Ordinance No. 20258 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~ST EU~NE P.~[KWAY MOGiF1ED PROOECT--Cg)NSISTENCY W~TH THE STATEWIDE PLANNING GOALS AND TP~NSPORTAT1ON PLANNING RULE the approved project avoided impacts to Stewart Pond and the Bertelsen Slough Natural Resource Area, which it deemed the most significant natural resources in the area. Subsequent to adoption of the West Eugene Parkway exception, the County and City discovered that the wetlands resoume in the West Eugene ama was much larger than was previously recognized. Because, in addition to the WEP, tbe acknowledged Metro Plan identified this area for extensive industrial development, the City and County, together with LCOG and in coordination with state and federal agencies, embarked on a major undertaking to develop a wetlands conservation plan to identify areas for protection and areas for future development. Is This complex, extensive and very expensive effort culminated in 1992 with the adoption of the West Eugene Wetlands Plan, which is now an acknowledged element of the Metro Plan.is The approved [YEWP includes a corridor south of the Central Oregon and Pacific railroad tracks to accommodate the West Eugene Parkway project along the Approved Design. However, federal officials held off on approving that element of the WE~¥P pending further examination of alternatives that might reduce impacts to high value wetlands mad threatened and endangered species.l? Through further study, it has now been determined that the Modified Project would have substantially less adverse impacts on high value wetlands and T&E species than the Approved Design, thereby providing those Goa~ 5 resources with better protection. Modifying the WEP to shift the alignment from the Approved Design to the Modified Project will require an amendment to the WE~p. This could require a new analysis of economic, social, environmental and energy (ESEE) consequences under Goal 5 if the modification would result in different impacts from those previously considered. Because of the similar nature of the impacts for the Approved Design and the Modified Project, and because the Modified Project reduces the overall level of adverse impacts, it may be that no new ESEE analysis is required. However, in an abundance of caution, ESEE considerations are addressed herein. To the extent this analysis exceeds what is required to demonstrate Goal 5 compliance, it should be considered surplussage. Economic Consequences As illustrated on the Comprehensive Plan Designations map at Figure 3-3 of the EDEIS, all areas inside the UGB that are affected by the Modified Project are designated for industrial development, except ~br a small portion of low density residential land west of Terry' Street. As shown on the Existing Land Use map at Figure %1 of the SDE[& these lands are predominantly vacant or used as open space. Because the WEP is already a part of the Metro Area's and C ounty s acknowledged comprehensive plans, realignment of the WEP from just south of the railroad to just north of the railroad will have no significant adverse economic impacts. The change in alignment west of Beldine H~ghway would cause no additional industrial or commercial displacements~ As explained in the ~gDEgS purpose and need statement, the WEP improves access to the West Eugene industrial area and would relieve congestion along West l lth Avenue~ thereby providing economic benefit. This economic benefit is lost without the WEP. Outside the UGB, most of the affected land is zoned for agricultural use. However~ for reasons explMned in more detail in the Compatibility Memorandum, incorporated herein by reference, much of the adjoining agricultural land is being used as open space for wetland mitigation or to protect 15 See A~temativea Memorandum at 3-5. l0 In ~994, the Divisio~ of State Lands, US Army Corps of Engineers and the Environme~ta~ Protection Agency approved the [~WP with conditions. Subsequently, over $7 million in federal spending has been invested in the WEWP to date, plus considerable investn~nt from pdvate property ownem located in the area west of Beltiine Highway, north of West 11th Avenue, and south of the Centra~ Oregor~ and PacCo railroad trac~s. Pdvate investment was made in good faith that the plan would presage properties for development as shown in the plan. See Alternatives Mernorandurn at 17 A~temat~vea Mernorandurn at 4. EXHIBIT C-1 - FINDINGS