Did You Know?
April 28, 2017: The City of Lake Oswego, Oregon, has built a set of documents geared to helping the City's Neighborhood Associations work on neighborhood and refinement plans. Their goal is: “to address issues that staff, neighborhoods and the Commission had observed with past plan development, specifically to:
We have added the Lake Oswego “Neighborhood
Planning Kit” and “Neighborhood Planning Options” to our Documents page. For more information about Lake Oswego Planning, their history, projects, and resources, visit https://www.ci.oswego.or.us/planning/neighborhood-planning-materials. We encourage you to examine this exemplary tool that could help inform Eugene’s Neighborhood Associations in their efforts to work on and produce successful refinement plans for their areas.
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Current Metro Plan LDR - Low Density Residential MDR - Medium Density Residential HDR - High Density Residential COM - Commercial | Proposed Metro Plan MMA - Multi-Modal Mixed-Use Area LDR - Low Density Residential LMDR - Low-Medium Density Residential HDR - High Density Residential COM - Commercial | Current Zoning C-1 - Neighborhood Commercial C-2 - Community Commercial GO - General Office PL - Public Land R-1 - Low Density Residential R-2 - Medium Density Residential R-3 - Limited High Density Residential | Proposed Zoning
MU - Mixed Use
AC - Apartments or Condominiums
SFO - Single Family Options
PL - Public Land |
December 14, 2015: An independent research group found that 51% of survey respondents strongly oppose the South Willamette Special Area Zone plan
December 9, 2015, 8:00 am
"Rezoning South Willamette is strongly opposed. However, the High "don't know" percentage indicates that most of the city is not paying attention to this issue.
The result also points to the difference between a long-term process like Envision Eugene and the ability to convince the city's population that a certain policy is correct.
QUESTION: Do you support or oppose the South Willamette Rezoning proposed by city staff.
IF SUPPORT/OPPOSE: Is that strongly or somewhat?
IF DON'T KNOW: Which way do you lean?
METHODOLOGY: 200 telephone interviews of City of Eugene likely general election voters were conducted the nights of December 1-2, 2015. The margin of error at the median is 7% Figures may not add up to 100% due to rounding."
(Source: Lindholm Company Blog)
December 2, 2015: SWN Position on SW-SAZ
(Source: Lindholm Company Blog)
What do the residents of the South Willamette Special Area Zone (SW-SAZ) want for their neighborhood? (Updated** February 18, 2016)
Following the Eugene City Council motions of October 21 and November 9, 2015, that have delayed a decision on the SW-SAZ, the South Willamette Neighbors membership engaged in a number of lively and detailed discussions about what they would like to see happen next in the neighborhood. They arrived at a list of positions, each one approved by vote of the membership on December 1, 2015.
- Take all residential properties and the 4J property (former Willard School) off the plan until a refinement plan is in place.
- Put a refinement plan in place.
- Put transportation and other infrastructure improvements in place, as well as wait for the outcome of the Willamette traffic experiment, before considering changing zoning or plan designation for residential properties.
- Remove the MMA (Multimodal Mixed-Use Area)* designation from the plan.
- Approve Mixed-Use designation, design standards, lower heights to 3 stories, for the commercial areas between 24th and 29th, without changing the current protections for adjacent residential properties
- Take all residential properties and the 4J property (former Willard School) off the plan until a refinement plan is in place.
- Put a refinement plan in place.
- Put transportation and other infrastructure improvements in place, as well as wait for the outcome of the Willamette traffic experiment, before considering changing zoning or plan designation for residential properties.
- Remove the MMA (Multimodal Mixed-Use Area)* designation from the plan.
- Approve Mixed-Use designation, design standards, lower heights to 3 stories, for the commercial areas between 24th and 29th, without changing the current protections for adjacent residential properties
*The Multimodal Mixed-Use Area (MMA) designation may be applied by local governments to downtowns, town centers, main streets, and other areas inside Urban Growth Boundaries where the local government determines that there is:
- High-quality connectivity to and within the area by modes of transportation other than the automobile;
- A denser level of development of a variety of commercial and residential uses than in surrounding areas;
- A desire to encourage these characteristics through development standards; and
- An understanding that increased automobile congestion within and around the MMA is accepted as a potential trade-off.
For more information, see http://www.oregon.gov/LCD/docs/transportation/MMA%20Info%20and%20Guidance%20Dec%202012.pdf
And further:
The flexibility gained by the MMA designation comes from the lifting of a requirement in the Transportation Planning Rules (TPR) to apply automobile congestion standards to the review of certain land use changes. Specifically, a local jurisdiction does not need to apply local or state congestion performance standards when evaluating proposed plan amendments against the TPR in OAR 660-012-0060. The act of designating an MMA is also not subject to significant effect evaluation requirements under this rule.Within an adopted MMA, these land use decisions need not be tested for “significant effect” for performance standards related to motor vehicle traffic congestion.
November 9, 2015: City of Eugene Councilor Greg Evans's motion
MOTION (friendly amendment incorporated): Councilor Evans, seconded by Councilor, moved to suspend the council’s October 21, 2015, motion until after the council has had a work session to consider the outcome of a facilitated discussion that includes at a minimum the affected residents, Council of South Eugene Neighbors, and businesses and the City, utilizing the services of a neutral facilitator such as Oregon Solutions; except that the council shall not hold a public hearing on the South Willamette Special Area Zone until after the council confirms a public hearing date following the completion of the facilitated process.
MOTION TO AMEND AND VOTE: Council Clark, seconded by Councilor Brown, moved to insert after “suspend the council’s October 21, 2015 motion,” the words “except the parts of that motion that direct the City Manager to not bring back R1 changes without the approval of the owner.”
FAILED 5:4, Councilors Zelenka, Evans, Syrett, and Pryor opposed. Mayor Piercy broke the tie in opposition.
VOTE ON MAIN MOTION: PASSED 5:4, councilors Brown, Taylor, Poling and Clark opposed. Mayor Piercy broke the tie in support
Source: Minutes, City Council of Eugene, November 9, 2015, http://sire.eugene-or.gov/SIREPub/cache/2/kparj0kndryrncetbfx2k04p/1893412202015032156874.PDF
MOTION (friendly amendment incorporated): Councilor Evans, seconded by Councilor, moved to suspend the council’s October 21, 2015, motion until after the council has had a work session to consider the outcome of a facilitated discussion that includes at a minimum the affected residents, Council of South Eugene Neighbors, and businesses and the City, utilizing the services of a neutral facilitator such as Oregon Solutions; except that the council shall not hold a public hearing on the South Willamette Special Area Zone until after the council confirms a public hearing date following the completion of the facilitated process.
MOTION TO AMEND AND VOTE: Council Clark, seconded by Councilor Brown, moved to insert after “suspend the council’s October 21, 2015 motion,” the words “except the parts of that motion that direct the City Manager to not bring back R1 changes without the approval of the owner.”
FAILED 5:4, Councilors Zelenka, Evans, Syrett, and Pryor opposed. Mayor Piercy broke the tie in opposition.
VOTE ON MAIN MOTION: PASSED 5:4, councilors Brown, Taylor, Poling and Clark opposed. Mayor Piercy broke the tie in support
Source: Minutes, City Council of Eugene, November 9, 2015, http://sire.eugene-or.gov/SIREPub/cache/2/kparj0kndryrncetbfx2k04p/1893412202015032156874.PDF
October 21, 2015: City of Eugene Councilor Mike Clark's motion MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Brown, moved to direct the City Manager to: 1) Reschedule the public hearing on the South Willamette Special Area Zone to January 19, 2016. 2) Engage the affected neighbors and property owners and bring back revised zoning and plan amendments for public hearing on January 19th that will accomplish the following: a) Does not change the plan designation or rezone any property currently zoned R-1 or immediately adjacent to a property zoned R-1, unless none of the adjacent properties have an existing single-family home or duplex and the owner agrees to the rezoning; b) ensures that use and development standards for all properties that are not zoned R-1 will protect R-1 property residents' livability, including: i) Protecting residents' visual privacy in their homes and backyards, especially from significant intrusion from occupants of structures that are two or more stories; and ii) protecting residents' from significant negative impacts from structures that block solar access or reasonable sight lines; and iii) protecting residents' from significant negative impacts arising from vehicle use and loading. 3) Follow the direction above with respect to all future planning and proposals for the new comprehensive plan, code and plan amendments on (previously identified by staff) transit corridors that may impact R-1 properties. PASSED 5:3, councilors Zelenka, Syrett, and Pryor opposed. Source: Minutes, City Council of Eugene, October 21, 2015, http://sire.eugene-or.gov/SIREPub/cache/2/kparj0kndryrncetbfx2k04p/1875912202015033139558.PDF
The proposed plan reduces the number of lanes on Willamette Street from 4 to 3 to accommodate new dedicated bicycle lanes. Those voicing opposition cited dangers for all who use the street and the impact of reduced response time in emergencies.
The Firefighters and LTD submitted written testimony into the public record for the April 14, 2014, City Council Meeting. Individuals present at the meeting, also presenting testimony, were Ronald Zauner, Margo Zauner, Ron Tyree, Jeff Davis, Linda Nelkin, David Nelkin (submitting the petition signatures), and Scott Landfield.
“State law . . . requires municipalities to have a 20-year land supply for homes, businesses and industries.” (Edward Russo, “Envision Eugene growth strategy approved by City Council; Lane County approval needed next.” The Register-Guard, July 21, 2015.
Just how many people are coming? How many new housing units are needed to accommodate them?
South Willamette Concept Plan:
34,000 new residents over the next 20 years; about 1600 units of multi-family housing (p. 8)
Envision Eugene Revised Housing Recommendation (March 2015):
“We are expecting nearly 34,000 new people. We are planning for approximately 15,150 new homes.”
Edward Russo, ““Envision Eugene growth strategy approved by City Council; Lane County approval needed next.” The Register-Guard, July 21, 2015:
“Until now, Envision Eugene has been based on a 2009 Portland State University forecast that said Eugene’s population would grow by 34,000 residents by 2031, the end of the study’s planning period. . . . But PSU recently released an updated forecast that said Eugene is now expected to grow by 47,380 residents between 2010 and 2035, or roughly 13,000 residents more than the 2009 forecast.”
“The projections for Eugene over the next 20-years are about 34,000 new people, which is our official population estimate for planning.”
"It’s estimated that Eugene will see a population increase of around 40,000 residents in the next 20 years, and 90,000 in the next 50 years.*" (*Source: Portland State University Population Forecast)
The Population Research Center at Portland State University, College of Urban and Public Affairs, is Oregon’s authority for population forecasts
PSU’s most recent study for Lane County is available at http://www.pdx.edu/prc/sites/www.pdx.edu.prc/files/Lane_Forecast_Report_201506.pdf
Note that while the enumeration of neighborhoods in the new map (right) shows a total number at 26, the actual number of neighborhoods is 23, the same as in the previous map. Three numbers are missing in the new map: 6, 9, and 23. While the older map lists the neighborhoods alphabetically and assigns a number in that order, the enumeration of the new map does not follow any logical pattern.
The name change to Southwest Hills Neighborhood Association seems to have occurred sometime in 2015. SHiNA’s charter was “Updated as of March 2015.” The new neighborhoods map (below, right; detail) is dated July 21, 2015.
Along with the 2015 name change, the boundaries of the association also changed, taking in properties formerly part of Southeast Neighbors: south of and following the west side of Willamette Street, down to and up within the Urban Growth Boundary. This action reduced the size of Southeast Neighbors and enlarged SHiNA.
CDCA had been previously enlarged in 1981 ("Crest Drive association plans meeting tonight"), when properties between 24th & 28th and between Chambers & City View were added. The annexation incorporated newly developed areas that had not been represented by a neighborhood association.
The residents of the Crest Drive Citizens Association area participated in a survey in 2009 conducted by the city
During the summer and fall of 2009, the City of Eugene organized a survey of neighborhood association. Responses to the survey totaled 132, “about 2.15 of the neighborhood’s total population.” From this small response, the city concluded that “overall, Crest Drive results show that respondents have mixed views of the quality of life in the Crest Drive neighborhood. When asked about what they would like to improve in Crest Drive, biking and walking and bus service were the most frequent responses, followed by connection to people in my neighborhood.”
Members of the Crest Drive Citizens Association prepared a “refinement plan” addressing land use in its zone in compliance with the City of Eugene’s 1990 Plan, but the plan was not accepted by the city’s staff.
City of Eugene neighborhood associations have policies and guidelines approved by the city
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Model Charter for Eugene Neighborhood Organizations with guidelines (in italics) - Adopted by City Council on January 26, 1983 (Resolution #3745)
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Eugene Neighborhood Organization Recognition Policy with guidelines (in italics) - Approved by Resolution No. 3746 of the Eugene City Council on the 26th day of January, 1983
The City of Eugene’s citizen engagement process in planning was as contentious in 1977 as it is today
Despite repeated statements from city staff that SW-SAZ represented a "community" consensus, citizens reported that they were not properly informed, engaged, and involved in SW-SAZ. The SWN Survey comments revealed citizens' frustration with the process resulting in a lack of information about the plan, its scope, and impacts. By law, citizen involvement is mandated by the State of Oregon in "Oregon's Statewide Planning Goals & Guidelines / Goal 1: Citizen Involvement OAR 660-015-000(1)
“During the Winter and Spring of 1986 the community debated the issue of whether or not to convert Willamette Street between 11th and 20th to two-way traffic. Reasons cited to support the proposed conversion included the need to restore Willamette as the main street of Eugene; the need to provide a formal entrance and approved access into downtown; that commercial activities along Willamette would improve with two-way traffic; and that an entry to downtown along Willamette would improve the identity of downtown.”
“The Envision Eugene Comprehensive Plan is one plan among a family of land use plans at the state, regional and local level. As a state-mandated land use plan, the comprehensive plan has a certain relationship to other adopted plans.
The Envision Eugene Comprehensive Plan is the basic guiding policy document for land use planning within the urban growth boundary for the City of Eugene. The Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan (Metro Plan) is the basic guiding land use policy document for regional land use planning. Eugene’s refinement plans (including special area studies, area plans and functional plans) must be consistent with applicable provisions in both the Envision Eugene Comprehensive Plan and the Metro Plan.
If inconsistencies occur between the Envision Eugene Comprehensive Plan and the Metro Plan, the Envision Eugene Comprehensive Plan is the prevailing policy document.
If inconsistencies occur between the Envision Eugene Comprehensive Plan and a refinement plan, the Envision Eugene Comprehensive Plan is the Prevailing document”
(October 2015, Preliminary Draft, Envision Eugene: Vision to Action, Comprehensive Plan, Introduction, p. 41)
This preliminary draft of Envision Eugene: Vision to Action was presented to the Eugene Planning Commission on October 19, 2015 by City Planner Terri Harding, with the following background description:
To adopt Eugene’s new urban growth boundary, staff is preparing documents required under Oregon statewide planning rules and statutes. This set of documents is referred to as the “UGB adoption package” that will allow Eugene to set and maintain its own UGB, separately from Springfield. The Envision Eugene Comprehensive Plan is a major component of the UGB adoption package. In addition to this required piece, several other important documents will be reviewed and discussed on a similar timeline. These documents, including the Community Vision, the Urban Form Plan, and the Action Plan, carry forward the content and direction of the 2012 Envision Eugene Recommendation to help the community realize its 20-year vision. However, they are non-regulatory and are not required by state law.
The complete set of documents, both regulatory and non-regulatory, is now called Envision Eugene: Vision to Action. The graphic in Attachment A shows how the Envision Eugene pillars, 2012 Recommendation, and subsequent Council direction flow into the preliminary draft of Envision Eugene: Vision to Action. The graphic also lists what is included in each of the four parts.
The City of Eugene's homepage for Envision Eugene is at http://or-eugene.civicplus.com/index.aspx?NID=2973. Please check this page for future updates.
South Willamette Special Area Zone “Quick Look” Summary (Updated August 1, 2015):
“[T]he City Council is considering extending the MUPTE boundary to the South Willamette Area. The current proposal would not “turn on” the program for this area until the proposed code is adopted and in place. This helps ensure that new development supported by MUPTE will better meet the community’s expectations under the new code.”
South Willamette Special Area Zone Frequent Questions and City Responses (October 1, 2015):
“If City Council voted to implement economic incentives, such as the MUPTE program, it would raise the number of [housing] units [from 60] to 250 in 20 years.”
Eugene Planning, “Redevelopment Expected to Occur as a Result of New Zoning in the South Willamette District” (February 10, 2014):
“[T]he South Willamette District is likely to remain designated as an area eligible for the reformed Multi-Unit Property Tax Exemption (MUPTE) program, which is currently under development by City staff and City Council. This program will provide developers the opportunity to reduce annual operating expenses (~9.8%) for new multi-family developments of at least five new units as long as specific project criteria and benchmarks are met.”