Cedar Rapids topsoil plan gets initial approval

CEDAR RAPIDS - A soil quality ordinance Cedar Rapids officials say is going to help control flash flooding and erosion, filter toxins out of the water supply and improve lawn aesthetics got initial approval by the City Council on Tuesday.

The plan amends the Erosion and Sediment Control for Construction Site ordinance to include a new permit fee schedule for major and minor erosion control permits, additional stormwater management requirements and amends the stormwater management ordinance to include topsoil requirements for both private and public developments.

'Hopefully it will become a win-win for our citizens and our builders,” said Scott Olson, a City Council member who oversaw the drafting of the ordinance as the chairman of the council's infrastructure committee.

The plan, which was approved unanimously and must be voted on twice more before becoming official, addresses the condition and volume of topsoil after the completion of public and private development projects. Residents and officials have been dealing with very compact, clay-based ground that has made it difficult to maintain a lawn and inhibited the absorption of stormwater.

The new soil plan reflects more than a year of back and forth between city officials and builders to find a workable policy that offers real improvements yet is manageable for builders, many who balked it would be too costly and came with no guarantee the changes would make a difference.

The plan provides eight different methods detailed in the Iowa Stormwater Management Manual to achieve compliance, such as incorporating dirt, compost, tilling and other techniques. The plan also allows bringing in 4 inches of topsoil, 1 inch of which can be sod.

Cara Matteson, the city's stormwater coordinator, said the plan aligns with the city vision and is going to enhance water quality, reduce flooding and erosion, recharge the aquifer and yield vital urban landscapes.

She said developers are to be expected to follow the plan for areas disturbed by construction, but noted in the event of special circumstances, exemptions could be made on a case-by-base basis.

'It is workable, as well as provides real benefits over the way it's been done up until now,” City Council member Scott Overland said.