Item C: Stormwater Development Standards

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While applying the practices to several City projects, it was determined that the draft BMP Manual might be overly complex for the development community. It was determined that a better option would be to forego Eugene’s Draft BMP Manual and, instead, to modify Portland’s Stormwater Management Manual for use in Eugene. Portland’s manual was implemented in 1999 and had been in use by other agencies in Oregon including Springfield, which adopted stormwater development standards in October 2002 and references the Portland manual as an accepted approach to designing water quality BMPs. Staff reviewed and edited the Portland Stormwater Management Manual for accuracy and consistency with Eugene’s regulatory structure and to reflect Eugene’s stormwater policy decisions made to-date as well as the recommendation from the DAC. After internal review, Eugene’s Draft Stormwater Management Manual was completed in April 2005. At the same time that staff prepared the manual, staff drafted corresponding amendments to the City’s land use code. On August 11, 2005, a Water Quality Implementation Department Advisory Committee, including several members from the 1999 Stormwater DAC, was convened to review and provide input on the proposed amendments to the land use code. The Water Quality DAC included representatives of special interest groups (Chamber of Commerce and Lane County Home Builders Association), representatives with technical expertise in architecture, engineering, site design, land use and the environment, and a representative of neighborhoods. A full list of members from both of the DACs is shown in Attachment C. On October 10, 2005, the City Council reviewed and discussed the City’s new stormwater National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and other stormwater program developments. A motion approved by the council directed the City Manager to develop a fiscal year 2007 budget which included funds for additional stormwater permit-related items, including the implementation of stormwater development standards. Presentations on the proposed stormwater development standards have been given to the Lane County Home Builders Association with members of the Chamber of Commerce in attendance (October 4, 2005), American Society of Landscape Architects (October 20, 2005), Friends of Eugene (October 27, 2005), design engineers, surveyors, and developers (November 16, 2005), Neighborhood Leaders Coalition (November 22, 2005), Santa Clara Neighborhood Association (December 1, 2005), and at a public open house event (December 20, 2005). A public hearing with the Planning Commission was held on January 10, 2006, followed by deliberation on February 13, 2006. Three persons testified in general support of the standards. The Planning Commission asked staff to re-evaluate the oil control applicability threshold and the adjustment review section for source controls. Their preference was to eliminate additional adjustment review applications and instead, move these exception criteria into the body of the stormwater regulations. This approach is similar to those recently approved in the minor code amendments. The proposed amendments to the land use code included in this packet reflect feedback provided by the Stormwater DAC, the Water Quality DAC, and the Planning Commission. Proposed Ordinance and Implementation The existing land use code addresses only stormwater destination (flood control). The proposed L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M060313\S060313C.doc