Item B: River Avenue Improvements

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River Ave. Improvement Project Page 2 of3 have stated that natural stormwater drainage was considered ~ be very important to a majority of tile st8keholder group. Yet. though there is a vague reference to the curbs and gutters being "consistent with bioswale design where possible", the written recommendations contain no reoomtnendation to preserve or enhance the existing natural stormwater drainage system on any part of the street. It also seems that there was not time in the stakeholder meeting prooess for disc~$$ion of the property owners' proposal tQ extend the center turn lane, and whether that would effectively preclude preservation of natura1 drainage (by taking up too much of the right~of.way), or make it more expensive. I hope the totality of these recommendations will be carefully evaluated and readjusted as necessary towards the goal of preserving and enhancing natural drainage as a priority on as much of the street as possible. AU of the streets in'River Road use a natural ditch or similar drainage system. with the exception of the two "improved" streets-River Road and MaxweU--with their curbs, gutters, and storm sewers. There are multiple important reasons to preserve natural drainage. It is better than piped stonnwater systems at preserving water quality and reducing erosion; it preserves street trees and neighborhood character; it is usually less costly than standard curb, gutter and piped systems (and should reduce property owners' assessments); and it can do double duty as an landscape enhancement, increasing aesthetic appeal and making the area more pedestrian--attractive. Neighborhood residents are frequently heard commenting--at neighborhood association meetings and elsewhere--about how Wlpleasant and alienating they find River R~ad and Maxwell. Even though these streets have nominal bicycle and pedestrian "improvements", these are seriQusly under-utilized and under-appreciated by pedestrians, cyclists and local residents. Instead, the str~ets at~ shunned by cyclists and pedestrians because of the alienating visual and sensory impacts of more and wider lanes of fast traffic, and lack of landscaping or safe crossings. Indeed, River Road and Maxwell are the physical embodiment and constant reminder of City policies that area residents dislike. and fear might be forced upon the neighborhood under an annexation scenano--that is, industrial-strength lIone size fits all" city standards that are NOT compatible with our existing values and neighborhood character. Street trees, landscaping and pedestrian refuges may seem like relatively small and unimportant parts of a street design. and easy for t19n-resident commercial property owners who pay assessments to want to dispense with. Natural drainage, too, may seem like an anachronism to the City's public works staff. However, I urge the City tQ consider how important these elements can be to the ambience and actual usage of a street by cycl~ and pedestrians-.and also to protecting air and water quality and preserving neighborhood character. Also consider the resurgent interest in naturalistic drainage systems in Portland, Seattle, and other communities around the country- . their water quality benefits are now widely recognized. River Avenue, as improved, will become aoother embodiment of the City's policies and intentions in our neighborhood. I hope it will be a better ambassador than River Road and Maxwell, and think it can beu but only with some adjustments to the recommendations put forward by the stakeholder group. I hope that bioswales or other natural drainage systems will be preserved or installed on both sides of the roadway for as much ofits length as possible, eliminating the need for standard (and expensive) curbs and gutters. I also hope that the extension of the center turn lane will be reconsidered, and eliminated if necessary to redooe costs and accommodate natural drainage. I believe that two lanes at the ~ end would be sufficient to aceonunodate current and future traffic loads; and would De a lower cost design for taxpayers and for property owners, and a less overbuilt roadway more in keeping with our neighborhood character. Street trees that have already been removed by the City should be replaced. and new trees planted as per standard City code-.preferably native trees, planted in naturalistic pattern. Bioswales CQuId double as landscaping stri..~ i."",........ t1... "",.,tUft.v Slntl IIp.thlidc Illdewal1cs. so no additional planting strip would be J'lP" . Page 3 of3 Thank you for your consideration of my comments. Becky Riley 202 Hawthorne Ave. Eugene, OR 97404