Low-Impact Development (LID)
The low impact development approach to developing land and managing stormwater is to imitate the natural movement of water through a site.
Where forests and natural open spaces have been cleared, and buildings, roads, parking areas and lawns dominate the landscape, rainfall now becomes stormwater runoff, carrying pollutants to nearby waters.
The City is working on many fronts to encourage and support builders and developers who want to use low impact development techniques.
- To encourage use of compost amended soils, Redmond developed landscaping guidelines in 1998.
- To protect the unique character and environment in North Redmond, many LID techniques are required as part of the North Redmond Neighborhood Plan, adopted in 2006.
- The City's 2006 Regional Facilities Plan describes the City's plan to incorporate low impact development as part of an overall approach to managing stormwater.
- The Stormwater Technical Notebook provides stormwater management requirements for development projects. It encourages low impact development. Use of LID can lead to smaller stormwater ponds, thereby reducing costs for developers.
- The Residential Green Building Program is a voluntary program that offers priority review for all residential applicants that build green.
- The City recently adopted new residential development regulations to encourage sustainable development and natural stormwater management techniques in new residential developments.
- The City is in the process of updating the Stormwater Technical Notebook to make LID even easier to incorporate into site design.