New Search
•I <br /> 1)e~~clt~hrrcnt nhlx>rttiniti~s ~:r~d Certainty <br /> - :~fti•r m:env ~•r:n~z ~f J~lannin,, I~r urb:u~ uses and investing millions of dollars in public infrastructure <br /> faciliiies, the cii~covcry oi~ wetlands in west Eugene placed a cloud of uncertainty over future <br /> deve[opment opportunities. "Ilse Plan responds to this dilemma with recommendations that attempt to <br /> balance environmental and economic. developtfient values within the framework.of federal and state <br /> wetland law. The Plan removes the -cloud of uncertainty by recommending development on some <br /> .wetlands while protecting others (see Map 3). Wetlands that are recommended for•development are <br /> frequently small, isolated and difficult to protect from already planned ordeveloped urban uses. The Plan <br /> also recommends that the City seek a regional permit from the Army Corps of Engineers so that the <br /> administration of the permitting and mitigation processcan occurat the local level, thus saving valuable <br /> time and resources. . <br /> Public comment durin~~ the preparation of the Plan and examples of .new development adjacent•to <br /> wetlands in other crnnnwnities, tells us that citizens value living, working and shopping in areas that <br /> ~emonsErate attention to the surrour:ding landscape. Using this Plan,. the community can focus its <br /> attention on designin~~ future development in ways that complement wetland areas, resulting in added <br /> vale for bath the de.vclc~hmrnt and the environment. <br /> ~Yetland ['rutcction 1Vleasures <br /> The Plan examines and recommends a number of wetland protection measures. The primary long-term <br /> <br /> ~ protection strategy is public or private nonprofit acquisition, coupled-with a natural resource designation <br /> on the Metropolitan Plan and a natural resource zoning district that would prohibit development. Until <br /> funds become available for acquisition, the existing federal and state wetland regulatory processes will <br /> continue to be the primary means for insuring wetland protection: In addition to their existing review <br /> process, federal and state regulator} agencies will utilize this Plan`s recommendations as guidelines <br /> when considering individual permit applications. When the City obtains a federal regional permit and <br /> a state approved wetland conservation plan, the administration of the permitting process will be . <br /> • transferred to the City of Eu~~ene. At that time, the City will have adopted other protection measures such <br /> . as overlay zones, buffering requirements, and conservation easements. <br /> A priority for implctttcntinL this PJan is the preparation and. adoption of a waterside protection and <br /> development ordinance. This ordinance will protect water quality and wildlife habitat of identified <br /> natural resource areas, allowin ~ and encouraging development that is designed to enhance environmen- <br /> tal values (see Appendix A). <br /> Mitigation <br /> Mitigation is the process used by federal and state agencies for determining whether wetlands may be <br /> developed (impacted) and, if so, under what conditions. The decision-making process~is hierarchial <br /> where each level of criteria must be satisfied prior to proceeding to the. next. The process is structured <br /> so that priority consideration is given to avoiding wetland impact_ If it can be shown there is an <br /> unavoidable need to impact wetlands, the process then attempts to minimize the extent of the impact and <br /> sets out requirements to contt~c~nsure for wetland losses in the form of enhancement, .restoration or <br /> creation of wetland resources. <br /> Page 3 - Appendix A <br /> MOA Por Wcst Eugcnc WcUands Mitigation L3anking Program <br /> <br />