Item A: Low Impact Development: Results of Review

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Low Impact Development - Results of Review Meeting Date: September 17, 2008 Agenda Item Number: A Department: Public Works Staff Contact: Fred McVey www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5216 ISSUE STATEMENT The purpose of this work session is to report on the results of a review of opportunities and barriers to increase implementation of Low Impact Development (LID) practices in Eugene. Policy issues include: whether to pursue required use of LID practices, where practicable, or to continue to encourage use of LID as an option within existing development standards; and, how best to balance and integrate LID objectives with other council priorities and initiatives. BACKGROUND In a work session on January 17, 2007, the Eugene City Council directed a review of the City’s implementation of LID practices. The focus of the comprehensive review was to identify barriers and regulatory or incentive-based approaches to increase the use of low impact development practices for stormwater management. The original impetus for this review was public comment related to the City’s adoption of stormwater development standards within the land use code by Ordinance 20369, effective June 12, 2006. For purposes of the review, Low Impact Development was defined as a stormwater management and site development strategy that emphasizes use of on-site natural features to mitigate impacts of increased stormwater runoff and pollution. This is achieved by using stormwater management practices and site design techniques that infiltrate, filter, store, evaporate, reduce and detain runoff close to its source. Completion of this review was added to City’s Stormwater Management Team and Planning Division work plans for FY08 and completed by an interdisciplinary staff team. The review team identified areas of regulation and programs with strong relevance to LID objectives, identified the extent to which existing regulations and programs already implemented LID practices, and then identified the potential opportunities and barriers to increase use of LID practices. Resulting findings, options and barriers to increasing use of LID practices are provided in the Review of Low Impact Development Practices for Stormwater Management report included as Attachment A to the AIS. Key findings of review include: ?The City has adopted and implemented a broad spectrum of policies, plans, regulations, standards and programs which promote the use of LID practices. ?While the degree of the City’s existing LID implementation is substantial, a variety of opportunities exist to increase use of LID in the areas of potential land use code amendments, continued education and outreach efforts, modifications to public improvement design standards, and further development of incentive programs. Z:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080917\S080917A.doc