06-19-2003 Regular Meeting and Public Hearing of the La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission

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• • Staff Report August 27, 2003 PUBLIC IIVIPROVEMENTS CRITERIA MANUAL Request: Review proposed Chapter 3 of the Public Improvements Criteria Manual Requested Bv: Mr. Robert Alden Cummings, Supervising Engineer, City of La Porte Baclg:round: The Development Ordinance of 1998, Ordinance 1444, references the Public Improvements Criteria Manual (PICM) as being "the set of standards set forth...to deternune the specific technical requirements for construction of public improvements." Currently, the PICM only contains a chapter on storm sewer design and detention requirements. The master plan for the PICM document is to have all aspects of public improvements design covered including water distribution. In an effort to march toward that ultunate goal, design standards covering the water distribution system are being presented to the Planning 8c Zoning Commission for review. When the current Chapter 5 on Storm Water Design Requirements were passed, the Planning & Zoning Commission reviewed and recommended its adoption and approval to the City Council. Therefore, the official recommendation of approval from the Planning & Zoning Commission will be sought before any official action is taken on the proposed Chapter 3 by the City Council. To that end, the Planning 8c Zoning Commission is asked to review the attached document and eventually seek public comment on said document before making an official recommendation. Ana sis: Knowing that most municipal water system governing and designing entities tend to refer to the City of Houston water system design criteria, City Staff looked at the City of Houston design criteria and applied the day to' day experiences and recommendations of the Department of Public Works and the La Porte Fire Department to develop a water system design criteria custom built for the City of La Porte. Fire Hydrants -With. the promulgation of the water system design criteria of the Public Improvements Criteria Manual, there will finally be some standardization as to the required type of hydrant that is to be installed, the size of the water main that serves it and the spacing .between them 'in new construction. Currently, City Staff must spend a considerable amount of time speaking to engineering consultants on a one by one, project by project basis about the requirements for a public water distribution systems. • Subdivision Design -The proposed Chapter 3 of the PICM will bring a large degree of similarity in the designed and presented subdivision utility schematics and construction drawings that the City of La Porte currently requires when a new subdivision is proposed within the City. The adoption of water system design requirements will state in black and