04/13/1981 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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- e e The public wants solar access as illustrated by a survey done in the Woodburn, Oregon, area, where 93% of those responding wished solar access were feasible. A survey by the National Association of Home Builders indicates that 80% of the surveyed homeowners rated energy-efficiency as the top consideration when buying a new home. Most will spend $500 additional for energy-efficiency. Solar access encourages investments in solar energy. It is educational and protects the consumer. Mr. Kaufman suggested approval of all phases. Randy Bennett, Homebuilders' Association of Lane County, 3282 Gateway, Spring- field, said they had testified before the Planning Commission and several of their recommendations had been incorporated into the final version. The Home- builders' Association sees this as a reasonable approach to the solar access issue. Mandatory requirements would be premature. Development of the manual is essential and should be the basis for the City's energy policies. Any regulation should deal with the differences between new construction and existing structures. The cost benefits of retrofitting should be analyzed before it is required. Regulations add to the cost of any structure and should be considered in light of protecting reasonably priced housing. The National Homebuilders' Association notes that the technology is changing rapidly and more work needs to be done before stability is achieved. It is a challenge and a necessity to establish a flexible policy that will accommodate the changing technology. Gene Brockmeyer, 3598 Emerald, architect, and current president of the Southwestern Oregon chapter of the American Institute of Architects, speaking in behalf of the chapter, said they were in support of the amendments as currently written. He thanked the Planning Commission and the Planning Department for providing an opportunity for their input. He felt that this would be a very great asset to the community. Carol Cogswell, 2560 Inavale Street, spoke in behalf of the Board of Directors of the Willamette Valley Solar Energy Association, an organization of 200 builders, architects, and people interested in solar energy. The organization is in support of the proposed PUD and Subdivision amendments and of the phases to be considered in the next few months. There are 150 solar installations in Lane County; 40% of these are active systems and another 40% are passive systems. Solar regulation is needed to guarantee access for these systems and future systems. A method to record one's system such as that adapted by Wood- burn, where one files a solar access profile along with the deed, is needed. Any changes to that profile would be measurable and legally contestable. Their association would encourage council's approval and would encourage protection of solar access by some sort of recording process. Larry Parker, 1190 West 5th Avenue, Oregon Appropriate Technology, a business devoted to promoting the use of solar energy, said he is involved with retrofit- ting and with alterations. Some of his clients have houses that are correctly oriented. Others have poor orientation which raises the cost of retrofits and their energy bills. This practice should not continue. He had hoped that guidelines would stress that houses need to be oriented with the long axis east and west to assure optimium solar access. A southerly orientation should be stressed. There is a confusing reference to south-facing building surfaces and walls in the ordinance as written. He hoped this language would be made clear in the final form of the ordinance. He urged the adoption of the ordinance and the final two stages as well. MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 13, 1981 Page 8