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Keizer rescinds enforcement for Lydia Street stormwater encroachments, directs redesign in CIP
Summary
Council rescinded enforcement actions against four Lydia Street property owners and directed staff to prioritize redesign of roadside vegetated stormwater facilities in the stormwater capital improvement plan; council approved allowing temporary encroachment permits until redesigns occur, with grant exploration noted.
Keizer — After a months‑long review, Public Works Director Carrie Blaylock told the council on July 20 that several vegetated stormwater facilities (VSFs) on Lydia Street were nearing the end of their expected service life and that enforcement of unpermitted bridges and rock features should be rescinded while the city pursues redesign and rehabilitation through the stormwater capital improvement plan.
Blaylock summarized engineering, regulatory and maintenance factors: many linear roadside treatment facilities were installed 15–20 years ago, have maintenance and life‑cycle concerns, and must continue to meet National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit obligations to treat stormwater. She said some retrofit ideas — such as adding a “step‑out” curb to improve passenger egress — could reduce treatment capacity and require infiltration testing, soil replacement and vegetation restoration to restore performance.
Staff recommended three actions: rescind enforcement for the four property owners in question, place similar linear roadside treatment facilities on the CIP for redesign and replacement prioritized by install date, and offer temporary right‑of‑way encroachment permits where feasible until facilities are rebuilt. Council moved and passed the staff recommendation; the motion passed with six ayes and one abstention (Councilor Parsons recused because of neighborhood proximity).
Blaylock said her team is exploring grant opportunities to accelerate redesign work and will bring prioritization and budget implications back to council. The near‑term outcome is that property owners cited for unpermitted bridges on Lydia Street will not face enforcement while the city plans a long‑term, standards‑based redesign.
