Item 2C: Initiation of Code Amendment for Downtown Zoning District

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The council funded the implementation of six Key Next Steps from the Downtown Vision in April 2001. The concept of a new zoning district was included in the task of updating the Downtown Plan. In April 2004, the updated Downtown Plan was adopted by the council. The plan contained the following implementation strategy: Create a single zone to unify the downtown core, including the new Federal Courthouse and riverfront areas. Consider amendments to an existing commercial zone, such as C-2 or C-3, and overlay zones such as /TD, /ND, and the Broadway Overlay Zone. (Page 14) As part of the implementation of the Downtown Plan, Planning and Development Department (PDD) staff reviewed downtown zoning regulations with the Planning Commission on May 10, 2004. Based on direction from the Planning Commission, PDD staff met with ERAC members five times between July 2004 and February 2005. ERAC identified issues within existing zoning regulations that hindered desired downtown development, as described in the Downtown Plan. In response to the issues identified, ERAC members recommended a strategy to modify the existing /TD overlay to serve as a Downtown Overlay District. On March 1, 2005, staff met again with the Planning Commission to present issues and ideas highlighted by ERAC. The Planning Commission expressed support for the general direction identified involving possible code amendments to downtown-related regulations, with the understanding that further evaluation of these topics was necessary. Staff presented ERAC and Planning Commission recommendations to the council at a work session on September 12, 2005. Staff followed through on council direction at that meeting by presenting a strategy for citizen involvement in the preliminary scoping phase of this project to the Planning Commission, serving as the Citizen Involvement Committee, on September 26,2005. This phase, envisioned as the first of a two-phase strategy, was implemented in the fall of 2005 and involved a public information workshop and a web-based power point and survey (see Phase One below). The second, more extensive phase of citizen involvement will commence after council initiation of the code amendment (see Phase Two below). Phase One: Initial Scoping The purpose of the initial scoping phase was to provide public education on the zoning and regulatory issues involved and to solicit public comments to gain insight into the key issues and parameters to help define the extent of the project. Staff relied on two venues: a public workshop and an interactive website. To publicize these venues, staff sent postcards to all property owners and residents within downtown and the Transit Overlay District boundaries, and to organizations on the interested parties list. Staff also called or e-mailed a number of key stakeholders, including individuals who previously expressed interest in this project. The public workshop was held on November 30,2005, in the Tykeson Room at the Eugene Public Library. Planning and Development staff was present to engage participants and discuss or explain the issues involved. Of the approximately 40 citizens who attended the workshop, 35 attendees filled out surveys to indicate their familiarity with zoning and regulatory issues downtown and to provide comments on possible changes (see Attachment A). The survey topics LICMOl2006 Council AgendasIM060724IS0607242C.doc