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EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER June 16, 2005 City of Eugene 777 Pearl Street, Room 105 Eugene, Oregon 97401-2793 (541) 682-5010 (541) 682-5414 (FAX) www.ci.eugene.or, us ILLEGAL FENCES CREATE SOME HEARTBURN WALNUT STATION MIXED-USE CENTER COMMUNITY WORKSHOP BETHEL CELEBRATES HISTORY COMES ALIVE AT GRAND OPENING OF SKINNER CITY FARM LA PASI~N SEQ~N SAN MARCOS - JUNE 24 AND 25 SOUTHEAST NEIGHBORS CELEBRATE THEIR NEWLY RENOVATED NEIGHBORHOOD PARK Illegal Fences Create Some Heartburn With adoption of the updated Land Use Code in 2001, fence standards changed. The most significant change is a decrease in the maximum height for fences in the front yard setback from 6 feet to 42 inches. The front yard setback applies to every property line adjacent to a street in residential zones, which means that some lots (such as corner lots) can have more than one front yard. Within a front yard setback, a fence cannot be over 42 inches high within the 10 feet closest to the property line. The standard also applies to commercial and industrial zones abutting residentially zoned property, as well as selected other commercial and industrial properties as well. Land Use Management staff deals with numerous cases of fence installations that do not comply with the standards, especially in the spring and summer. Many residents and contractors appear to be unaware of the height limitation and the special impacts to corner and through lots. In addition, residents can run into trouble when replacing older fences. The code allows some repair, but does not allow replacement of nonconforming fences. Promoting compliance can be somewhat easier with a fence installation in progress. Completed fences pose a challenge, because of the difficulty in establishing the scope and date of installation. The number of nonconforming fences, both legal and illegal, is large. The City will continue to conduct outreach to fence contractors in an effort to head off violations and promote the council's goal of an attractive and safe interface between homes and the public way. For more information, please contact Mike McKerrow, Land Use Management supervisor, 682-5251, or mike.i.mckerrow~ci.eu.qene.or, us Walnut Station Mixed-Use Center Community Workshop Join the City of Eugene Planning Division, urban design consultant Crandall ^rambula, and representatives from the Oregon Department of Transportation, Lane Transit District, and the University of Oregon on Tuesday, June 21, for a community workshop on plans and ideas for the Walnut Station Mixed-Use Center, the area around Walnut Street and Franklin Boulevard. Mayor Kitty Piercy will kick off the event, which will take place from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. in Agate Hall, located at 1787 Agate Street. This public workshop is the first step of the process to create a development plan for the future Walnut Station Mixed-Use Center. Consultant Crandall Arambula will discuss opportunities and constraints to creating a mixed-use development pattern in the area around Franklin and Walnut. Topics include the future character of Franklin Boulevard, I-5 and the impact of a potential Franklin interchange, providing for University expansion, a possible U of O arena, protecting the neighborhood from traffic and development impacts, appropriate land uses on both sides of Franklin, and connections to the natural environment. At the workshop, members of the public will have the opportunity to ask questions and share thoughts or concerns. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 June 16, 2005