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2022 Environmental Code Amendments Phase 1 Planning Commission S e p t e m b e r 2 7 , 2 0 2 2 C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T Objective • Respond to por tion of Resolution 20220609- 061 that requires staff to bring for th an ordinance amending Title 25 related to environmental protection. • Due September 15, 2022 • Key subject areas Stormwater Landscape • • • Water Resource Protection Colorado River Protections • Previously identified minor code amendments and other amendments that meet the • objectives of the resolution • Don’t Disincentivize Missing Middle C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 2 Progress So Far • I n t e r n a l W a t e r s h e d P r o t e c t i o n D e p t ( W P D ) t e c h n i c a l s t a f f • I n p u t f r o m o t h e r d e p a r t m e n t s i n c l u d i n g • Development Services Department • Austin Water • Austin Transportation • • Housing and Planning • CoA Project Connect Office Law • 7 / 2 5 / 2 0 2 2 – E n v i r o n m e n t a l C o m m i s s i o n W o r k g r o u p • 8 / 3 / 2 0 2 2 – E n v i r o n m e n t a l C o m m i s s i o n U p d a t e • 8 / 1 8 / 2 0 2 2 – C o d e s a n d O r d i n a n c e s J o i n t C o m m i t t e e • 8 / 2 3 / 2 0 2 2 – P l a n n i n g C o m m i s s i o n B r i e f i n g • 9 / 6 / 2 0 2 2 – Z o n i n g a n d P l a t t i n g • 9 / 7 / 2 0 2 2 – E n v i r o n m e n t a l C o m m i s s i o n • 9 / 1 3 / 2 0 2 2 – P l a n n i n g C o m m i s s i o n • 9 / 2 0 / 2 0 2 2 – Z o n i n g a n d P l a t t i n g C o m m i s s i o n ( R e c o m m e n d e d ) • 9 / 2 1 / 2 0 2 2 – E n v i r o n m e n t a l C o m m i s s i o n ( R e c o m m e n d e d ) C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 3 Next Steps • 9/27/2022 – Planning Commission • 10/13/2022 – City Council Phase 2: Greenfield Detention Requirements and Urban Slope Protection September & October Commissions • • November City Council C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 4 Stormwater “ E s t a b l i s h c r i t e r i a t h a t p r i o r i t i z e w h e n g r e e n s t o r m w a t e r m e t h o d s s h o u l d b e r e q u i r e d o r i n c e n t i v i z e d o v e r c o n v e n t i o n a l s t o r m w a t e r c o n t r o l s ” VS Rain garden Conventional Stormwater Control (Sedimentation & Filtration Pond) C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 5 Benefits of Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) • I m p rove d e c o s y s t e m s e r v i c e s • I m p rove d s t o r m wa t e r i n f i l t r a t i o n • S o i l h e a l t h • W i l d l i f e h a b i t a t • H e a t i s l a n d m i t i g a t i o n • Wa t e r c o n s e r va t i o n • A e s t h e t i c va l u e C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 6 GSI Timeline Cistern at Reilly Elementary • 2 0 1 2 : I m a g i n e A u s t i n a p p r o v e d • 2 0 1 3 : Wa t e r s h e d P r o t e c t i o n O r d i n a n c e a p p r o v e d • 2 0 1 4 : P h a s e 2 o f t h e Wa t e r s h e d P r o t e c t i o n O r d i n a n c e A u s t i n Wa t e r R e s o u r c e P l a n n i n g Ta s k F o r c e • 2 0 1 5 : G r e e n I n f r a s t r u c t u r e Wo r k i n g G r o u p W P D C o d e N E X T Te a m • 2 0 1 6 : D e v e l o p m e n t a n d a p p r o v a l o f d r a f t c o d e l a n g u a g e N a t u r a l & B u i l t E n v i r o n m e n t P r e s c r i p t i o n P a p e r • 2 0 1 7 : G S I p r o p o s a l i n c l u d e d i n C o d e N E X T C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 7 GSI Timeline • 2 0 1 7 : O r i g i n a l G S I p r o p o s a l i n c l u d e i n D r a f t 1 a n d 2 o f C o d e N E X T R e v i s e d G S I p r o p o s a l d e v e l o p e d f o r i n c l u s i o n i n D r a f t 3 C o u n c i l R e s o l u t i o n f o r G r e e n I n f r a s t r u c t u r e / G S I • 2 0 1 8 : C o d e N E X T p r o c e s s e n d e d b y C i t y C o u n c i l • 2 0 1 9 : C o u n c i l a d o p t s p o l i c y d i r e c t i o n t o g u i d e L D C R e v i s i o n G S I p r o p o s a l r e v i s e d f o r i n c l u s i o n i n p u b l i c d r a f t • 2 0 2 0 : L D C R e v i s i o n h a l t e d a f t e r D i s t r i c t C o u r t r u l i n g • 2 0 2 2 : N e w C o u n c i l R e s o l u t i o n f r o m C i t y C o u n c i l ( 2 0 2 2 0 6 0 9 - 0 6 1 ) Rain garden along Butler Trail C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 8 Stormwater “ E s t a bl i s h c r i t e r i a t h a t p r i o r i t i ze w h e n g r e e n s t o r m wa t e r m e t h o d s s h o u l d b e r e q u i r e d o r i n c e n t i v i ze d ove r c o n ve n t i o n a l s t o r m wa t e r c o n t r o l s ” D r a f t Re c o m m e n d a t i o n • A d o p t L D C Rew r i t e 2 n d Re a d i n g Re c o m m e n d a t i o n • C o d e A m e n d m e n t s • Require GSI for sites with less than 90% impervious cover • Carve outs for sites that treat existing impervious cover with an area greater than 10 acres or for sites that may generate highly contaminated runoff • Allow administrative variance with conditions • F u t u r e E n v i r o n m e n t a l C r i t e r i a M a n u a l ( E C M ) a m e n d m e n t s t o m o r e c l e a r l y d e f i n e G S I • C o n s i d e r i m p r ove m e n t t o s e d i m e n t a t i o n / f i l t r a t i o n p o n d d e s i g n s t a n d a r d s C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 9 Stormwater “ Re q u i r e s u r f a c e p a rk i n g l o t s t o r m wa t e r t o e n t e r p e r v i o u s p a rk i n g l o t i s l a n d s, l a n d s c a p e d m e d i a n s, a n d p e r i m e t e r l a n d s c a p e s a s a m e t h o d o f wa t e r q u a l i t y a n d r e q u i r e t h a t p a ve m e n t b e g r a d e d t o a l l o w r u n o f f t o e n t e r p l a n t i n g a r e a s ” D r a f t Re c o m m e n d a t i o n • S t a f f d o n o t r e c o m m e n d r e q u i r i n g a l l l a n d s c a p e a r e a s t o s e r ve a s wa t e r q u a l i t y c o n t r o l s f o r wa t e r q u a l i t y t r e a t m e n t r e q u i r e m e n t s • Re m ove r e q u i r e m e n t t h a t a l l p a rk i n g l o t l a n d s c a p e a r e a s b e p r o t e c t e d by a 6 ” c u r b ( L D C 2 5- 2 - 1 0 0 7 P a rk i n g L o t s ) • Re m ove s t o r m wa t e r i r r i g a t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t ( L D C 2 5- 2 - 1 0 0 8 I r r i g a t i o n Re q u i r e m e n t s ) • Re q u i r e a p p l i c a n t s t o d r a i n s t o r m wa t e r t o l a n d s c a p e a r e a s w h e r e p o s s i bl e ( L D C 2 5- 8 - 1 8 5 O ve r l a n d Fl o w ) C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 10 Stormwater “A l l ow c i s t e r n s t o b e s i ze d b eyo n d t h e r e q u i r e d s t o r m c a p t u r e a m o u n t a n d r e m ove r e q u i r e m e n t f o r s t o r m wa t e r r e l e a s e s o t h a t t h ey c a n s u p p l y i r r i g a t i o n n e e d s t h ro u g h o u t t h e ye a r ” D r a f t Re c o m m e n d a t i o n • L a n d D eve l o p m e n t C o d e a n d E nv i ro n m e n t a l C r i t e r i a M a n u a l a l r e a d y a l l ow c i s t e r n s t o b e s i ze d b eyo n d r e q u i r e d s t o r m c a p t u r e a m o u n t = n o c o d e a m e n d m e n t n e c e s s a r y • E C M u p d a t e t o c o n t i n u e i nve s t i g a t i n g e m e r g i n g t e c h n o l o g y, i n c l u d i n g s m a r t c o n t ro l s, t o d e t e r m i n e r e l e a s e r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r wa t e r q u a l i t y • C o n t i n u e d c l o s e c o l l a b o r a t i o n b e t we e n Au s t i n Wa t e r a n d W P D s t a f f C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 11 What is Functional Green? “Implement Functional Green requirements for proper ties with more than 80% allowable imper vious cover” F u n c t i o n a l G r e e n L a n d s c a p e i s b a s e d o n t h e e c o s y s t e m s e r v i c e v a l u e c r e a t e d b y l a n d s c a p e . I t i s i n t e n d e d t o i m p r o v e e c o l o g i c a l b a l a n c e , r e p l e n i s h n a t i v e v e g e t a t i o n , a n d e n h a n c e p u b l i c h e a l t h , s a f e t y, a n d w e l f a r e . T h e F u n c t i o n a l G r e e n S c o r e m e a s u r e s t h e t o t a l a m o u n t o f e c o s y s t e m s e r v i c e s p r o v i d e d b y t h e l a n d s c a p e e l e m e n t s p r o p o s e d f o r a d e v e l o p m e n t s i t e . L a n d s c a p e p l a n s a r e r e q u i r e d t o r e a c h a t o t a l t a r g e t F u n c t i o n a l G r e e n S c o r e b a s e d o n t h e a s s i g n e d v a l u e p e r s q u a r e f o o t a r e a o f e a c h l a n d s c a p e e l e m e n t i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e a r e a o f t h e s i t e . C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 12 What is Functional Green? R e q u i r e d n u m b e r o f p o i n t s b a s e d o n s i t e a r e a f o r h i g h i m p e r v i o u s s i t e s . L a n d s c a p e e l e m e n t s m a y i n c l u d e : • E x i s t i n g o r n e w l y p l a n t e d t r e e s • S h r u b s , o r n a m e n t a l g r a s s e s , p e r e n n i a l f o r b s , g r o u n d c o v e r s I r r i g a t i o n w i t h a l t e r n a t i v e w a t e r s o u r c e s • T u r f a r e a s m a i n t a i n e d f o r a e s t h e t i c o r a t h l e t i c u s e s • V e g e t a t e d w a l l • • V e g e t a t e d r o o f • R a i n g a r d e n s • P o r o u s p a v e m e n t • S u s p e n d e d p a v e m e n t s y s t e m ( f o r i m p r o v e d u r b a n • P o l l i n a t o r r e s o u r c e s • P u b l i c l y a c c e s s i b l e g r e e n s p a c e a d j a c e n t t o R O W o r t r e e h e a l t h ) p u b l i c s i d e w a l k C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 13 Functional Green “Implement Functional Green requirements for proper ties with more than 80% allowable imper vious cover” Draft Recommendation • Uphold previous recommendation from LDC rewrite 2 nd reading with minor edits • New Landscape Section in LDC 25- 8 Subchapter C • Applies to Central Business District and Downtown Mixed-Use zoning districts and other sites with greater than 80% allowable imper vious cover C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 14 Water Resource Protection “ P ro h i b i t i n- c h a n n e l d e t e n t i o n p o n d s, exc e p t f o r c a p i t a l p ro j e c t s o r p r i va t e / p u bl i c p a r t n e r s h i p s w h e r e n o o t h e r a l t e r n a t i ve i s f e a s i bl e ” D r a f t Re c o m m e n d a t i o n • L D C c o d e a m e n d m e n t t o 2 5- 8 - 2 6 1 ( F ) w h i c h a l l ow s i n - c h a n n e l d e t e n t i o n a n d we t p o n d s Example of existing in-channel detention pond C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 15 Water Resource Protection “ P rov i d e we t l a n d p ro t e c t i o n s a n d bu f f e r s e q u a l l y a l o n g L a d y B i r d L a ke t o h e l p s t a b i l i ze a n d p r eve n t e ro s i o n a l o n g t h e s h o r e l i n e ” D r a f t Re c o m m e n d a t i o n • C o d e a m e n d m e n t t o L D C 2 5- 8 - 2 8 2 ( A ) We t l a n d P ro t e c t i o n • Re t a i n ex i s t i n g exe m p t i o n s f o r we t l a n d s b o u n d e d by I- 3 5 , R i ve r s i d e D r, B a r t o n S p r i n g s R d , L a m a r, a n d 1 5 t h S t r e e t bu t c a r ve o u t t h e we t l a n d s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h L a d y B i r d L a ke. C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 16 Colorado River Protections “ T h e C i t y C o u n c i l d i r e c t s t h e C i t y M a n a g e r t o eva l u a t e t h e e f f e c t i ve n e s s o f ex i s t i n g C r i t i c a l Wa t e r Q u a l i t y Z o n e a n d E r o s i o n H a z a r d Z o n e b u f f e r s o n t h e C o l o r a d o R i ve r d o w n s t r e a m o f t h e L o n g h o r n D a m a n d t o p r o p o s e p r o t e c t i o n s t h a t w i l l p r ov i d e a d e q u a t e p r o t e c t i o n s t o t h e r i ve r t h a t w i l l e n s u r e a h e a l t h y r i p a r i a n c o r r i d o r t o s t a b i l i ze t h e r i ve r b a n k a n d p r o t e c t p r o p e r t y f r o m e r o s i o n ” E x i s t i n g L D C r e q u i r e m e n t s i n c l u d e : - E r o s i o n H a z a r d Z o n e a n a l y s i s w i t h i n 1 0 0 ’ o f t h e O r d i n a r y H i g h Wa t e r M a r k ( O H W M ) - C r i t i c a l Wa t e r Q u a l i t y Z o n e ( C W Q Z ) e s t a b l i s h e d a t 2 0 0 ’ - 4 0 0 ’ f e e t d e p e n d i n g o n 1 0 0 - y e a r f l o o d p l a i n - N o s p e c i a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n f o r s t o r m w a t e r d i s c h a r g e o n h i g h l y e r o d i b l e b a n k o f t h e C o l o r a d o R i v e r C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 17 Colorado River Protections “ T h e C i t y C o u n c i l d i r e c t s t h e C i t y M a n a g e r t o e v a l u a t e t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f e x i s t i n g C r i t i c a l Wa t e r Q u a l i t y Z o n e a n d E r o s i o n H a z a r d Z o n e b u f f e r s o n t h e C o l o r a d o R i v e r d o w n s t r e a m o f t h e L o n g h o r n D a m a n d t o p r o p o s e p r o t e c t i o n s t h a t w i l l p r o v i d e a d e q u a t e p r o t e c t i o n s t o t h e r i v e r t h a t w i l l e n s u r e a h e a l t h y r i p a r i a n c o r r i d o r t o s t a b i l i z e t h e r i v e r b a n k a n d p r o t e c t p r o p e r t y f r o m e r o s i o n ” D r a f t R e c o m m e n d a t i o n • C o d e a m e n d m e n t t o L D C 2 5- 7 - 3 2 D i r e c t o r A u t h o r i z e d t o R e q u i r e E r o s i o n H a z a r d Z o n e A n a l y s i s – e x p a n d e d t o 4 0 0 ’ f r o m O r d i n a r y H i g h Wa t e r M a r k ( O H W M ) • C o d e a m e n d m e n t t o L D C 2 5- 8 - 9 2 C r i t i c a l Wa t e r Q u a l i t y Z o n e s E s t a b l i s h e d t o e x p a n d C W Q Z t o 4 0 0 ’ f r o m O H W M • C o d e a m e n d m e n t t o L D C 2 5- 8 - 2 6 1 ( E ) t o r e q u i r e n e w s t o r m w a t e r o u t f a l l s t o d i s c h a r g e i n d r a i n a g e s l o c a t e d u p s t r e a m o f t h e C o l o r a d o R i v e r • U p d a t e C i t y o f A u s t i n P r o p e r t y P r o f i l e v i e w e r t o s h o w e s t i m a t e d l o c a t i o n o f O H W M C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 18 Other code amendments “A d d r e s s c u r r e n t e nv i ro n m e n t a l c o d e i n c o n s i s t e n c i e s a n d o t h e r m i n o r c o d e r ev i s i o n s i n C h a p t e r s 2 5 - 7 a n d 2 5- 8 t h a t s t a f f h a ve p r ev i o u s l y i d e n t i f i e d a n d r ev i ewe d a s p a r t o f t h e C o d e N ex t a n d t h e L a n d D eve l o p m e n t C o d e r ev i s i o n p ro c e s s. Th e C i t y C o u n c i l i n i t i a t e s o t h e r c o d e a m e n d m e n t s, a s n e c e s s a r y, t o a c c o m p l i s h t h e g o a l s o f t h i s Re s o l u t i o n . Th e C i t y C o u n c i l ex p e c t s t h a t t h e s e c o d e a m e n d m e n t s w i l l u s e t h e p r ev i o u s s t a f f wo rk a n d , w h e r e a p p ro p r i a t e, a d h e r e a s c l o s e l y a s p o s s i bl e t o t h e l a n g u a g e a n d i n t e n t o f t h e o r d i n a n c e s p r ev i o u s l y d r a f t e d a n d r ev i ewe d t h ro u g h t h e p ro p o s e d r ev i s i o n o f t h e L a n d D eve l o p m e n t C o d e.” C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 19 Other code amendments D r a f t Re c o m m e n d a t i o n • U p d a t e t o c o r r e c t d e p a r t m e n t n a m e s a n d a c c o u n t a bl e o f f i c i a l s • M i n o r r e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f c e r t a i n s e c t i o n s • Minor revisions to titles to improve readability • 25-8 Division 1 Critical Water Quality Zone Restrictions renamed Waterway and Floodplain • 25-8 Floodplain modification criteria moved directly after Critical Water Quality Zone • 25-2-1179(B) Bulkhead wave abatement requirements moved to 25-8-261(C) • Move lake fill/land capture & lake dredge requirements to 25-8-261(C) • M i n o r e d i t s t o i m p rove c l a r i t y w i t h o u t c h a n g i n g i n t e n t • Edits to floodplain modification language • Edits to roadside ditch exemption • E xe m p t r a i n wa t e r h a r ve s t i n g c i s t e r n s f ro m i m p e r v i o u s c ove r c a l c u l a t i o n s C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 20 Other code amendments D r a f t Re c o m m e n d a t i o n • S t r e a m l i n e a n d c l a r i f y p ro c e s s f o r r e d eve l o p m e n t exc e p t i o n s i n U r b a n , S u bu r b a n , Wa t e r S u p p l y S u bu r b a n , a n d Wa t e r S u p p l y Ru r a l wa t e r s h e d s • M i n o r e d i t s t o B a r t o n S p r i n g s Z o n e r e d eve l o p m e n t exc e p t i o n t o a l l ow G S I w h e n s e d i m e n t a t i o n / f i l t r a t i o n p o n d s a r e c u r r e n t l y r e q u i r e d • U p d a t e E nv i ro n m e n t a l Re s o u r c e I nve n t o r y r e q u i r e m e n t t o r e m ove c e r t a i n ( W QT Z , E A C o n t r i bu t i n g Z o n e, DW P Z ) t r i g g e r s a n d a d d r e q u i r e m e n t f o r u p l a n d p o n d e d a r e a s p r ev i o u s l y i d e n t i f i e d i n G I S • U p d a t e s t r e e t c ro s s i n g r e q u i r e m e n t s t o u s e l a n g u a g e c o n s i s t e n t w i t h A S M P C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 21 Other code amendments D r a f t Re c o m m e n d a t i o n • A l l ow C r i t i c a l E nv i ro n m e n t a l Fe a t u r e ( C E F ) va r i a n c e s t o b e a p p rove d a t s t a f f l eve l exc e p t w h e n m e c h a n i ze d p e d e s t r i a n a c c e s s ( a k a t r a m s ) i s p ro p o s e d w i t h i n 5 0 0 ’ o f L a ke Au s t i n • A l l ow S t o r m wa t e r C o n t ro l M e a s u r e s ( S C M ) r e t ro f i t s i n f l o o d p l a i n a n d w i t h i n 5 0 ’ o f a C E F t o a d d r e s s ex i s t i n g d r a i n a g e i s s u e s • C l a r i f y ex i s t i n g s u b d i v i s i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s r e l a t e d t o C E F s • Re m ove c o d e l a n g u a g e t h a t ex p l i c i t l y a l l ow s we t l a n d s t o s e r ve a s wa t e r q u a l i t y c o n t ro l s C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 22 Other code amendments D r a f t Re c o m m e n d a t i o n • U p d a t e c u t / f i l l r e s t r i c t i o n s t o a l l ow c u t / f i l l i n exc e s s o f 4 ’ f o r c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s t r e e t o r d r i vewa y n e c e s s a r y t o p rov i d e p r i m a r y a c c e s s w i t h c o n d i t i o n s • Re m ove 2 5 - 8 - 3 6 7 Re l o c a t i o n o f S h o r e l i n e B e t we e n To m M i l l e r D a m a n d L o n g h o r n D a m • S i m p l i f y E n d a n g e r e d S p e c i e s N o t i f i c a t i o n C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 23 Don’t Disincentivize Missing Middle “WHEREAS, small-scale missing middle housing projects (projects ranging from approximately 3 to 12 units) are required to comply with the same water quality, drainage, and site plan requirements as large scale multifamily residential project, while single-family homes are not subject to those requirements, creating an incentive for developers to build single-family homes over missing middle housing to avoid water quality regulations, contributing to urban sprawl and the housing affordability crisis; and WHEREAS, a large single-family home can actually have more impervious cover than a multi- unit development, and the amount of impervious cover for a project is one of the key factors affecting drainage regardless of project type and should be taken into account when evaluating water quality and drainage requirements for site plans;… “ T h e i n i t i a t e d o r d i n a n c e s w i l l e n s u r e t h a t , f o r t h e s a m e e n v i r o n m e n t a l i m p a c t a s a s i n g l e - f a m i l y h o m e , t h e C i t y d o e s n o t d i s i n c e n t i v i z e s m a l l- s c a l e m i s s i n g m i d d l e h o u s i n g p r o j e c t s ” C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 24 Don’t Disincentivize Missing Middle D r a f t Re c o m m e n d a t i o n • C l a r i f y w h i c h e l e m e n t s a p p l y t o s i n g l e f a m i l y r e s i d e n t i a l ex : i m p e r v i o u s c ove r d e f i n i t i o n s, e ro s i o n / s e d i m e n t a t i o n c o n t ro l , wa t e r wa y p ro t e c t i o n s f o r l o t s p l a t t e d a f t e r M a y 1 8 , 1 9 8 6 , c l e a r i n g o f ve g e t a t i o n , c u t , f i l l , S a ve O u r S p r i n g s ( S O S ) • A d o p t s i m i l a r p ro c e s s r e q u i r e m e n t s a s p ro p o s e d i n L D C Rew r i t e C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 25 Don’t Disincentivize Missing Middle D r a f t Re c o m m e n d a t i o n • A l l ow u p t o 1 1 u n i t s ( u n l e s s m o r e a l l owa bl e v i a A f f o r d a b i l i t y U n l o cke d p ro g r a m ) o n ex i s t i n g s i n g l e f a m i l y l o t s t o q u a l i f y a s s m a l l p ro j e c t s i t e p l a n s • S a m e e nv i ro n m e n t a l r e q u i r e m e n t s a s t h o s e t h a t a p p l y t o s i n g l e f a m i l y r e s i d e n t i a l • I m p e r v i o u s c ove r l i m i t o f 5 5 % • S i t e l i m i t o f h a l f a c r e o r l e s s • A d m i n i s t r a t i ve va r i a n c e o p t i o n f o r l o t s w i t h wa t e r wa y s e t b a ck s t h a t we r e e s t a bl i s h e d a f t e r p l a t t i n g C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 26 Don’t Disincentivize Missing Middle D r a f t Re c o m m e n d a t i o n • Re q u i r e S m a l l P ro j e c t S i t e P l a n A p p l i c a t i o n s f o r q u a l i f y i n g p ro j e c t s • E s t a bl i s h e d r ev i ew p ro c e s s w i t h ex i s t i n g f e e s t r u c t u r e f o r p a r t n e r i n g d e p a r t m e n t s • N o n o t i c e • Fa s t e r r ev i ew t i m e C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 27 Staff Report and Analysis C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 28 Staff Report Overview • Ord ina nce Amend m ent Rev iew Sheet • Atta chment A: Sum m a r y of P rop osed Cod e Amend ments • Atta chment B : F is ca l I mp a ct Ana ly sis • Atta chment C: WPD E q uity Rev iew • Afford a bility I mp a ct Sta tement C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T Ordinance Amendment Review Sheet • S u m m a r y o f i n i t i a t e d c o d e a m e n d m e n t s a n d s t a f f p r o p o s a l • N ex t s t e p s • ECM updates • Basic updates to implement amendments • Comprehensive updates of GSI criteria • Policy guidance would support a variance • S t a f f r e c o m m e n d a t i o n • Work with AW to define “major replacement” of a utility line, conditions that • Recommend approval of proposed amendments • Request that Council or Planning Commission initiate amendments to relocate Landscaping to Chapter 25-8(C) • S u m m a r y o f C o m m i s s i o n a n d C o u n c i l a c t i o n s C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T Page 1 of 9 30 Attachment A: Summar y of Proposed Code Amendments • Cod e Section • Typ e of cha ng e • Current sta tus/concern • Prop osed imp rovem ent • B enefits C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T Page 1 of 12 31 Attachment B: Fiscal Impact Analysis • I m p a c t s t o C i t y s t a f f i n g & C i t y p ro j e c t s • G S I • Assumption: private development will use biofiltration systems to comply; scenario with distributed controls • WPD staff impacts • FOD: 1 new FTE to train internal and external stakeholders on best maintenance practices • Pond Inspection & Dam Safety: minimal impact from biofiltration (inspection time); moderate impact from distributed controls (more controls) • Pond Maintenance & Vegetation Crews: minimal impact from biofiltration with turf/groundcover; recommend 1 new crew to address existing capacity issues, maintain CIP projects, maybe provide flexibility for planting requirements C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T Page 1 of 10 32 Attachment B: Fiscal Impact Analysis • GSI , cont. • DSD staff impacts • Water Quality Review: minimal impact from biofiltration (review time); moderate impact from distributed controls (more controls) • Inspections: no impact from biofiltration; moderate impact from distributed controls (more controls) • Impacts to City projects • Minimal impacts to project cost because most City projects already use GSI (2007 Council resolution, Complete Streets Policy, WPD CIP projects) • F unctiona l Green • Increase review and inspection time for DSD staff • 1 FTE in Environmental Review, 1/3 FTE in Environmental Inspection C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 33 Attachment B: Fiscal Impact Analysis • Prohibiting in-cha nnel p ond s • Neutral to positive impact on staffing (decreased review times) • No impact to City projects; in-channel ponds still allowed if no alternative • New utility lines, ma jor rep la cements, a nd ea s ements in CWQZ • Clarification of current code; neutral to positive impact on staffing • Holding easements to the same standard as utility lines reduces risk by eliminating the need for a variance • Acquiring compliant easements might be more costly; increase in cost for projects that would have acquired a non-compliant easement C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 34 Attachment B: Fiscal Impact Analysis • Wetla nd p rotections a long La ke B ird La ke • Minimal impact on staffing (increased reviews) • Potential increase in permitting time and construction cost for City parkland projects that require wetland mitigation • Other m inor a mend m ents • Clarifications: neutral to positive impact on staffing (decreased review times), no impact to project cost • Code changes: neutral to positive impact on staffing and project cost • Not d isincentivizing missing mid d le • Increase in review time for some 1- and 2-unit projects; decrease in review time for qualifying 3- to 11-unit projects C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 35 Attachment B: Fiscal Impact Analysis • Exp a nd ed CWQZ a nd EHZ a na ly sis buffer on Colora d o River d owns trea m of Long horn Da m • Expanded EHZ analysis buffer likely to increase staff review time because development in the outer half of the CWQZ will trigger analysis • Expanded CWQZ limits the type of development that can be located outside of the floodplain between 200-400 feet of the OHWM • More City projects may require EHZ analysis and either be relocated or provide protective works for proposed development • However, protecting public infrastructure from erosion saves the City money in the long run C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 36 Attachment C: Equity Response, Summary, and Recommendations • Key find ing s of Technica l A s sis ta nce Group • Amendments offer potentially positive community impacts with unknown affordability concerns that could pose potential unintended consequences • Supported moving forward with the amendments with conditions • Recommend a tions • Recommend immediate development of a WPD program to provide funding to cost share deeply affordable housing developments to meet existing water quality and drainage requirements as well as the proposed code amendments related to “green” infrastructure C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T Page 1 of 2 37 Attachment C: Equity Response, Summary, and Recommendations • Recommend a tions, cont. • Recommend immediate attention to potential internal equity impacts within WPD, specifically to FOD, in coordination with findings in the Fiscal Impact Analysis • Evaluate potential impacts to workload and allocate immediate resources for staffing, training, facilities, and equipment to ensure there is abundant capacity to meet the anticipated increases that may result from this proposal • Ensure Field Operations Division is a primary stakeholder in developing and implementing related future recommendations such that design standards are oriented towards long term maintenance needs • Recommend tracking for staff administrative variances in proposal to ensure accountability in internal equitable decision-making C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 38 Attachment C: Equity Response, Summary, and Recommendations • Recommend a tions, cont. • Recommend the TAG continue to coordinate with the project team on the Phase 2 deliverable and conduct a more in-depth assessment of equity impacts for the specific components of the proposal. This work may include development of a proposed framework and process for evaluating code amendments for equity impacts going forward. • Develop scope for a full equity assessment of all environmental code to be conducted in 2023 with recommendations for potential code changes presented to Council by Fall of 2023 C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 39 Questions? C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 40