DEPARTMENT: Planning and Community Development
DEPARTMENT HEAD: John Dugan
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-wide
SUBJECT:
Briefing and discussion on impervious cover regulations for newly annexed territory.
SUMMARY:
Briefing and discussion on impervious cover regulations for newly annexed territory.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On September 11, 2015, District 8 Councilman Ron Nirenberg filed a memorandum to the Mayor and City Council on the need to address the City's impervious cover policy and the potential negative impact should annexation allow more impervious surface coverage over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone.
On September 30, 2015, at a City Council "B Session" related to the five priority annexation areas, staff recommended referral of the impervious cover issue for newly annexed territory to the Neighborhoods and Livability Committee. On October 19, 2015 the Neighborhoods and Livability Committee reviewed impervious cover in newly annexed areas. The impervious surface cover discussion was further referred to the Comprehensive Planning Committee, incorporating responses to questions raised by the Neighborhoods and Livability Committee.
ISSUE:
The development of land above the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone is managed, in part, by the City's Water Quality Ordinance in Chapter 34 of the City Code. The ordinance sets maximum impervious coverage limits for new development on properties in the City limits and the City's extraterritorial jurisdiction. More impervious cover is currently permitted within the City Limits than in the City's extraterritorial jurisdiction. Maximum impervious cover in unincorporated Bexar County is 15% for all development. Within the City Limits, the maximum impervious cover ranges from 30% for residential single family subdivisions, 50% for multi-family development, and 65% for commercial development.
Projects currently considered Category 3 with restrictions on development at 15% imp...
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