
On the lower section of the “empowering citizens” webpage on my site is a series of links that may help citizens (and perhaps even elected officials) know what’s what in stormwater.
Of particular interest is the link to the Virginia Stormwater Management official site. There is even a model ordinance that citizens can look at to compare with the town’s ordinance. (There are also links on the empowering citizens site to see violations that have been reported and a way to report any violations you find.)
**Of particular note on that site is this section:
Regulated Activities
Residential, commercial, industrial or institutional land development and conversion activities that involve land-clearing or soil movement are regulated. However, the following activities are exempt:
- Permitted surface or deep mining operations and projects, or oil and gas operations;
- Tilling, planting or harvesting of agricultural, horticultural, or forest crops;
- Single-family residences or modifications to existing residences not part of a subdivision;
- Land development projects that disturb less than one acre, unless lowered by the locality; and
- Linear development projects, provided that (i) less than one acre of land will be disturbed per outfall or watershed, (ii) there will be insignificant increases in peak flow rates, and (iii) there are no existing or anticipated flooding or erosion problems downstream from the discharge point.
The fourth item (I put it in bold print) certainly makes it clear that the town has the right to LOWER the less than one acre criteria for regulation. Maybe it is time to take a close look at exactly how many 0.99 acre parcels have slipped through the cracks. Maybe it is time for Town Council to look at lowering that given the focus on high-density housing development within the Town. Maybe it is time for a closer look to be taken at a lot of things:)
(I’m still busy working on some big projects but one of them will be coming to you soon. Hope you have your calculators handy:)
By Carol Lindstrom On March 16 at 10:40 PM
