07/22/1987 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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John Reynolds, University of Oregon Architecture Department, said he supports the solar access ordinance. He said it adds very little time to the plan check e process. He said up to 80 percent of winter solar heating and 50 percent of domestic water heating may be gained with solar technology in Eugene. He said implementation of the solar access ordinance will benefit the public. He said solar technology can be added to homes if solar access has not been blocked and solar greenhouses are very popular in many cloudy areas. Mr. Reynolds said minor changes are usually expected after a plan check review. He said Portland's solar access ordinance is more restrictive than Eugene's. He said Eugene had a Garden Apartment Zoning District for many years that incorporated many of the restrictions in the solar access ordinance. Consequently, the restrictions are not entirely new. Allen Degeneault, 2943 Wolf Meadow Lane, deferred to Gordon Anslow, 2943 Wolf Meadow Lane. Mr. Anslow said solar access has to be balanced with other things people want when a house is designed. He said only one of 13 customers he talked to expressed an interest in solar access. He said the solar access restrictions will result in some people not being able to qualify to buy a house. The restrictions will also result in large lots and high houses with steep roofs. He said most people consider solar access about equal to a nice view and a big yard. Mr. Anslow said the solar access ordinance makes solar access an overriding concern in the siting and height of houses. He said his own house would not have complied with the restrictions. It will shade his neighbors to the north . but the neighbors have a large lot and his house will not shade their house. He said the ordinance does not address that issue. e Mr. Anslow said the 25-foot residential height limit in Eugene is very restrictive. Discussing a subdivision with $100,000 houses, he said 25-foot homes shade other houses only on part of the south wall. Much of the roof and north wall are not shaded. Solar water heaters can be put on the north. He displayed the design of a house that would not comply with the solar fence regulations in the solar access ordinance and said implementation of the ordinance will be severe. Robert Block, 1865 Parliament, sa i d he represented the Willamette Valley Solar Energy Association. He said he supports the solar access ordinance because it protects a right. He said problems in the ordinance should be addressed administratively. Boyd Iverson, 1158 High Street, No. 102, said the Garden Apartment Zoning District was not workable and was eliminated from the code. He said energy- efficient homes are in demand but there is not much demand for homes with solar technology. He said heat pump water heaters are more efficient than solar water heaters and can be installed anywhere. Mr. Iverson said implementation of the solar access regulations would have dramatic effects on construction in the city. He said the Home Builders Association represents the wishes of home buyers. He suggested the City create its own solar division or add solar access guarantees to the lots the e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 22, 1987 Page 8