Preliminary Design of the HBA’s LID project.

The project was funded by a grant from the Puget Sound Action Team in 2005. The agency selected five cities and six counties, including Poulsbo and Kitsap County, under its LID Local Assistance Regulation Project. This year, the city of Port Orchard also received a grant from the program.

“In the long run, it will help the citizens save money,” said Port Orchard Mayor Kim Abel. “It will also help the environment by mimicking the water infiltration system.”

Low impact development is a series of methods used to control stormwater runoff in a way that is environmentally friendly. The runoff is usually processed on site, in a way that mimics the natural process. Although recognized as an environmentally friendly and efficient way to process runoff, low impact development usually requires a more extensive permit process. The goal of the new language would be to come up with guidelines that allow builders to use the techniques, according to Jeff Rowe-Hornbaker with the county’s Community Development Department.

The Homebuilders Association of Kitsap County (HBA) has spearheaded the issue, and has received grants that will help develop countywide regulations. One part of the HBA’s LID efforts includes building a demonstration project, which was also funded by a grant.

The HBA is developing a demonstration project on its own office site in Bremerton that will incorporate a few techniques including several types of pervious pavement, a bioretention cell or rain garden, and a rooftop garden. The geotech analysis has been completed, and once the engineers complete the drawings, a construction schedule will be set. Local builder Mike Brown of FPH Construction was selected as the general contractor.

The HBA hopes to begin construction by the end of September, according to Executive Vice President Art Castle. “The project is still evolving. The exact details haven’t been determined yet,” he said.

The rain garden will be 20 to 40 feet long, located parallel to Auto Center Way. The system will use amended soils and plants that will remove pollutants, then infiltrate the stormwater, eliminating the need for a retention pond. A new shed will be built that will feature the rooftop garden that will process most of the rain water, with the excess to flow through the pervious pavement.

“It will become a showcase, not only for the public but also for the industry,” Castle said. Part of the challenge with incorporating LID in the county is not only lack of consistent regulations but also lack of qualified local contractors. The demonstration project will help train local builders.

The HBA also continues its work on a comprehensive, countywide strategy to adopt LID into local building codes. Castle said the work the local jurisdictions are doing through the Puget Sound Action Team complements the HBA’s approach.

“It’s a good supplement to what we are doing,” he said. “We would like to have standards that are consistent in all the jurisdictions.”.