Item A: Low Impact Development: Results of Review

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Landscape Requirements and Preservation of Existing Vegetation Preservation of existing vegetation within new developments is a common LID practice. Minimum landscape requirements are complimentary to LID practices. Preservation of existing vegetation is currently encouraged by provision of credit towards required landscaping. Some opportunity exists to better integrate acceptable planting specifications which meet both LID and zoning-related landscaping objectives. Increases in minimum landscape areas could have effects contrary to densification policies and code provisions, resulting in a lower potential for modification to this area for LID purposes. There may be potential to further encourage or require planting to meet LID objectives and consider requirements for greater preservation of existing vegetation. Low/Medium Potential: Integrate planting standards to meet LID objectives along with other landscape requirements and require increased preservation of existing vegetation. Barriers: complexities of implementing changes to regulations and existing standards; challenges to meet multiple objectives for landscape planting; preservation requirements could adversely affect site design for multiple functions. Elements of landscape standards were reviewed in further detail as follows. Landscaping in commercial, campus industrial and other zones – Low Potential For all commercial zones but C-3 Major Commercial: a minimum of 10% of the development site must be landscaped. Other landscaping requirements apply to parking areas and areas abutting residential zones. I-1 Campus Industrial zone: a minimum of 20% of the development site. Other landscaping requirements apply to parking areas and areas abutting residential zones. Consider evaluation of balance of minimum landscape versus density/effective use of the land. S-DW Downtown Westside Special Area zone: a minimum of 20% of the development site. Consider evaluation of balance of minimum landscape versus density/effective use of the land. Multifamily development in residential zones: 20% of the development site or 25% of the livable floor area unless exempted based on density. Consider eliminating competing density/landscaping requirements for multifamily development and stricter landscape guidelines overall for residential parking standards. Additional landscaping requirements and credits for preserving existing vegetation – Medium Potential All Industrial zones: other landscaping requirements apply to front yard setbacks and areas abutting residential zones. Landscape requirements apply to parking areas that provide 3 or more spaces except for single family dwellings, secondary dwellings, duplexes, row houses, or structured parking. In most cases landscape strips at least 7-feet in width must be provided between the parking area and the street and along the perimeter of the parking area. Landscaping within the interior of parking areas is also required if a certain amount of spaces is exceeded. Preservation of existing vegetation within new developments is encouraged by provision of credit towards required landscaping. There may be potential to further encourage or require planting to meet LID objectives and consider requirements for greater preservation of existing vegetation. Land Use Application Criteria Land use application approval criteria allow standards incorporating LID practices to be applied at the time of overall site planning and conceptual design for a site. Because LID often relies on an integrated site design approach, land use application criteria can be a valuable mechanism for increasing the use of LID. Application types for which LID-related standards are particularly relevant include subdivision, partition, planned unit development, site review, and conditional use permit applications. The most relevant areas of application criteria are the LID-related land use code standards listed in this section, particularly the Stormwater Development Standards. These standards are applicable to all relevant application types. In addition, all tentative subdivisions, site reviews, conditional use permits (CUPs), and planned unit developments (PUDs) are required to demonstrate September, 2008 City of Eugene LID Report, Page 8 of 26