Item B: Jefferson-Westside Options for Immediate Protection

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ATTACHMENT B c Planning & Development Administration MEMORANDUM City of Eugene 99 W. 10th Avenue Eugene, Oregon 97401 (541) 682-8817 (541) 682-8335 FAX www.eugene-or.gov Date: April 27, 2006 To: Mayor Piercy and City Council From: Emily Newton Jerome, 683-5080 Harrang Long Gary Rudnick PC Susan Muir, 682-6077 Planning and Development Executive Director Subject: CITY COUNCIL ASSIGNMENT RESPONSE: CHANGE. IN JEFFERSON WESTSIDE ZONING AND LAND USE DESIGNATIONS On April 9, 2006, Councilor Bettman asked via e-mail: Please provide an explanation of the situation that has emerged in the JWN neighborhood now that appeal of the Metro Plan amendments has resolved. Can you tell me please under what circumstance it is legal or appropriate for zone changes to be processed as uhousekeeping?" The request was also made verbally at the Council's meeting the following day by Councilors Bettman and Kelly. The cities of Eugene and Springfield and Lane County adopted a package of "Housekeeping Amendments" pursuant to Work Task 17 of the area's periodic review. The Work Task 17 Housekeeping Amendments were adopted by the Eugene City Council on April 21, 2004, after numerous hearings before the Eugene Planning Commission and the City Council. It is our understanding that a concern has arisen in the JWN neighborhood that properties in that area were "rezoned" as part of the housekeeping package. In fact, no zone changes were included in that action. However, as part of the Housekeeping Amendments, the Metro Plan diagram was updated. Probably, the Metro Plan diagram changes are the actual cause of the neighbors' concern. \ Work Task 17 required the jurisdictions "to review and revise, as appropriate, Metro Plan chapters and elements that are not updated as part of separate [work tasks]." To address Work Task 17, the Metro jurisdictions updated the Metro Plan diagram to reflect the actions taken by the jurisdictions since the last periodic review that changed an area's designation, but that were not yet reflected on the Metro Plan diagram, such as adopted amendments to refinement plan diagrams or formal interpretations of a Metro Plan designation for an area that was unclear on the previous diagram. The Jefferson/Far West area can provide an example. In 1983, the City Council adopted the Jefferson Far West Refinement Plan. In that refinement plan, a large area located east of the fairgrounds is designated as "Low- Medium Density Residential" (subarea #15). Policies in the Jefferson/Far West Refinement Plan applicable to this Low-Medium Density Residential area include: "[t]he City shall explore methods of encouraging an increase in residential density yet maintaining the character of the area. Residential densities.beyond ten units per acre shall be allowed, subject to an approved block plan or rezoning to R-2 in conjunction with site review" and "[t]he City shall encourage block planning, infilling, and shared housing, in this area."