New Construction Rules Changes: Benton County Board of Commissioners were given an update on proposed changes to the current development code for stormwater management.at their Jan. 17 meeting.
By March 1, Benton County has to make updates to its stormwater code because of new requirements from Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) which Benton County and other jurisdictions are mandated to implement, pursuant to the federal Clean Water Act.
The changes will mean more development projects being required to obtain erosion/sediment control permits, and post-construction stormwater management permits, or both.
“The big changes are reducing the threshold for requirements for erosion and sediment, as well as post construction detention and treatment of stormwater,” said Greg Verret, Community Development to commissioners. “The Planning Commissions concerns and direction to staff was for approval of the changes but with a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners that they would like to see more flexibility and alternatives for property owners regarding post construction.”
“This will increase time demands on permitting staff in community development and engineering staff in Public Works,” said Verret in a memo to council. “Additionally, changes to the stormwater permit fees are being prepared and will be presented to the board along with the ordinance for the code amendments.”
Staff will forward the revised code amendments and staff report to the BOC on Jan. 24. A public hearing is scheduled for Feb. 7 and will be open to the public.
Trash Talks: Benton County Board of Commissioners was also given a project status update from the Benton County Trash Talks work group at the Jan. 17 meeting ahead of the release of the second draft for the project.
The work group is nearing its March deadline to submit the revised workplan for the county’s solid waste and disposal plan, including Coffin Butte landfill, located approximately 10 miles north of Corvallis.
The work group released the first draft of the proposed project in early January and then following suggestions from the commissioners will release a second draft at a Jan. 19 work session.
“There are three remaining meetings, one of which is Thursday,” said Sam Imperati. “The meeting on January 19 will give each subcommittee time to talk about their findings and recommendations. As a result of this meeting on January 25 we will send out the draft 3.”
The work group will continue to meet through March 2023 to create the revised workplan. All Meetings are open to the public and are open to public comment.
By: Jennifer Williams
