Post Construction Runoff Control/Land Development Provisions WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? The process of developing land into subdivisions, shopping centers, or office parks typically has a tremendous impact upon the quality of streams in the vicinity of the development both during and after the construction phase. Every time rain falls on a development, it washes off oils, bacteria, litter, sediment, fertilizers, and chemicals from streets, parking lots, lawns, dumpster pads, and metal roofs. Knowledgeable design of developments can solve the problem of contaminated runoff at the source. Georgia’s local governments can guide their new development to meet these concerns. Some examples of land development provisions that can be made to protect Georgia water quality include density and infill zoning, limiting the amount of impervious surfaces in parking lots, roofs, streets, etc., limiting curbing of streets, incorporating vegetated swales, treatment of “hot spots” such as dumpster pads, providing biking and walking paths for non-automotive transportation alternatives, and using porous pavement materials. Many of these land development provisions can be adopted into community plans and implemented by modifying zoning ordinances. Relevant Initiatives, Resources, and Contacts: Georgia Stormwater Management Manual. Volume One and Two: Stormwater Policy Guidebook, Atlanta Regional Commission, 2000, (404) 463-3100 (404) 463-3205 (fax), On the web at http://www.georgiastormwater.com/ Non point Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) is a group of affiliated projects that educate local land use decision makers about the relationship of land use to natural resource protection. NEMO Project, University of Connecticut (860) 3454511, (860) 345-3357 (fax), http://nemo.uconn.edu Alliance for Quality Growth was formed to increase awareness and understanding among Georgia policy makers, planners, developers, and the general public of the wide variety of planning tools available for promoting efficient land use in urban and suburban areas. http://aqg.ecology.uga.edu/index.html Georgia Quality Growth Partnership web site has an on-line Toolkit containing a number of relevant conservation fact sheets, model ordinances, and other tools for agricultural buffers, conservation easements, conservation subdivisions, transferrable development rights, and much more. Click on Toolkit at: http://www.georgiaqualitygrowth.com University of Georgia Institute of Ecology, Office of Public Service an Outreach has extensive information on education, research, publications, tools, and community services related to land conservation and protection, quality growth, greenspace planning, riparian protection, watershed studies and more: http://outreach.ecology.uga.edu/index.html National Menu of BMPs for NPDES Storm Water Phase II contains over 100 fact sheets describing both structural and nonstructural management practices: http://www.epa.gov/npdes/menuofbmps/menu.htm Also there is a USEPA Storm Water Phase II Final Rule Hotline: 202-260-5816 or sw2@epa.gov . The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Georgia Planning web site provides a variety of assistance to local governments designed to strengthen their planning efforts, including guidance in developing local comprehensive plans consistent with state planning requirements and providing technical and financial assistance for implementing the plans: http://georgiaplanning.com/ Georgia’s 16 Regional Development Centers (RDCs) assist local governments with comprehensive planning, land and water protection, and much more. Information and links can be found at: http://dca.state.ga.us/planning/regdev.html Local Government Environmental Assistance Network (LGEAN) has a “Toolbox” containing information or links to information on many topics important to local governments including stormwater management, urban forestry, smart growth, wastewater, as well as, a consultants . http://www.lgean.org/ Georgia Association of Stormwater Management Agencies has information on NPDES Phase II requirements, TMDLs, BMPs, implementing stormwater utilities, and how to involve/educate the public at http://www.gasma.org/ Land Development Provisions to Protect Georgia Water Quality is a document that discusses the many options available for developing land while reducing the impact on water resources. It’s available online at: http://www.georgianet.org/dnr/environ under “Engineering and Technical Support”