(a) Purpose
The purpose of this section is to preserve and enhance storm water quality by reducing pollutants discharged to streams and the San Francisco Bay. Projects are encouraged to incorporate site design measures to reduce storm water pollution by decreasing or slowing storm water runoff or interrupting the flow of runoff across a series of contiguous impervious surfaces into land development projects.
(b) Applicability of Guidelines
All projects are subject to these guidelines. The following site design measures should be included in site and building design wherever feasible in order to minimize storm water runoff and protect and enhance the quality of storm water runoff leaving the site.
(c) Guidelines for Storm Water Quality Protection
(1) Minimize land disturbance and preserve high-quality open space, riparian corridors, and wetlands on the development site.
(2) Minimize the amount of impervious surface (e.g., buildings, roads, driveways, parking lots, etc.).
(3) Minimize directly connected impervious areas by routing storm runoff into vegetated swales and other landscaped areas before it reaches a storm drain, street, or stream.
(4) Utilize minimum-impact street design standards (e.g., narrow streets and sidewalks, permeable pavements, etc.).
(5) Utilize minimum-impact parking lot design standards (e.g., parking lot island and perimeter landscaping for storm water drainage, permeable pavements, etc.).
(6) Utilize minimum-impact driveway design standards (e.g., narrow width, "Hollywood" strips, shared driveways, permeable pavements, etc.).
(7) Cluster structures, pavement and other impervious surfaces on the development site.
(8) Route rain water leaders into landscaped areas through the use of splash blocks or pop-up emitters, rather than directly to an underground storm drain, in order to promote filtration and infiltration of roof runoff.
(9) Utilize microdetention techniques (e.g., bioretention planters, cisterns, etc.) to slow and reduce storm runoff.
(10) Minimize changes to the volume, flow rate, timing, or duration of storm runoff from the development site.
(Ord. 4934 § 3 (part), 2007)