Item 1: Ordinance on Transplan and Metro Plan Amendments

Home Browse Search

1. Make a finding that the RTP amendments are consistent with TransPlan; or 2. Adopt amendments to TransPlan within one year that make it consistent with the RTP update; or 3. Adopt amendments to TransPlan that make it consistent with the RTP according to a work plan approved by the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC). For a number of reasons, Eugene, Springfield, and Lane County proceeded under Option 3. Accordingly, the three jurisdictions sought LCDC’s approval of a work plan. The City Council participated in the preparation of the work plan and on September 15, 2008, approved it for presentation to LCDC. On October 16, 2008, LCDC approved (with conditions) the Regional Transportation Work Plan (the “Work Plan,” provided as Attachment B). The Work Plan represents a logical, programmatic approach to aligning and updating the regional land use and transportation plans. The Work Plan requires, as a first step, that the local jurisdictions amend TransPlan in the following manner: ? delete transportation projects that have been completed; ? adjust TransPlan’s planning period; ? delete the West Eugene Parkway (WEP), and ? move four ODOT highway projects from the Future list to the Financially Constrained list (only two of these projects are located in Eugene; the other two are being processed by the City of Springfield). This public hearing on October 19 is held to consider moving the two ODOT highway projects located th in Eugene, portions of West 11 Avenue and Beltline Highway from River Road to Coburg Road, from the Future list to the Financially Constrained list. On June 29, 2009, after a public hearing and extended public comment period, the Eugene Planning Commission recommended approval of these amendments. Hearings for the other amendments, some of which require joint action with other jurisdictions, will occur at a later date. During the Planning Commission deliberations, staff agreed that the project descriptions should be made more generic so that the project designs could remain responsive to site conditions and needs of adjoining properties and stakeholders. For instance, in response to testimony received related to natural th resources issues, the project description for Project No. 333 (West 11 Avenue) will not specify the precise number of travel lanes for the roadway. Materials attached to this AIS further describe the approval criteria, the purpose and content of TransPlan’s project lists, public testimony received at the Planning Commission hearing, and draft minutes of the Planning Commission’s deliberation. Of particular note are letters from the Friends of th Eugene and Bureau of Land Management regarding the West 11 project. City staff is committed to addressing these issues through the facility planning process for West 11th Avenue from Terry Street to Green Hill Road which is currently neither funded, nor scheduled. The rules governing typical TransPlan and Metro Plan amendments state that “The council's decision shall be based solely on the evidentiary record created before the planning commission. No new evidence shall be allowed at the council hearing” (EC 9.7735(4)). However, EC 9.7750(1) also allows the City Council to establish a “different process, timeline, or both, than the processes and timelines Z:\CMO\2009 Council Agendas\M091019\S0910191.doc