| The Home Builders Association of Kitsap County in October submitted its contract to the state Department of Ecology for a $182,500 grant to develop and implement low impact development standards in the county. The grant will be matched by about $60,000 of in-kind contributions.
Low impact development is a sustainable storm-water management program that mimics the natural hydrology of a site. It is an environmentally friendly approach that has a variety of possible elements that range from rooftop gardens instead of retention ponds to impermeable pavement.
The focus on stormwater's impact on wildlife habitat has been growing in the region, and several jurisdictions and environmental groups in areas ranging from Seattle to Olympia have been discussing LID as an effective way to preserve or even restore native soils and vegetation and minimize the impact of development on the environment. But one of the LID principles' biggest challenge is that they often don't comply with current regulations, in some cases even contradicting them, and requires an extensive permitting process.
The HBA applied for the EPA Section 19 grant about a year ago for the LID project, and was ranked No. 23 of 109 requests, according to Art Castle, Kitsap HBA executive vice president.
Once the contract is signed by the state, the organization will begin the process of hiring a consultant.
A leadership team that includes biologists, planners, city and county officials has been assembled to help plan the workshop topics and work with the consultant. Castle said the goal is to engage stakeholders, ranging from the fire department and roads officials to builders, from early on in the process of developing the regulations.
Several workshops will be scheduled for different groups, a design manual will be created, and industry training will be part of the work. Once new standards are developed, the HBA will continue to work with the four Kitsap cities and the county to get them implemented.
The grant is designed for the years 2005-08, and Castle says their goal, admittedly aggressive, is to have the standards developed and the manual complete by the end of next year. He said the HBA expected authorization by the beginning of November to start the project, and will immediately advertise for the consultant, whose job will also include facilitating workshops and public education.
“We are very excited about the opportunity to do this because low impact development provides very environmentally friendly (methods) yet can provide cost-savings and reduce liability,” Castle said. “It is not a total solution, but a partial solution to stormwater management.”
The successful grant for the LID program was written by Kathleen Byrne-Barrantes of Poulsbo-based Grant Solutions for Kitsap County. | 