Last fall, the City of Langley became the first local government in the region to adopt the Action Team’s Low Impact Development Technical Guidance Manual for Puget Sound as part of its development code.

Builders and developers now must integrate low impact development (LID) into their site designs. Conventional stormwater management measures can only be used if LID measures are not practical.

The city incorporated the LID manual by reference, rather than making item-by-item changes to the code. “This approach gives developers maximum flexibility in selecting LID applications for their particular site conditions,” said Alice Schisel, Langley ’s planning official. “It also was a great time savings for our small staff and for the planning advisory board.”

The Action Team developed the LID manual along with Washington State University Extension, Pierce County , in 2005 so developers, local government staff and others would have a common understanding of LID, and use the approach in developing projects.

“We applaud Langley for adopting the LID manual,” said Bruce Wulkan, the Action Team’s Stormwater Program Manager. “It’s a win-win situation. The development community will have more options for managing stormwater, the city will grow more beautifully, and Puget Sound will be better protected from stormwater runoff.”

To download the manual, visit www.psat.wa.gov/LID_manual. For more information on the City of Langley , contact Alice Schisel, 360-221-4245 or landuse@langleywa.org.

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