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Placer Low Impact Development Guidebook
An inclusive approach to creating an innovative Guidebook to protect and enhance the water quality of Placer County and surrounding areas in the Yuba, Truckee and American River watersheds through the promotion of innovative, cost effective, stormwater management techniques applicable to the higher elevations.
The Placer County Low Impact Development Guidebook will be a web-based document providing planning and design guidance to promote and encourage the application of appropriate Low Impact Development (LID) principles and strategies for new and redevelopment projects in the high-elevation areas of Placer County and other higher elevation communities. The development of the Guidebook is funded by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and Placer County. LID is a stormwater management approach that emphasizes conservation and use of existing natural site features integrated with distributed, small-scale stormwater controls to mimic the natural water balance for a site. The purpose of this Guidebook is to provide regional planning procedures and general guidance on site design and development techniques for improving the quality and reducing the quantity of storm water runoff from new development and significant redevelopment, with the goal of attaining natural pre-development conditions to comply with changing local, state and federal water quality regulations.
When implemented early in the planning and design process, the strategy allows developers to address multiple objectives in a single site design, including runoff reduction, groundwater recharge and water quality/habitat protection. LID is a versatile approach that can be applied to new development, urban retrofits, and redevelopment/revitalization projects.
Project Process
Sierra Business Council is partnering with technical consultants and Placer County Staff to produce the Guidebook with the help of a Technical Advisory Committee. The technical consultants, along with Placer County Planning, Public Works and Engineering & Surveying are assisting with sections of the Guidebook. The development of the Guidebook includes a community-driven process supported by local stakeholders. The Technical Advisory Committee includes local representation from the construction and development industry (architect, engineers, urban planner, landscape architect, soils specialists, contractor’s association), environmental and watershed groups, and academia.
The Guidebook promotes an integrated approach that involves multiple stakeholders in the early stage of planning a development. The Guidebook will provide planning and design guidance for policy/ government decision makers, planners, civil/stormwater/geotechnical/ transportation engineers, designers (architects, landscape architects), builders/contractors/developers, property owners, businesses, public works/facilities services maintenance staff, emergency services professionals (fire response/ protection), environmental stewards, and regulators.
Project Objectives - Serve as a guidance/advisory document, rather than specifying regulatory requirements
- Address residential, commercial and public/institutional (i.e. local/state/ federal government, schools, etc.) projects
- Identify LID strategies consistent with applicable water quality regulations and objectives
- Be as comprehensive as possible for a select group of LID techniques that are appropriate in Placer County and other higher elevation communities
- Describe cost effectiveness of LID practices, including reduced capital and long-term maintenance costs
- Promote other benefits, such as water conservation and reduction of greenhouse gases
Please contact Martini Morris for more information. |
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