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e ~ ~ <br /> Uc~~clc)l)n.ct)I nl)1)Ut'tllnltlCS ~:nd Cet'tainty <br /> <br /> • ~~ftrr many vc~;n~s cif i~lannin~, tcir urban uses and investing millions of dollars in public infrastructure <br /> facilities, the discovery oi~ wetlands in west Eugene placed a cloud of uncertainty over future <br /> development opportunities. "Ilse Plan responds to this dilemma with recommendations that attempt to <br /> balance environmental and economic developtftent 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 protectfromalreadyplannedordevelopedurban uses. The Plan <br /> also recommends that the City seek a regional pernut from the Army Corps of Engineers so that the <br /> administration of the permitting and mitigation process can occur at the local level, thus saving valuable <br /> time and resources. <br /> public comment during tl~e preparation of the Plan and examples of .new development adjacent~to <br /> wetlands in other coitirnunities, tells us that citizens value living, working and shopping in areas that <br /> ~emonsvatc 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 arcac, resulting in added <br /> valt;e for bath the: dc•.vclc~pmcnt and the environment. <br /> tVetland E'rutectivn iVleasures <br /> The Plan examines and recommends a number of wetland protection measures. The primary long-term <br /> protection sarategy is public or private nonprofit acquisition, coupled with a natural resource designation <br /> on the Me~opolitari 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 regulatory agencies will utilize this Plan`s recommendations as guidelines <br /> when considering individual permit applications. When the City obtains a federal regional pettnit and <br /> a state approved wetland conservation plan, the administration of the permitting process will be <br /> transferred to the City of Eu~~ene. A~ that time, the City will have adopted other protection measures such <br /> as overlay zones, buttering requirements, and conservation easements. <br /> A priority for implementing this Plan 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, :lllo~vin~ 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 aced to impact wetlands, the process then attempts to minimize the extent of the impact and <br /> secs out requirements to cvnrpe~nsure for wetland losses in the form of eahaacemcnt,resta•ation or <br /> creation of wetland resources. <br /> Page 3 -Appendix A <br /> MOA For ~Ycst Eugcnc Wetlands Mitigation [3anking Program <br /> <br />