Ordinance No. 20530 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Exhibit B CLS support the Applicant’s proposed Commercial designation on the Metro Plan diagram: Policy 2.0: Provide greater certainty regarding the development of commercial land by resolving major conflicts between the Metro Plan designations and local zoning of land planned or zoned for commercial use. (pg. III-3) Implementation Strategy 2.1: Initiate Metro Plan amendments or zone changes to correct significant plan/zone conflicts. … (pg. III-3) Policy 6.0: Promote redevelopment of existing commercial areas and compact, dense growth by encouraging businesses to revitalize and reuse existing commercial sites. (pg. III-7) The CLS acknowledged the problem of having inconsistencies between Metro Plan diagram designations and zoning. In fact, the CLS noted that such inconsistencies “creates uncertainty for developers and community members.” (pg. III-3) However, the focus of the CLS was primarily upon vacant sites. Given the fact that the subject site has not been vacant and in continuous commercial use for decades, the CLS did not include the site among those considered for City-initiated Metro Plan amendments and/or zone changes to address plan/zone conflicts, as recommended by CLS Implementation Strategy 2.1. Implementation through the Envision Eugene process could result in City- initiated action to address the site’s existing plan/zone conflict, but the uncertainty for timing of that process and the Applicant’s desire to retire resulted in her direct application to address the plan/zone conflict and eliminate the uncertainty surrounding disposition of her property. Addressing the inherent conflict between the site’s zoning and plan designation and approving the applicant’s request directly supports both of the above policies and ensures the eligibility of continued commercial use on the subject site. The CLS also includes area-specific policies, and text for the Central/University Subarea provides insight into the heritage of the site’s industrial zoning: “Industrial development was historically an important part of Eugene’s downtown growth and development.” (pg. III-17) The sub-area diagram also identified areas zoned Industrial, including “a band along both sides of the railroad between Lincoln & Oak.” The following adopted policy and recommended implementation action are directly related to the proposed Plan amendment and concurrent zone change: Policy 17.0: Recognize that additional commercial development will occur primarily through redevelopment of existing commercial sites. (pg. III-15)