Agenda Packet 1-23-19 Work Session

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CLEAR & OBJECTIVE HOUSING: APPROVAL C RITERIA UPDATE November 13, 2018 DRAFT Preferred Concepts Report: Significant Issues Page 32 of 59 6. To contribute to Eugene’s evergreen forest edge; and 7. To provide an open space area as a buffer between the intensive level of urban development occurring within the urban service area and the rural level of development occurring outside the urban service area. It is worth noting that the current criterion does not address the second part of this recommendation. The South Hills Study authors considered major subdivisions and planned unit developments “an intensive level of development.” Still, part 2 of the recommendation allows for both under the planned unit development procedures. The intentions of the recommendations appear to be to ensure the City’s ability to acquire park land as the hills developed, to guide the selection of park lands, and to require private areas proposed for preservation through the planned unit development process to serve similar purposes as those expected for potential park land . As shown in Eugene’s Parks and Recreation System Plan, there are no remaining ridgeline sites identified for acquisition within the UGB. However, factors such as view potential, geological stability, and biological value remain reasons to prevent “an intensive level of development” in higher elevation areas. Precedent exists to assist in defining that intensity threshold. Development has been occurring under planned unit development review at an average of the recommended 2.5 units per acre. In addition to applying a lower density limitation to areas above 901’, other restrictions could be used to further promote the revised criterion’s effective ness. Limits on the allowable building footprint, building height, and vegetation removal could help insure “maximum preservation of the natural character of the south hills” and “adequate review of the public consequences of development in the south hills” consistent with the intent of the study. January 23, 2019, Work Session – Item 1