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

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RELATED CITY POLICIES This project addresses implementation strategies and policies from the Downtown Plan. This project does not directly address or affect council goals or priorities. Relevant Growth Management Policies include the following: Support the existing Eugene Urban Growth Boundary by taking actions to increase density and use existing vacant land and under-used land within the boundary more efficiently. Encourage in-fill, mixed-use, redevelopment, and higher density development. Encourage a mix of businesses and residential uses downtown using incentives and zoning. The first three Growth Management Policies address the importance of compact development and density. Policy #2 specifically encourages higher density development within existing development areas. Policy #3 refers to the role of zoning in the effort to encourage desired development downtown. Policy 1 Policy 2 Policy 3 Relevant Downtown Plan polices include the following: . Downtown development shall support the urban qualities of density, vitality, livability and diversity to create a downtown, urban environment. . Stimulate multi-unit housing in the downtown core and on the edges of downtown for a variety of income levels and ownership opportunities. . Facilitate dense development in the Courthouse area and other sites between the core of downtown and the river. . Reinforce residential use in neighborhoods abutting the downtown commercial core to help contain commercial activity in downtown and maintain the historic character and livability of adjacent neighborhoods. The Downtown Plan policies express the commitment to reinforce downtown Eugene as a strong regional center and a diverse, dense, economically strong urban center. The first three bulleted policies listed above specifically encourage the transformation of vacant and underutilized sites and the development of dense commercial, residential, and cultural activities. The fourth bulleted policy addresses the need to concentrate dense commercial activities in the downtown core, rather than to encourage commercial activities to replace existing housing along the edges of downtown. The strategy of creating a downtown zone or overlay district speaks to this concern by focusing new or revised regulations for density in the downtown core rather than in the surrounding neighborhoods. COUNCIL OPTIONS The council can choose to initiate the code amendment or decline to initiate the code amendment. The council can also request additional information before deciding whether or not to initiate. LICMOl2006 Council AgendasIM060724IS0607242C.doc