04/14/1986 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e Gary Chenkin of the Planning Department gave the staff report. He said the proposed regulations would protect solar access in existing developments, include revised clearer standards, and would protect solar access systems from new vegetation. He said letters dated April 14, 1986, from Camilla Pratt of the EWEB Board of Directors and from the Homebuilders Association of Lane County were received this evening and will be forwarded to the council. Mayor Obie opened the public hearing. Greg Shaver, 1225 Water Street, Springfield, is chairperson of the Springfield Planning Commission. He said Springfield adopted regulations similar to the proposed Eugene regulations, but some aspects of the Springfield regulations for subdivisions are more voluntary. He said the proposed revisions simplify the regulations. He said protecting solar access for south walls and roofs will save the community money now and in the future. Ted Elliott, 190 East 49th, is president of the Willamette Valley Solar Energy Association. He encouraged the council to approve the revisions which, he said, are flexible. He said the Planning Commission did an excellent job reviewing the regulations. He said he recently bought a home in south Eugene because it has solar access. He would like a guarantee that new vegetation will not negate an investment in solar systems. Jim Ellison, 1286 Piper Lane, is president of the Planning Commission. He said the conservation of energy is a long-term problem and the Planning Commissioners think that access to solar energy can be a partial solution. He said the commission held 12 meetings and found a balance between the right to solar access and the right to develop property. He said the proposed changes are comprehensive, they will simplify and clarify the existing regulations, and they will assist the community in conserving energy resources. Sally Weston, 2595 Highland Drive, represented the League of Women Voters. She submltted a memo dated April 14, 1986, to the Mayor and councilors from Mary Ann Rombach, president of the League of Women Voters. Ms. Weston said League concerns were addressed by the Planning Commission. She urged approval of the revisions. She said people need to know what they can count on. Mathew Northwa~, 500 East 4th Avenue, is Manager of the EWEB Conservation Center. He sald the EWEB Board of Commissioners support the revisions to the solar access provisions. He said EWEB established the Conservation Center in 1977 to help customers with energy conservation. He said the solar access protection provisions will aid EWEB's efforts to promote cost-effective energy conservation. He discussed the establishment of the Northwest Power Planning Council and its 20-year plan, Oregon's refusal to adopt the model conservation standards recommended by the Northwest Power Planning Council, and the possi- bility that EWEB customers will have to pay a $3.5 million surcharge annually unless an alternative plan to save energy is approved. He said the EWEB Super Good Cents program may be approved as an alternative plan and the proposed code changes could coordinate well with the Super Good Cents Program. He said the proposed changes will also help EWEB customers use a rebate program for solar water heaters. MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 14,1986 Page 8