Chris Navitsky Lake George Waterkeeper and architect of the LID principles

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                   Low Impact Development (LID) Committee 2020-2021
Once the work of the Waterfront Residential Committee was completed, the Town of Queensbury created the Low Impact Development Committee which began meeting in February 2020 to recommend further revisions to the Town Zoning Code so that the Town could better protect its water resources and improve water quality. The initiative was guided by Chris Navisky, the Lake George Waterkeeper. Low impact development is a sustainable approach to managing stormwater runoff. The core principles of LID include:
Preserving and recreating natural landscape features Minimizing the impact and footprint of built areas Managing stormwater close to its source.  Under Navisky’s leadership the use of green infrastructure and natural features emerged into a set of recommendations. In its final report of January11,2021 the Low Impact Development Committee proposed the following amendments to the zoning code: 
Require a Natural Resources Protection Plan during site plan review Increase the wetland/stream buffer waiver requirements Protect steep slopes Require a plan to protect, preserve and reforest trees Seawall regulations Increased financial penalties for unapproved development Prohibit the use of coal tar sealants  Improve the site plan review process. The Town Staff was of the opinion that these recommendations are duplicative of existing code or may be excessive regulation. Not all topics which would assist the Town in protecting its resources were discussed particularly the subject of improving enforcement.