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| L.A.'s new green development ordinances should lead to increased environmental sustainability in unincorporated areas of the County. |
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In what may mark its most environmentally progressive action taken to date, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has passed three far-reaching green development ordinances.
Implementation should result in a significant reduction in peak storm flows and pollutant loads, augmentation of existing groundwater supplies and conservation of water and energy.
On October 7, 2008, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed three far-reaching ordinances: Low Impact Development, Green Building and Drought Tolerant Landscaping. The approval of the green development ordinances may be the Board's most environmentally progressive action taken to date.
Together, these ordinances should lead to increased environmental sustainability in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Implementation should result in a significant reduction in peak storm flows and pollutant loads, augmentation of existing groundwater supplies and conservation of water and energy, to name a few benefits.
Heal the Bay focused advocacy efforts on the Low Impact Development (LID) ordinance, as LID concepts are closely tied with our everyday work. Since urban runoff is the single greatest contributor of pollution to waterbodies in Los Angeles County and throughout the state, the widespread implementation of LID concepts is an essential element in improving our region’s water quality.
The goal of the ordinance and LID in general is for all new development to mimic stormwater flows coming off of the property pre-development. To accomplish this goal, the ordinance requires that the difference in runoff volumes pre-and post-development must be infiltrated on site or treated for all commercial developments and residential developments greater than four units. For those residential developments under four units, the project design must include at least two LID features.
The Green Building and Drought Tolerant Plan ordinances also make great strides in environmental protection. Below are a few examples of the requirements:
- All new developments must install smart irrigation controllers for landscape irrigation
- In 2010 all buildings above 10,000 square feet and greater must be LEED certified those developments above 25,000 square feet or higher than 75 feet must receive LEED Silver certification
- All new developments must consume at least 15% less energy than required by 2005 state efficiency standards
- A minimum of 75% of total landscaped area shall be plants that are drought-tolerant. Only 25% of the landscaped area can be turf.
Heal the Bay will closely track the implementation of these policies and advocate for other local governments to adopt similar ordinances.
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