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EAC Agenda 05/01/2013 2013 Environmental Advisory Council Agenda May 1 , 2013 AGENDA COLLIER COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCIL WILL MEET AT 9:00 A.M., WEDNESDAY,MAY 1, 2013 IN THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING ROOM, ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER, 3299 TAMIAMI TRAIL EAST, NAPLES, FLORIDA I. Call to Order II. Roll Call Ill. Approval of Agenda IV. Approval of January 2, 2013 meeting minutes V. Upcoming Environmental Advisory Council Absences VI. Land Use Petitions - None VII. New Business- None VIII. Old Business- None IX. Council Member Comments A. Subcommittee Report—Land Development Code and Growth Management Plan Subcommittee B. Update members on projects X. Staff Comments Xl. Public Comments XII. Adjournment Council Members: Please notify Summer Araque (252-6290) no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2013 if you cannot attend this meeting or if you have a conflict and will abstain from voting on a petition. General Public: Any person who decides to appeal a decision of this Board will need a record of the proceedings pertaining thereto; and therefore may need to ensure that a verbatim record of proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. DRAFT 4/25/2013 LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT Pollution discharge into natural water systems is a nationwide and local concern. "The objective of this Act is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters." Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §1251 et seq. (1972). [T]he comprehensive plan shall include ... [a] conservation element for the conservation, use, and protection of natural resources in the area, including air, water, water recharge areas, wetlands, waterwells, estuarine marshes, soils, beaches, shores, flood plains, rivers, bays, lakes, harbors, forests, fisheries and wildlife, marine habitat, minerals, and other natural and environmental resources, including factors that affect energy conservation. § 163.3177(6)(d), Fla. Stat. "Required and optional elements of comprehensive plan..." Goal 2: "To Protect the County's surface and estuarine water resources." Collier County Growth Management Plan, Conservation and Coastal Management Element [need to confirm new language]. Introduction. The environmental Advisory Council is fully committed to doing whatever it can, within its jurisdiction, to clean and protect Collier's water resources. This environmental report seeks to implement Collier's multimillion dollar "Watershed Management Plan" ("WMP"). Collier County Watershed Management Plan The WMP's first, non-structural, and least expensive, recommendation is the adoption of a Low Impact Development (LID) Program. Unfortunately, a LID policy in not in the County's Growth Management Plan, nor are there LID land development regulations. LID is a well established progressive approach to stormwater management that relies on hydrology-based site planning and design. LID aims at minimizing the volume of runoff and associated pollutant loads reaching the receiving water bodies and managing it as close as possible to where it is generated. Techniques defined as micro-controls are implemented in a dispersed fashion throughout a site. The basic principle is to attempt to mimic pre-development hydrology by retaining or treating stormwater runoff close to the source thereby replicating the natural pathways. Examples of LID techniques include a) use of pervious pavement to minimize runoff volume; b) construction of rain gardens, localized infiltration areas, or created systems of filter marshes to treat stormwater runoff; c) storage and re-use of stormwater for irrigation purposes; and d) minimizing the extent of the directly connected impervious area hydraulically connected to the stormwater conveyance system, and thence to a basin's outlet point, without flowing over pervious areas. The implementation of the proposed LID program is expected to be, at worst, cost neutral for the development community. The main benefit of implementing the proposed DRAFT 1 DRAFT 4/25/2013 program is the achievement of countywide water quality improvements of the County's water bodies due to pollution load reductions, recharge of groundwater, and reduced fresh water releases to estuaries. Research has shown the watershed imperviousness has a direct relationship to stream degradation. In addition, as indicated previously, exclusive reliance on conventional structural techniques is not allowing streams to meet water quality standards. Therefore, a new approach based on the preservation of a site's natural features has been found to be an effective way to minimize pollution loads and help preserve the natural system. Growth Management. Federal and State laws require Collier County to restore polluted waters and protect vulnerable natural resources. Anticipating future growth, Collier County adopted policies to protect surface and estuarine water resources. A LID program must be codified in the County's Growth Management Plan and implemented in the LDC. All advisory boards should make recommendations to incentivize LID tools when reviewing development proposals. Land use decisions are critical to the success of a LID program and clean water resources. Examples of existing LIDs in the County are shown at the end of this report. Intra County and Regional Coordination. Collier County is diverse. With urbanized, rural fringe, rural, agricultural, and conservation areas. We have both incorporated cities and unincorporated areas. Growth management and stormwater management coordination is imperative. Uncoordinated decisions in one area likely will impact other areas. Preparation for population growth countywide within planning areas is vital. Understanding how other counties in our region accommodate development and manage stormwater is a necessity. The following provides a snapshot of regional stormwater strategies and offers recommendations for Collier County. The Collier County Board of County Commission has "accepted"the WMP that Collier contains significant LID recommendations. To date, however, the County has County not authorized a LID manual, LID land development regulations, or LID policies in the Growth Management Plan. The City of Naples does promote LID and businesses have successfully implemented LID systems in the City. DRAFT 2 DRAFT 4/25/2013 Lee County Charlotte County LID and BMP http://www2.charlottefl.com/CompPlan/main/v iew_doc.aspx?show_comments=t rue&docid=9#contentelement 5916 SWM Objective 3.3 Low Impact Development and Green Infrastructure To achieve long-term benefits such as improved water quality, improved air quality, improved groundwater infiltration and recharge, increased water storage, expanded wildlife habitat, expanded recreational opportunities and visual relief within the urban environment by incorporating low impact development design criteria and green infrastructure as part of the stormwater management system. SWM Policy 3.3.1 Low Impact Development Effort The County, in partnership with other government, non-profit, and private entities, shall seek grant funding to establish a Low Impact Development (LID) research and training facility to clarify best local area practices and to educate Charlotte the public and the development community about sustainable site development County best management practices. SWM Policy 3.3.2 Low Impact Development Research Prior to development of a full-scale LID research and training facility, the County shall establish an LID library and LID advocacy group that will arrange training from the SWFWMD, and others, that will be responsible for developing and maintaining the LID research and training facility. SWM Policy 3.3.3 Low Impact Development Design Criteria The County shall incorporate LID design criteria, best management practices (BMPs), and stormwater credits into its Code of Laws and Ordinances and capital projects practices within one year of the effective date of this comprehensive plan, and in coordination with State and WMD initiatives. Pre-design BMPs may include but are not limited to: 1. Tree, topographical, soil, and wildlife surveys; 2. The provision and preservation of native landscaping and natural water flows; 3. Narrow road designs; 4. The preservation of natural depressions; DRAFT 3 DRAFT 4/25/2013 5. The conservation of existing vegetation and resulting habitats. Post-design BMPs may include but are not limited to: 1. Bioretention areas, biofilters, and rain gardens; 2. Bioswales or grassed and vegetated swales; 3. Dry wells; 4. Filter buffer strips; 5. Green infrastructure; 6. Green roofs or vegetated roofs; 7. Infiltration trenches; 8. Inlet pollution removal devices; 9. Native landscaping; 10. Permeable or porous pavement and pavers; 11. Rain barrels and cisterns; 12. Soil amendments or soil augmentation; 13. Stormwater planters; 14. Tree planting and tree preservation; 15. Tree box filters; 16. Vegetated buffers; 17. Wetland restoration. SWM Policy 3.3.4 Best Management Practices The County shall encourage new development and redevelopment to design stormwater management systems to incorporate BMPs including, but not limited to, filtration marshes, grassed swales planted with native vegetation, retention/detention lakes with enlarged littoral zones, upland buffers, preserved or restored wetlands, and meandering flow-ways. Miami- Dade County Research on LID for Monroe County has led me to this video and multi-county coop to address sustainable needs, though I have not found a spelled out LID plan yet I have found that Monroe and its connected counties are aware and Monroe active in educating and changing its areas. County http://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/mediacenter.aspx?VID=4 http://www.broward.orb/NATURALRESOURCES/CLIMATECI IANGE/Pages/ SoutheastFloridaRegionaICI imateCompact.aspx DRAFT 4 DRAFT 4/25/2013 Sarasota County Recommendations. DRAFT 5