PORT ANGELES — The city may soon scrap plans to install its first rain gardens.
In March, staff met with about a dozen residents about installing rain gardens — a vegetated area that captures stormwater runoff — in their neighborhood along two blocks: West Sixth Street between I and H streets, and I street between Sixth and Fifth streets.
The purpose of the project was to eliminate street flooding, but the proposal received little support from the neighbors, said Terri Partch, city civil engineer.
Concerns from the residents included maintenance, which would be left to them after two years; access to parking; mailboxes; and an increase in property values, which would lead to higher taxes, she said.
Instead, staff will propose to the City Council this month that two new stormwater pipes be installed in the area, she said.
The costs for each project are $865,000 for the rain gardens and $705,000 for the pipes.
Partch said staff were interested in installing rain gardens because they do a better job of treating rainwater than man-made filters because they introduce oxygen into the runoff.
Port Angeles Harbor, she said, lacks dissolved oxygen.
The city may still pursue a rain garden project along parts of C Street later this year, Partch said.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.