§ 6.01.00. Alternative design standards.

6.01.01.

Green infrastructure and low impact development.

1.

A predesign meeting with county staff is required to review preliminary designs involving the green infrastructure and low impact development items listed below. County staff, including the stormwater quality and pollution prevention department director and/or designee, will evaluate proposed design options on a case-by-case basis to determine potential impacts to safety considerations and adjacent properties, practicability, compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and rules, etc. Site designs utilizing green infrastructure/low impact development must be approved by the stormwater quality and pollution prevention department director and/or designee during the predesign stages of site plan development. It is the responsibility of the property owner, developer, contractor, agent, operator, etc. (those responsible for day-to-day operational control of project plans and specifications to ensure compliance) to have such approvals prior to advancing with site design strategies or applying for necessary permits from the county or other municipalities, agencies, etc.

2.

The county will consider design options including, but not limited to, the following items:

A.

Site preservation and conservation considerations (i.e. greenspace, extended buffering of aquatic resource areas and features, mature canopy and/or preferred vegetative community preservation, reduced impervious surface footprint, avoidance of soil disturbance to steep slopes, etc.), especially in those areas where native vegetation and/or highly productive soils are present;

B.

Redevelopment sites, where proposed post-construction conditions would result in runoff water quality and/or other environmental improvements to the existing condition of the site;

C.

Use of pervious/permeable material(s) for parking areas and private roadways under twenty-five (25) mph;

D.

Use of pervious/permeable material(s) for driveways, consistent with current Georgia Stormwater Management Manual specifications;

E.

Use of bio-retention islands and/or other green practices which accomplish increased on-site infiltration;

F.

Implementation of rain gardens, rain barrels, and/or other rain collection practices, so long as such practices are constructed and maintained in accordance with other applicable ordinances;

G.

Collection of roof stormwater drainage and/or discharge into undisturbed, appropriate pervious areas, as determined by a certified soil scientist, environmental scientist, geologist, or other appropriate professional;

H.

Tree saves, native species planting, extended vegetated buffers, and other practices that increase post-development shading;

I.

Parking lot size reduction/use of parking decks, consistent with current Georgia Stormwater Management Manual specifications;

J.

Landscaped/bioretention islands in roadways and/or cul-de-sacs;

K.

Reduction of residential driveway widths;

3.

Additional and further guidance on alternative green infrastructure and low impact development design considerations is provided in the most current Georgia Stormwater Management Manual. As required, Henry County has adopted the most current Georgia Stormwater Management Manual for guidance and implementation of green infrastructure and low impact development site designs.

6.01.02.

Traditional neighborhood development (TND). (Reserved)

6.01.03.

Rural neighborhood commercial (RNC). (Reserved)

6.01.04.

Transit-oriented design (TOD). (Reserved)

( Ord. No. 17-17, § I, 12-5-17 )