County May Get Tougher With Builders Proposed Ordinance Would Crack Down On Erosion, Runoff From Construction Sites

After they design their projects but before they can get permits, builders would have to write plans for controlling runoff at construction sites, under a proposed county ordinance.

Spokane County commissioners will consider the “erosion and sediment control” ordinance during a hearing Tuesday. The ordinance would set new standards for all construction projects and require written plans for most projects that require building or grading permits.

“It’s one more thing to add to the cost of homes,” said Suzanne Knapp of the Spokane Home Builders Association.

Nearly two years in the making, the 10-page ordinance is endorsed by the county Planning Commission. It would replace two pages of nearly unenforceable guidelines.

Then-Commissioner Steve Hasson suggested writing new rules in 1995 after flooding tore down retaining walls and muddied basements of homes on Browne Mountain.

Knapp said she doubts the ordinance would prevent damage during major floods. But county engineers say it would solve the less spectacular but more persistent problem of dirt-clogged storm drains, ditches and culverts.

The proposed ordinance would require written erosion-control plans if a project will disturb more than 1,000 square feet of land or will be built on a slope of 10 degrees or greater.

The ordinance “encourages” builders to hire a landscape architect or engineer to write plans for projects that cover less than an acre. It requires professionally written plans for projects that disturb more than an acre.

In most cases, county staff wouldn’t scrutinize the plans before issuing permits, said Steve Worley, an engineer in the county utilities department. Instead, a plan would be reviewed if erosion becomes a problem at a site.

Plans wouldn’t be required for projects that don’t need permits. Still, builders would have to control erosion or face penalties.

No construction project could send more than 2 gallons of dirt a day onto public roads. And the builder couldn’t allow his project to cause erosion on neighboring private land.

Violators first would receive a notice asking that they comply with the ordinance. After that, they could be fined $250 a day for small projects or $1,000 a day for large projects.

Penalties could be appealed to the county’s public works director, then to county commissioners.

In other business Tuesday, commissioners are expected to decide whether to allow mobile homes in tandem with traditional houses in suburban neighborhoods.

The arrangement would be allowed only when an adult living in one of the homes is a legal dependent of someone living in the other.

The county would require proof of the relationship every year, along with a doctor’s certification of the dependent’s ill health.

The county would require removal of the mobile home when the relationship ends or the dependent adult no longer requires assistance.

Under those conditions, temporary second houses already are allowed in areas zoned for lots of half an acre or larger. Typically, the permits are sought by people caring for elderly parents.

Also, commissioners are expected to decide whether to increase greens fees at the three county golf courses.

The county already has held hearings on golf fees and dependent housing. Commissioners won’t take any more testimony on those matters Tuesday.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: MEETING Commissioners will hear testimony on the proposed “erosion and sediment control” ordinance during their 5 p.m. meeting Tuesday in the county’s Public Works Building, 1026 W. Broadway. The ordinance is the eighth item on the nine-item agenda.