Grants Pass approves $456,000 reimbursement district for regional stormwater pond

Grants Pass approves $456,000 reimbursement district for regional stormwater pondThe Oregon city has established a connection fee of roughly $0.99 per square foot of impervious surface to fund the newly built Allen Creek Road stormwater facility, while allowing exemptions for developers who mitigate run-off on-site.

The regional stormwater pond, constructed as part of a road widening project, cost $456,484 and has 10.61 acres of remaining capacity.

Developers opting to connect will pay approximately $43,024 per acre of impervious surface, equating to roughly $2,200 for a standard new residential build.

The council amended the ordinance to explicitly exempt developments that provide adequate, model-compliant on-site stormwater mitigation.

Once the pond reaches its maximum capacity on a first-come, first-served basis, no additional connections will be permitted.

The Grants Pass City Council unanimously approved an ordinance on May 20, 2026, establishing a public installed reimbursement district for the Allen Creek Road Regional Stormwater Pond. The district provides a mechanism for the city to recoup $456,484 in construction costs by charging developers who utilize the pond's remaining 10.61 acres of capacity. According to city staff, the pond was intentionally oversized during the Allen Creek Road widening project to offer a regional stormwater solution. This allows developers within the district to connect to the municipal infrastructure rather than utilizing buildable land for individual detention ponds. The reimbursement fee operates on a first-come, first-served basis, costing approximately $43,024 per acre, or $0.99 per square foot of impervious surface. Staff noted that a 1,500-square-foot home with an additional 700 square feet of driveway or patio would face a connection fee of roughly $2,200. All collected funds will be returned to the city's stormwater fund to offset the initial project costs. Prior to the final vote, the council adopted an amendment clarifying the rules around mandatory participation. Prompted by feedback from local engineer and developer John Kameller, the ordinance was updated to explicitly state that if a development provides adequate, model-compliant stormwater mitigation on-site, no payment to the district is required. Kameller pointed out that developments detaining and treating water at historic rates before it reaches the pond should not be subject to the fee, as they are independently performing the required mitigation. City staff confirmed that properties unable to utilize the pond—whether due to natural topography or because the facility has reached its maximum capacity—will be required to engineer and construct their own on-site stormwater mitigation to comply with existing development codes. Routine maintenance of the regional pond will be funded through the city's standard monthly stormwater utility fees.