Wetlands Plan Continues to Evolve

Much like the living wetlands it addresses, the West Eugene Wetlands Plan is an evolving document. At its center is a framework around which sound planning decisions can be made, yet it is also flexible enough to adapt to new information. The plan has been in effect for more than a year, and strong partnerships with the Bureau of Land Management and The Nature Conservancy have been forged. In 1994, a revision to the wetland inventory ( XXX see article on page 3) signals the need for amendments to the plan. This new inventory and the amendment process will provide opportunities for additional citizen involvement.

The City of Eugene began its West Eugene Wetland Program in 1989. The success of the program is rooted in four goals:

• Develop a plan which provides certainty for land owners in the west Eugene area.
• Find a balance between environmental protection and needed urban development while meeting state and federal laws and regulations.
• Streamline the wetland permitting process.
• Ensure state and federal actions are consistent with the City's wetland policies.

Oregon law allows local governments to develop wetland conservation plans to help create certainty and streamline the wetland permitting process. In 1992, the West Eugene Wetlands Plan was adopted by the City of Eugene and Lane County. On October 1, 1993, the City formally submitted the plan, along with proposed ordinance amendments, supporting documents, and maps of wetland boundaries, to the Division of State Lands (DSL) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The submittal of the plan to these agencies represents a milestone in the City's wetland planning process.

The City is asking the DSI to review and approve the plan as the "wetland conservation plan" for the west Eugene wetland area. If approved, the City could be authorized to issue certain types of wetland permits.

The City also has asked the Corps of Engineers to approve an "abbreviated permitting procedure" for all wetland areas designated for development in the plan. If the plan and the requested permitting procedure are approved, applicants would have a simpler and shorter process to obtain a wetland permit.

With state and federal approval of the City's requests, property owners will need to file only one application at the Eugene Permit and Information Center for local, state, and federal wetland permits.

A joint public notice and a description of the proposed actions by the DSL and Corps of Engineers are expected to be issued in February. The agencies will act on the City's requests following a 45-day public review period.

Zoning Changes Proposed to Protect Natural Resources

Proposed changes to the Eugene zoning code that would protect natural resources in the West Eugene Wetlands Plan area are being considered by the City of Eugene and Lane County. The following zoning provisions would apply in the West Eugene Wetlands Plan study area:

• Form a Natural Resources District to give full protection to publicly owned natural resource areas.
• Establish a Wetland Buffer Subdistrict to limit uses adjacent to protected wetland areas.
• Create a Waterside Protection Subdistrict to limit uses adjacent to protected streams and channels.

The Eugene Planning Commission gave its approval to the proposed zoning ordinances in June 1993, after notifying potentially affected property owners and a joint public hearing with the Lane County Planning Commission. Hearings before City and County elected officials will be scheduled following state and federal review ofthe ordinances. The Oregon Division ofState Lands and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are reviewing all aspects of the West Eugene Wetlands Plan, including the proposed zoning ordinances.

For more information on the new zoning provisions, call the City of Eugene Planning Department at 687-5481.