Item 9: Ordinance Concerning Stormwater Development Standards

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Comments on Stormwater lJevelopment Ordinance and Stormwate Page 2 of6 unfortunate oversight. Increasingly, natural systems are recognized as superior for meeting stormwater management goals (flood, erosion, and pollution control, groundwater recharge). They have the additional benefits of enhancing wildlife habitat, aesthetics, and livability in our urban areas. The quality and quantity of our groundwater and surface water supplies are already compromised, and will be further degraded as development intensifies. It is essential that we do a better job of preserving and fully utilizing natural hydrology so we are not facing a losing battle. Improved protection and utilization of natural hydrology can also help control the costs that will be associated with maintaining public stormwater conveyance and treatment systems as our urban area grows. Eugene Needs to Explore "Low Impact Development" (LID) Standards Other jurisdictions are adopting "low impact development" standards that DO aim to preserve existing hydrology, including watercourses, soil, vegetation, and mature trees. These methods hold out promise of doing a better job of managing stormwater, recharging groundwater, and preventing degradation of water quality because they take advantage of the superior characteristics of natural systems. They have the added benefit of helping communities remain attractive and livable as they grow more dense. We are sending an attachment with more information about low-impact development standards. We would hope that staff would develop some recommendations for how LID provisions could be incorporated into Eugene's development code. We believe that LID standards have the potential to not only preserve natural hydrology and a more efficient stormwater system, but also to address staff and Council goals of helping promote denser development at opportunity sites (and elsewhere) in our existing neighborhoods. LID provisions offer the potential of helping mitigate some of the "high impacts" of opportunity-sited and infill development to make it more compatible with existing neighborhoods and palatable to residents. The Development Code Needs to Address and Protect the Unique Drainage in River Road-Santa Clara How stormwater is managed is a very key issue in the River Road-Santa Clara neighborhood. We are part of the only area in Eugene that does not have the piped stormwater infrastructure of other parts of the City. Our "country" drainage system--based on natural soil infiltration, drywells, roadside ditches and other drainage ways-- has many benefits. In essence, what we have in place already IS the "naturalistic", "distributed" and "on-site" approach to stormwater management now being recognized as superior for water quality and flow control. This system also maximizes stormwater infiltration and recharge of groundwater. This is important for the continued functioning of the many shallow irrigation wells still used in our neighborhood, but also for retaining the overall quantity and quality of groundwater and surface water in our area. Our natural drainage system provides other benefits, too. Because we have less of the conventional City infrastructure--"improved" streets and stormwater systems and all the soil compaction and concrete that goes along with them--more of our good river soils and road verges are intact and support large trees and other greenery. Good soils and plentiful vegetation help buffer and cleanse not only water, but also air. There is greenspace in each yard for gardens, wildlife habitat and an attractive ambience for us humans. These aspects are a big part of our neighborhood identity, health, and livability. In addition to the environmental benefits to the City and our neighborhood, preserving natural drainage will reduce costs to the City and residents by eliminating the need for expensive piped infrastructure. There are many reasons to preserve our existing drainage system. 5/23/2006