Reducing Development Impacts on Water Resources
 

Low Impact Design Workshop - July 23 & 24, 2002


The Upper Neuse River Basin Association, North Carolina Wetlands Restoration Program (NCWRP), North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Triangle J Council of Governments (TJCOG) hosted a two-day workshop on July 23 and 24, 2002 with a focus on reducing the impacts of land development on water resources. The keynote speaker was Larry Coffman, the Associate Director of Programs and Planning Division in Prince George's County, Maryland's Department of Environmental Resources. Mr. Coffman is a pioneer of the recent movement to integrate Low Impact Development (LID) practices into mainstream stormwater management. He is also author of the EPA-sponsored LID manual, Low-Impact Development Design Strategies, An Integrated Design Approach.

Seventy-six people representing various local governments, state agencies, and other organizations attended all or part of the two-day workshop. Attendees included local elected officials, planners and engineers, state water quality staff, developers, private consultants, university researchers and instructors, and representatives of citizen based advocacy groups.

The workshop schedule is listed below, with links to a summary for each session. Powerpoint presentations are available on CD for sessions with a Presentation Available on CD beside them. To request a CD, contact Chris Dreps. There will be a small charge for postage and handling.

Workshop Schedule

Day 1: Introduction to Low Impact Design

Welcome and Opening Remarks
Cora Cole-McFadden, UNRBA Board of Directors & Durham City Council Member

A Snapshot of Stormwater Management in the Upper Neuse Watershed  Presentation Available on CD
Chris Dreps, Program Coordinator, UNRBA; and, Ben Hitchings, Senior Planner, Triangle J COG

Why is Low Impact Design Important for Local Governments: Environmental and Economic Benefits  Presentation Available on CD
Larry Coffman, Associate Director of Programs and Planning Division, Department of Environmental Resources, Prince George's County, MD

Making Low Impact Design Happen at the Local Level: Local Governments and Developers in Partnership  Presentation Available on CD
Larry Coffman

Local Panel on Implementing Low Impact Design
John Cox, City of Durham Stormwater Services
Jim Wahlbrink, Raleigh-Wake County Home Builders Association
Stephen Hiltner, Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association
Response from Larry Coffman

Lunch presentation #1: Region J High Performance Building Guidelines  Presentation Available on CD
Judy Kincaid, Solid Waste/Materials Resource Program Manager, Triangle J Council of Governments

Lunch presentation #2: Case Studies of Low Impact Design  Presentation Available on CD
Larry Coffman



DAY 2: Implementing Low Impact Design at the Local Government Level

Welcome and Opening Remarks
Kenn Gardner, UNRBA Board of Directors and Wake County Commissioner

UNRBA Code and Ordinance Worksheet Survey Results  Presentation Available on CD
Chris Dreps, Program Coordinator, UNRBA; and, Ben Hitchings, Senior Planner, Triangle J COG

The Nuts and Bolts of Low Impact Design: Planning, Site Design, Analysis, Inspection Enforcement and Urban Retrofit  Presentation Available on CD
Larry Coffman, Associate Director of Programs and Planning Division, Department of Environmental Resources, Prince George's County, MD

Breakout Sessions:

  1. Non-traditional BMPs
    Facilitator:  Ken Krulik, Kerr-Tar Council of Governments
    Experts:Nancy White, North Carolina State University
     Michael Ortosky, Soil & Environmental Consultants
     Larry Coffman, Prince George's County, MD


  2. Impervious surfaces (streets, parking lots, driveways, etc.)
    Facilitator:  Milt Rhodes, N.C. Dept. of Env. and Nat. Resources
    Expert:Bob Chapman, The TND Fund


  3. Critical lands protection
    Facilitator:  George Norris, N.C. Wetlands Restoration Prog.
    Experts:Rich Shaw, Orange County Env. and Resource Cons.
     Jane Korest, Durham City/County Planning Dept.
     Rick Bailey, Wake County Soil & Water Cons. District

Measuring Site Impacts: A Potential Evaluation Tool  Presentation Available on CD
Trevor Clements, Tetra Tech, Inc.

Where Do We Go From Here?
Pat Davis, Water Resources Program Manager, Triangle J Council of Governments

Final Observations
Larry Coffman

Closing
Chris Dreps

Appendix A: Complete listing of workshop attendees and their organizational affiliations.

Appendix B: Summary of Workshop Evaluations.

Appendix C: Top 10 Internet Resources for Low Impact Development

See also: Model Development Principles from a workshop handout.