LOS ANGELES BUSINESS JOURNAL
Regulation Watch
Posted date: 4/30/2007
By HOWARD FINE LOS ANGELES BUSINESS JOURNAL STAFF
Stormwater Runoff Regs The eyes of L.A. developers and builders are turning northwest to Ventura County, where the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board is preparing to enact sweeping changes to the storm water permit system aimed at reducing debris and pollution draining into the ocean. Among the steps the board unveiled at a workshop this month: banning the grading of slopes on construction and public works projects during the six-month rainy season and requiring more water to percolate through the ground onsite. Why are L.A. developers so interested? In two years’ time, the water board is likely to propose very similar regulations for L.A. County. And that has local developers very worried. “Banning construction in large areas of the county for six months would have devastating impacts on the economy,” said Holly Schroeder, chief executive of the Greater Los Angeles/Ventura chapter of the Building Industry Association, which represents home builders. “Making it even worse is that such drastic action isn’t even necessary. The technology already exists to take extra actions to limit runoff on days that it rains.” The water board is expected to enact the Ventura County regulation by the end of this year, with some revisions to take into account developer concerns. Then board staff will begin work on the L.A. regulation.