An environmental ordinance three years in the making was finally approved by the Sammamish City Council last week.

Designed to help minimize the effect of development on sensitive areas such as wetlands, lakes and streams, the low impact development (LID) ordinance offers builders the chance to earn “credits” toward incentives if they use techniques such as reducing a project’s footprint, planting more trees and vegetation and using porous concrete.

If they earn enough credits, they may be allowed to add more homes or build narrower streets.

“The goal is to reduce the impact of development on our streams, ravines and lakes,” City Manager Ben Yazici said. “As much as possible, we want rain to seep into the ground instead of running off on the surface and causing environmental problems.”

“Developers told us what incentives they would find valuable, environmentalists helped us maximize the ecological benefits, and the City Council listened carefully to consultants and other experts,” Yazici said. “I’m proud of the broad-based, collaborative approach the community took to achieve a result that I’m sure other jurisdictions will be taking a close look at in the years ahead.”

City officials invited a group of community stakeholders — from residents concerned about the environment to builders and planning officials — to help examine the plan and make changes to the proposed ordinance.

“We’re very excited about this incentive-based approach,” Director of Community Development Kamuron Gurol said. “It’s innovative, and we think it’s attractive enough to developers that they’ll take full advantage.”

The city hired SvR Design Company to provide input, scrutinize and improve the document. Public comments were accepted in a council study session and at the regular meeting before the ordinance was adopted. The proposal was also vetted before the city’s Planning Commission.

“I really want to thank you guys for implementing this ordinance and especially for approving the changes to the ordinance,” said resident Ilene Stahl, who also sat on the stakeholders committee. “It’s a much better ordinance than it would have been.”

Gurol emphasized to the council and community members that the LID ordinance is just one of a set of complementary tools that the city has in place to help guide development and lessen the impact on the environment. Other regulations and systems include the King County stormwater design manual (the city is currently using the 1998 version because the county is working on a new one but has not yet approved it), as well as steep slope and critical areas requirements.

“I see these all as a suite of techniques that have a large degree of complementary application,” Gurol said.

Several of the councilmembers said they would be open to amendments or changes to the process as it moves forward, particularly since the issue and related requirements are so complex.

“We’ve all learned a lot about the general subject and come to a good balance, I think, between complexity and what we want to accomplish on the ground,” Councilman Mark Cross said.

Councilmember Michele Petitti agreed about the complexity.

“I’m very pleased that we’re moving forward on this, but looking at this from a layperson’s perspective, I’m so confused,” Petitti said, suggesting that perhaps some examples be added to help make it easier to understand.

Councilmember Nancy Whitten said she appreciated all the work on the ordinance, calling it “creative and innovative,” but said that she couldn’t support it for several reasons, including questions about the credit system and the fact that the lake basins are included.

“The main reason why I can’t vote for this is impact on water quality in our lakes,” Whitten said.

Councilmember Kathy Huckabay called it a “good step” for the city.

The ordinance was approved 6-1, with Whitten voting against it.

For more information, visit www.ci.sammamish.wa.us/Ordinances.aspx and click on 02008-239.

Wendy Giroux can be reached at wgiroux@reporternewspapers.com or 391-0363, ext. 5050.