Ordinance No. 20545 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Draft 9/29/14 D. Willamette River Greenway, River Corridors, and Waterways Element The Willamette River has long been recognized in the Eugene-Springfield area as a valuable natural asset. A number of policy documents and programs adopted by local jurisdictions have reinforced the community concern to preserve and protect metropolitan river corridors. On December 6, 1975, the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) adopted Statewide Planning Goal 15: Willamette River Greenway. The goal sets forth the overall framework within which state and local governments carry out protection and maintenance of the Willamette River Greenway. The goal requires Eugene, Springfield, and Lane County to adopt Greenway boundaries, to specify uses permitted within those boundaries, and indicate areas of potential acquisition along the Greenway. In making these determinations, local jurisdictions must gather information and inventory the nature and extent of all natural resources associated with the Willamette River Greenway. Local jurisdictions are also mandated to adopt provisions, by ordinance, requiring a compatibility review permit for any intensification, change of use, or development within Greenway boundaries. The jurisdictional area of the Metro Plan (i.e., Metro Plan Boundary) was found to be in compliance with Goal 15 on September 12, 1982. In the metropolitan area, a large portion of land within the Greenway is in public ownership or public parks such as Mount Pisgah, Skinner’s Butte, Alton Baker, and Island Park. Future proposed park acquisitions, such as the Goodpasture Island gravel ponds, will further expand the opportunity for public access and enjoyment of the river area. The three jurisdictions cooperated in the development of a bicycle-pedestrian trail system that extends along theGreenway from south of Springfield to north of Eugene and into the River Road area. This system includes five bike bridges across the river. Land along the Greenway in private ownership is in a variety of uses, some of which appear to provide greater opportunity than others for public access and enjoyment. Residential uses along the Greenway can provide the residents with access to the river area. Certain commercial uses, such as restaurants, can allow customers visual enjoyment of the Greenway. Other uses, such as the many industrial uses, would appear to provide little if any opportunity for access or enjoyment of the Greenway. This is evidenced by much of the existing industrial development along the Willamette River in the Glenwood area. Finally, in rural agricultural areas, isolated access points can work to the detriment of the Greenway program. In these areas, trespass and vandalism can cause a detraction in the general Greenway environment and create problems for private landowners. The Greenway boundaries, as adopted by the three jurisdictions, have been digitized in the Regional Land Information Database (RLID) and are shown as an overlay on Plan Diagram. Future acquisition areas and uses allowed within the Greenway remain the primary responsibility of the local jurisdictions. This element, however, provides the basis for a coordinated effort by Eugene, Springfield, and Lane County. III-D-1