Item A: Low Impact Development: Results of Review

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Services such as those provided by Eugene’s Planning and Development Department’s Building and Permit Services Division, which provides the review/approval/inspection of development permits, are directed to be 100% fee supported. Reduction in fees as a green/LID incentive would require subsidy to ensure that the resources needed to meet development review and permitting demands are adequate and to maintain equity in permit fees. Similarly, stormwater System Development Charge and user fee rates are developed from comprehensive analyses of actual funding needs to provide infrastructure system capacity for new development as well as for the on-going operation and maintenance of the system. A reduction in revenue above and beyond what is already in place for the recognition of actual reduced system demand would also require subsidy to ensure the city’s ability to fund capital projects for which the fees are collected and to adequately operate and maintain the stormwater system. Increased public awareness of the benefits of LID affecting the marketability of developments using LID practices, along with demonstration of potentially lower development construction costs through use of LID elements may provide the strongest and most viable financial incentives. Expedited Permitting Extending and enhancing expedited permitting services may provide a modest LID incentive. The timing and desired schedule for development projects often has a high value and reduced/expedited review time for development meeting certain LID objectives would likely be an effective way to encourage use of LID practices. Some communities around the country that provide expedited permitting processes include Issaquah, WA, Santa Monica, CA, and several communities in Florida. Eugene now offers special project assistance for proposed LEED-certified projects, which includes streamlined permit review times, designated staff teams, consultations with staff, and priority in inspections. This incentive program could be expanded to apply to non-LEED projects that incorporate certain LID strategies. This would require development of criteria for minimum qualification of “LID-certified” development projects. Barriers to expedited permitting include magnitude of value in relationship other factors influencing development choices, limitations on staff resources to dedicate to such a program, impacts on other customer’s permits and related equity concerns, and required timing of opportunity for public comment (e.g. land use applications). Recognition Being recognized as a “green” developer or business is a desirable attribute in today’s world of environmental awareness and sustainability efforts and achievements. A highly visible local Green Building and LID recognition program could go hand-in-hand with other types of incentives. This would require development of criteria for minimum qualification of “LID-certified” development projects. Barriers to recognition incentives are perceptions of the value of recognition and limitations in the degree of actual influence that such incentives may have. Section 4: Conclusion & Recommendations Council directed inclusion of a comprehensive review of LID in the FY08 Planning Division and Stormwater Management Team work plans to identify barriers and approaches to increase the use of LID practices for stormwater management, consistent with densification policies and code provisions. Because LID includes principles of an integrated site design, it can have broad implications and complex inter-relations to other community standards and objectives around land use, growth management and development standards. Given the breadth of LID, a cross-functional, inter-disciplinary team was employed to address the scope of work for the review. The inter-disciplinary staff team completed the review in a manner which endeavored to respond to council direction, within the general timeframe directed and utilizing existing staff resources. Positive outcomes of the review included a thorough and open approach to the review, building of working relationships within the cross-functional team, a strong realization that the City has a broad spectrum of existing regulations and programs in place which contribute to the implementation of LID practices, surfacing of potential September, 2008 City of Eugene LID Report, Page 20 of 26