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Home My WebLink About2023 05 02 AIS UGB Natural ResourcesAGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 5/2/2023 Meeting Type: Work Session Staff Contact/Dept.: Molly Markarian/DPW Staff Phone No: 541.726.4611 Estimated Time: 45 Minutes PLANNING COMMISSION (PC) Council Goals: Mandate ITEM TITLE: NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORIES AND PROTECTIONS FOR UGB EXPANSION AREAS – PROGRESS UPDATE ACTION REQUESTED: Review wetland, riparian, and wildlife habitat inventory results, and confirm protection approaches for significant natural resources to inform Springfield’s path forward. ISSUE STATEMENT: Since 2020, Springfield has been working with partner agencies and stakeholders to identify and assess wetlands, riparian corridors, and wildlife habitat in the areas where the City recently expanded its urban growth boundary (UGB). With the identification and assessment phase nearly complete, staff seek confirmation from the Planning Commission on protection approaches for locally significant natural resources in preparation for further stakeholder engagement and development of draft legislative amendments for Planning Commission consideration. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment 1: Planning Commission Slideshow Attachment 2: Wetland and Riparian Quick Facts Attachment 3: Briefing Memo DISCUSSION: Project Background: Since the State’s acknowledgement of Springfield’s UGB expansion in 2019, Springfield has been working to define a framework for development in the areas where the UGB expanded. One of several early steps to understanding where future development may be best-sited is to identify, evaluate, and protect locally significant natural resources in these areas. In 2020, this project set out to address wetlands and riparian corridors, and in 2021 the scope broadened to include wildlife habitat assessments and Water Quality Limited Watercourses. Commission Involvement to Date: Early in the project, the Planning Commission, acting in its capacity as the Committee for Citizen Involvement, approved the project’s Community Engagement Plan. On July 17, 2020, staff updated the Planning Commission on the status of the project in a Communication Packet Memo, and the CCI amended the Community Engagement Plan in December that year. On November 8, 2021 and December 6, 2022, staff shared information about the project’s community engagement activities with the Planning Commission. Project Status: At the work session, staff will review wetland, riparian, and wildlife habitat inventory results and confirm protection approaches in advance of further stakeholder engagement and drafting updates to Springfield’s Natural Resources Study for Planning Commission review later this year. Next Steps: The City Council is scheduled to hold a project work session at their May 22, 2023 meeting. Natural Resource Inventories & Protections -for- UGB Expansion Areas May 2, 2023 – Planning Commission – Work Session Attachment 1, Page 1 of 19 2 NORTH GATEWAY MILL RACE WILLAMALANE PROPERTIESUGB expansion areas for: Where Employment land Public land Natural resource management & conservation areas Attachment 1, Page 2 of 19 3 Long-Term Comprehensive Planning Conceptual Master Planning Immediate (In Perspective) Land Readiness Why Attachment 1, Page 3 of 19 4 Community & Other Stakeholders (Current & Future) Better outcomes through: Who Partnerships Local knowledge Attachment 1, Page 4 of 19 5 What/WhenWhat/When Consider Policy Options Continue Resource Analysis Get a Solid Foundation Decide & Take Action Attachment 1, Page 5 of 19 How 6 Local Wetland Inventory & Assessment (LWI) 30 = Total wetlands identified 29 = # significant 77.2 = acreage significant 9.7 = % of study area Answers questions: 1. Where and to what extent? 2. Is it significant? Attachment 1, Page 6 of 19 How 7 Local Wetland Inventory & Assessment (LWI) Answers questions: 1. Where and to what extent? 2. Is it significant? Hydrologic control (water absorption & flow) Water quality (pollutant trapping) Presence of wildlife & fish & quality of their habitats Presence of unique plants Educational & recreational purpose Values of wetlands that help determine whether to protect: Results: Water quality = most common reason Hydrologic control & fish habitat = next most common Attachment 1, Page 7 of 19 How 8 Local Wetland Inventory & Assessment (LWI) North Gateway significant wetlands: Total: 2 Acres: 1.49 % of study area: <1% Attachment 1, Page 8 of 19 How 9 Local Wetland Inventory & Assessment (LWI) Willamalane Properties significant wetlands: Total: 3 Acres: 33.6 % of study area: 44.8% Attachment 1, Page 9 of 19 How 10 Local Wetland Inventory & Assessment (LWI) Mill Race significant wetlands: Total: 25 Acres: 42.1 % of study area: 8.3% Attachment 1, Page 10 of 19 11 How Riparian Corridor Inventory & Assessment 24 = Riparian reaches identified 23 = # significant 10.3* = mileage significant * Stream centerline for some reaches exist outside study reaches and are not included in this calculation Answers questions: 1. Where and to what extent? 2. Is it significant? Attachment 1, Page 11 of 19 12 How Riparian Corridor Inventory & Assessment Values of riparian corridors that help determine whether to protect: Possible scores 0-100. Scores of 17 or higher = significant. Scores ranged from 28-90: • 18% moderate (17-45) • 52% high (45-70) • 30% exceptional (>70) Water quality (purity) Flood management (ability to store water during storms) Presence of protected species (plants, animals) Wildlife considerations: Amount of human disturbance Wildlife survival/habitat components (food, water, cover) related to type, quality, amount Answers questions: 1. Where and to what extent? 2. Is it significant? Attachment 1, Page 12 of 19 13 How Riparian Corridor Inventory & Assessment North Gateway riparian reaches: Total = 5 Mileage = 1.78 Attachment 1, Page 13 of 19 14 How Riparian Corridor Inventory & Assessment Willamalane Properties riparian reaches: Total = 3 Mileage = 1.27 Attachment 1, Page 14 of 19 15 How Riparian Corridor Inventory & Assessment Mill Race riparian reaches Total = 15 Mileage = 7.28 Attachment 1, Page 15 of 19 16 How Significant Wildlife Habitat Assessment 23 = Sensitive status species 5 = Occur 18 = Likely to Occur* * ODFW tentatively has recommended reclassification/removal of 6 species as part of significance analysis Attachment 1, Page 16 of 19 17 How Policy Evaluation Existing regulatory framework Local policy choice within parameters specified by the State State Rule - Goal 5 Protect wetlands, wildlife habitat & riparian areas, etc. State Rule - Goal 6 Protect air, water & land quality Springfield Policy Natural Resources Study •Economic, Social, Environmental & Energy Analysis •Limit “conflicting uses” approach Springfield Policy Stormwater Quality Management Program Policy Implementation Springfield Development Code & Development Review •Water quality protection •Surface water management •Natural resource protection with development setbacks Attachment 1, Page 17 of 19 18 How Policy Evaluation Protection approaches for newly-identified significant resources Wetlands & Riparian Corridors Standard Method (current protection approach)Safe Harbor MethodVS Wildlife Habitat Standard Method (required approach) Attachment 1, Page 18 of 19 19 Next Steps Finalize inventories & assessments Prepare adoption materials Hold public hearings Stakeholder EngagementSpring/Summer Fall/Winter Winter/Spring Finalize Inventories & Assessments City Council Work Session May 22, 2023 Attachment 1, Page 19 of 19 WETLANDS & RIPARIAN CORRIDORS WHAT ARE THEY? WHAT DO THEY DO? WHY DOES THIS MATTER? Wetlands and riparian corridors have many functions. They: Riparian corridors are waterways and the land area directly along the waterway. When left in a more natural state, they are buffers between the water and many human impacts. Wetlands are areas that are saturated by surface water or ground water, where such water occurs at a frequency and duration sufficient to support types of vegetation that are adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Simply stated, wetlands are areas with plants and soils that are best-suited to wet conditions.  Equip us to handle flood emergencies: Wetlands and riparian corridors can act like sponges and absorb floodwater. An acre of wetland can store between 1-1.5 million gallons of floodwater.  Enhance water quality: The vegetation in these areas reduces erosion of areas along the bank (especially riparian areas) because of roots in the soil. Both the underground and aboveground parts of a plant keep waste and other residue like sediment out of water when it flows to a stream or river after the rain. Wetlands act as filters and purifiers because they absorb and hold water before it soaks into the ground. Wetlands can remove as much as 90 percent of solids in water.  Provide various species places to live: The strips of land that follow the river are critical travel corridors because they allow animals to move freely. Shade from trees and other plants cools water to a temperature that allows aquatic-based life to survive. The waterbodies themselves serve as habitat that allows for shelter to hide, breed, or sleep. Although wetlands only make up about 5 percent of the land surface in the contiguous United States, wetlands are home to 31 percent of our nation’s plant species.  Boost aesthetic & property values: Market prices can sometimes reflect the “quality of life” or amenity values provided by wetlands and riparian corridors. For residential development in urban areas, the market price of properties with views of natural areas is often greater than the price of similar properties without these views.  Offer spaces for recreation & education: These areas allow for great places to enjoy and learn about the outdoors. Opportunities for recreation include parks and trails. Here, classes and tours can also interact up-close with the featured educational topic. Attachment 2, Page 1 of 1 M E M O R A N D U M City of Springfield Date: 5/2/2023 To: Planning Commission PLANNING COMMISSION From: Molly Markarian, Senior Planner BRIEFING Subject: Natural Resource Inventories & Protections for UGB Expansion Areas MEMORANDUM ISSUE: Since 2020, Springfield has been working with partner agencies and stakeholders to identify and assess wetlands, riparian corridors, and wildlife habitat in the areas where the City recently expanded its urban growth boundary (UGB). With the identification and assessment phase nearly complete, staff seek confirmation from the Planning Commission on protection approaches for locally significant natural resources in preparation for further stakeholder engagement and development of draft legislative amendments for Planning Commission consideration. COUNCIL GOALS/ MANDATE: Council Goals: Mandate BACKGROUND: Existing Natural Resources Regulatory Framework Oregon Regulations Statewide Planning Goal 5 (Natural Resources, Scenic and Historic Areas, and Open Spaces) directs local governments to protect locally significant wetlands, riparian areas, and wildlife habitat while Goal 6 (Air, Water and Land Resources Quality) requires that waste and process discharge from future development shall not threaten to violate, or violate applicable state or federal environmental quality statutes, rules, and standards. Goal 5 establishes alternative methods for establishing protections for significant wetlands and riparian corridors1, a “Standard” method and a “Safe Harbor” method. The “Standard” method necessitates what is called an Economic, Social, Environmental and Energy 1 Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 660-023-0110(6) stipulates that local governments shall develop programs to protect wildlife habitat following the Standard method. Attachment 3, Page 1 of 3 MEMORANDUM 4/26/2023 Page 2 (ESEE) Analysis. This analysis formally lays out the justification for a decision to protect, partially protect, or not protect a resource by looking at the consequences of not allowing, partially allowing, or fully allowing uses that may be considered incompatible with natural areas ("conflicting uses"). Springfield Policies Springfield first adopted the Springfield Natural Resource Study (NR Study) in 2002, based on a Local Wetland Inventory that was adopted in 1998. Springfield then adopted its Natural Resource Inventory in 2004 that identified riparian corridors within the UGB at that time, incorporated a Wildlife Habitat Assessment, and accounted for Water Quality Limited Watercourses2. The original NR Study used the “Standard” protection method, meaning an ESEE analysis was utilized to justify a more nuanced natural resource protection program that limits conflicting uses through development review procedures and standards. In 2011, the NR Study was updated to incorporate newly identified significant natural resources in the Glenwood area of Springfield. That update also contemplated alternative protection approaches but ultimately integrated into the City’s existing regulatory framework. Protection Considerations for UGB Expansion Area Resources As noted above, alternative methods exist for establishing protections for significant wetlands and riparian corridors in the UGB Expansion Areas. The figure below identifies key aspects of each approach. Though the “Safe Harbor” method is intended to be procedurally more streamlined, it results in highly prescriptive development requirements. The “Standard” approach is more qualitative, relying on the local government to demonstrate that the proposed protection program is ‘adequate’ by objectively balancing contending economic, social, environmental, and energy priorities. Additionally, given that Springfield has implementation (Development Code) provisions already in place, efficiencies gained in deciding which land should have placed on its use to protect significant natural resources would be offset by the effort needed to establish new development provisions. As such, staff recommends continuing to balance development priorities with natural resource protection by utilizing the “Standard” approach to protect significant wetland, riparian, and wildlife habitat sites in the UGB Expansion Areas. 2 Springfield currently does not have an inventory of, or clear protection implementation, for wildlife habitat in areas outside of wetlands and riparian corridors (upland wildlife habitat). Wildlife habitat is a key function of most of Springfield inventoried wetlands and riparian areas. Attachment 3, Page 2 of 3 MEMORANDUM 4/26/2023 Page 3 RECOMMENDED ACTION: Confirm that Springfield will follow the “Standard” approach for protecting significant wetland, riparian, and wildlife habitat sites in the UGB Expansion Areas in conformance with Springfield’s existing regulatory framework. Attachment 3, Page 3 of 3