Item A: Low Impact Development: Results of Review

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Section 1: Background & Context for Review A. City Council Direction to Complete Review Low Impact Development (LID) involves practices that seek to mimic a site’s hydrology before development, thereby reducing negative effects of stormwater runoff on nearby rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands. LID practices use design approaches which promote natural systems for stormwater retention, infiltration and conveyance. These practices have been employed by the City of Eugene and other communities for many years and yet, only recently have been defined as LID and emphasized by environmental agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as recommended Best Management Practices (BMPs) for management of stormwater under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination (NPDES) program. As part of the City of Eugene’s Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan (CSWMP) and stormwater system NPDES permit, new stormwater standards incorporating LID practices were adopted as additions to the city’s land use code, effective in July 14, 2006. During the adoption process of these stormwater development standards, public comments were received suggesting that LID practices should be required, rather than made optional, in certain areas of the City. In response to these public comments, Council directed staff to research issues related to green infrastructure and low impact development and return to Council in a work session to consider possible amendments to the stormwater development standards. City Engineer Mark Schoening presented results of research and options related to further action on LID in a work session with Council in early 2007. At the conclusion of this work session, Council unanimously passed a motion directing the City Manager to: “Include in the FY08 Planning Division work program and the Stormwater Management Team work program a comprehensive review of the Eugene Code and administrative policies and procedures to identify barriers and regulatory or incentive-based approaches to increase the use of low-impact development practices for stormwater management practices that are consistent with densification policies and code provisions within the urban growth boundary.” Following inclusion of LID review in the Public Works Department’s Stormwater Management Team and the Planning and Development Department’s Planning Division FY08 work plans an inter-disciplinary staff team was formed in January 2008 to complete the review. The team consisted of representatives from the Public Works Department (Engineering, Parks & Open Space, Wastewater and Maintenance divisions) and the Planning & Development Department (Planning, Community Development, and Building & Permit Services divisions). The team met regularly over a period of seven months to complete the review, the results of which are summarized in this report. B. LID – Definition and Key Elements & Practices The team’s first step was to research and review LID principles and practices, including other organizations’ LID materials available (see Appendix B) relative to the Council’s motion, and create an LID definition that would provide the framework by which the team could then analyze current Eugene LID practices. The LID definition and context developed by the team is provided below: LID is 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 infiltrate, filter, store, evaporate, reduce stormwater management practices and site design techniques that and detain runoff close to its source . Almost all components of the urban environment have the potential to incorporate LID. This includes not only open space, but also rooftops, streetscapes, parking lots, sidewalks, and medians.LID approaches can be used to reduce the impacts of development and redevelopment activities on water resources. In the case of new development, LID is typically used to achieve or pursue the goal of maintaining or closely replicating the predevelopment hydrology of the site. In areas where development has already occurred, LID can be used as September, 2008 City of Eugene LID Report, Page 2 of 26