At Council-in-Committee on October 28th, Council received a report for information on proposed on-site stormwater management requirements for small-scale residential developments. The proposed strategy intends to manage stormwater impacts and help protect creeks and streams in Coquitlam. 

The proposed changes are as follows: 

• On-site detention structure – This is proposed for all new low-density residential projects where the impervious area exceeds 50% of the lot area. Depending on the lot and development configurations, on-site management will include this to maximize environmental benefits; 
• User-friendly pre-designed plans – Property owners and builders would be able to easily navigate the proposed stormwater management process with these plans, which would be available on the City’s website; and 
• Alternative solutions – While on-site detention is encouraged, the City will also support rain gardens as an alternative approach for sites where they are viable. However, rain gardens have higher operational costs and may be challenging to incorporate due to space requirements and current lot coverage preferences. 

More information can be found in the full report by City staff.