Ordinance No. 20019 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The findings above indicate consistency with all applicable Metro Plan policies. Therefore, the proposed amendments meet the criterion of Metro Plan consistency. Section 9. 145(2)(b ): "The plan amendment is consistent with remaining portions of the refinement plan;" Findings: The West Eugene Wetlands Plan contains the following applicable Goals (related findings follow each Goal): Goal 3.1 "Protect and enhance water quality, wildlife habitat, flood storage sediment and toxicant removal and other wetland functions and values." Although the Planned Transportation Corridor and Utility Corridor policies would allow certain impacts within wetlands now designated for protection, both policies also include provisions to minimize impacts. The Planned Transportation Corridor policy requires that "roadway alignments shall be designed and constructed so as to avoid or minimize cumulative impacts to wetland functions and values, rare species and rare species habitat." This requirement will help prevent disturbance of wetlands, water features and natural vegetation within the project area. The Utility Corridor policy contains provisions that require avoiding impacts to rare species, restoration of impact areas, use of technologies that minimize impacts to wetlands and timing utility work so as to minimize impacts. By minimizing impacts to wetlands and the wildlife habitat, water quality benefits and vegetation they provide, these proposed amendments are consistent with the above policy. Goal 3.2 "Minimize economic hardship on private property owners due to protection of wetlands and other valuable environmental resources." The Planned Transportation Corridor policy and the Utility Corridor policy both will enable utility and municipal agencies to make needed repairs to infrastructure that private development depends on. These provisions will help to avoid exorbitant costs of avoiding all wetland impacts in wetland maintenance and repair, and will help prevent damage to private property by facilitating needed repairs and maintenance to public utility facilities. These measures will help protect private property owners from certain costs associated with protection of wetlands, and are therefore consistent with Goal 3.2. Goal 3.5 "Protect and expand current populations and habitats of rare, endangered and threatened plants and animals that currently exist in west Eugene." The proposed language for the Utility Corridor policy specifically calls for avoiding rare plants when siting new utility lines, which will help to protect current plant populations. The Planned Transportation Corridor policy requires that "roadway alignments shall be Text Amendments Ordinance, Exhibit C (Refinement Plan Amendment Findings) Page 4