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Aspen, Co to Tax Homeowners, Land Development for Phase II funding

Ξ August 29th, 2007 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Colorado, Taxes, Pollution News, Phase II, MS4 |

A proposed property tax is being put on the ballot in Aspen, Colorado in order to pay for the cities stormwater management plan.

The dedicated property tax would be used to fund the annual costs of the program, plus all of the capital investments. City officials estimate that the property tax would generate about $12 million over the next 15 years. The tax would be equal to a single-family homeowner paying an estimated $13.24 a month; an owner of affordable housing paying $0.62 a month and a large commercial property owner paying $606.70 a month, according to a memo written by Aragon………

A development fee also is proposed, which would be assessed against all properties at the time of building the system. The fee would be $2.88 per square foot of the proposed impervious area. Proceeds from that fee would be used to pay for improvements to the storm sewer collection system.

This route is the way that many municipalities are beginning to go in order to fund their Phase II stormwater requirements. I am somewhat surprised that Aspen decided to levy the development tax on top of the property tax. Does this mean that Aspen is going to provide the controls and maintain compliance for new developments? Somehow I doubt it.

A 2,500 square foot impervious footprint on a new home would now cost $8,000 more. I wonder if this is going to lead to a lot of ‘green’ roofs. If I was a developer, it seems it would almost be cost effective to put in rooftop gardens etc.

I wonder why the city didn’t choose to place the tax instead on sales tax. Aspen usually draws a significant number of tourists each year, so in effect the city is taxing relatively few for the stormwater pollution of many.

-Stormwater Guru

 

 

Stormwater is Causing Charleston Harbor Pollution

Ξ August 27th, 2007 | → 0 Comments | ∇ South Carolina, Pollution News, studies |

From the Charleston Post and Courier:

A generation after tougher industrial pollution laws cleaned up the nearly fetid water of Charleston Harbor, stormwater runoff has begun to threaten it.

South Carolina was one of the very first states to implement Stormwater Pollution regulations nearly 20 years ago. Unfortunately, the only solution I see to the problems they are running into is to retrofit most of the waterfront property in the city.

While they mention that detention basins are the most effective way to treat for many kinds of stormwater pollution, they also note correctly that a resulting increase in bacteria levels can result from standing water. The way to fix this is to make sure that the basins are designed to stay dry and are well maintained.

Turning detention areas into wildlife refuges is nice, but in my opinion it is trying to do too much. Keep them separate and the results will improve.

-Stormwater Guru

 

 

87 Beaches closed on Long Island from Contaminated Storm Water

Ξ August 22nd, 2007 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Pollution News, New York |

Apparently due to heavy rains, the shoreline of Long Island has become contaminated with bacteria filled storm water runoff. 87 beaches in Suffolk and Nassau counties have been closed.

No mention of how to fix the problem or what caused it. Increased beach closings is an unfortunate side effect of increased Stormwater pollution. Regrettably, once beaches are being closed, it’s already too late to do anything about it.

-Stormwater Guru