Presented at:
Post-Construction Storm Water
Ordinance Training
November 17, 2015
Presented by:
Don Ceccarelli, PE, CFM

Current BUA Percentages By Basin

Current BUA Percentages By Parcel

Built-Upon Area (BUA) Background
Water Supply Watershed rules adopted between 1993 and 2001 require the installation of structural best management practices (BMPs) when
BUA reaches >24% (>20% in Lower
Lake Wylie Critical Area) and also set a cap on the total BUA.
Design requirements:
•
BUA shown on plans
•
Low Density / High Density BUA determinations required
•
BMPs sized for BUA
Construction requirements:
•
BMP easement on plat
•
O&M agreement recorded
•
Final Inspection of BMP
• BUA limit recorded on plat for single-family residential (SFR)
• BUA compliance demonstrated by asbuilt survey for SFR
Water Supply Watershed Areas in Mecklenburg County

Built-Upon Area (BUA) Background
Water Supply Watershed
(continued)
Implementation Issues:
•
No BUA left for homeowner improvements
•
Communication of limits
• SURPRISE…Non-Compliance when selling home
Alternatives:
•
Require reserve BUA on lots
• Overdesign BMPs for future
•
Change design standards (driveway strips)
•
Density Averaging Programs
Water Supply Watershed Areas in Mecklenburg County

Built-Upon Area (BUA) Background
Post-Construction rules went into effect in 2007 and 2008 for the
Towns, County and City of Charlotte that apply countywide. These rules require the installation of BMPs when
BUA exceeds a specific threshold.
Design requirements:
• BUA required to be shown on plans
•
Low Density / High Density BUA determinations required
•
BMPs sized for BUA
Construction requirements:
• BMP easement on plat
•
O&M agreement recorded
•
Final Inspection of BMP
• BUA limit recorded on plat for single-family residential (SFR)
• BUA compliance demonstrated by as-built survey for SFR
Post-Construction Areas in Mecklenburg County

Built-Upon Area (BUA) Background
Post-Construction
(continued)
Implementation Issues:
•
Ensuring future compliance of low density projects designed at
23.999% BUA
•
No lot limits on plat, how to prevent non-compliance
•
Communication of limits
Post-Construction Areas in Mecklenburg County

1. How can we better communicate BUA limits to the public and designers?
2. Why are commercial projects not required to demonstrate compliance with BUA limits after construction?
3. Why is BUA regulated different for Post-
Construction projects than for Watershed projects?
4. How to track BUA to ensure Low Density BUA
Limits are not exceeded and ensure BMPs do not become under-designed?
5. Can City / County develop a consistent regulatory approach?

Goal: Develop an effective and efficient process for tracking and reporting the amount of built-upon area on parcels in Mecklenburg County as well as the specific built-upon area requirements applicable to these parcels .
Status: Beginning in November 2014, six (6) action items have been identified by City and County staff and are in the process of being completed.

BUA Tracking – Update on 6 Action Items
Action Item #1: For Watershed lots, place a notification in
POLARIS indicating BUA restrictions.
Status: Complete

BUA Tracking – Update on 6 Action Items
Action Item #2: Develop a method for improving the tracking of BUA limits through Polaris.
Status: Complete

BUA Tracking – Update on 6 Action Items
Action Item #3: Ensure that updated plats are placed on the website.
Status: Complete

BUA Tracking – Update on 6 Action Items
Action Item #4: Research ordinance language to allow added BUA to be required for new development.
Status: Complete
[1] Residential subdivisions approved after 2/17/03 shall reserve, at minimum, 1% of the lot area but in no case less than 150 sq. ft. impervious area per lot to allow for addition of future impervious areas by homeowner/occupant

BUA Tracking – Update on 6 Action Items
Action Item #5: Scans are deleted from Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement’s
Document Control database after six (6) years. These scans contain the BUA information for specific parcels. Once deleted, these records are permanently lost.
Status: Complete. Code Enforcement is not deleting/purging documents even if older than six years. Digital versions of many of these records are maintained on the Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement website at: http://imaging.mecklenburgcountync.gov/diwebportal/default.aspx

BUA Tracking – Update on 6 Action Items
Action Item #6: Develop a consistent process for the City and
County to ensure compliance with BUA restrictions after projects have been completed. If a consistent process cannot be developed between the City and County, then the processes will be developed separately.
Status: City and County are working together on a process.
In the interim, the Towns are requiring as-built surveys of built-upon area both for residential and commercial projects subject to Post-Construction ordinances and maximum allowable BUA per lot on plats.

Regency Park Neighborhood

Regency Park Neighborhood

Regency Park Neighborhood

Regency Park Neighborhood

Regency Park Neighborhood

Regency Park Neighborhood

Regency Park Neighborhood

Regency Park Neighborhood

Regency Park Neighborhood

Regency Park Neighborhood

Regency Park Neighborhood

Regency Park Neighborhood

Regency Park Neighborhood