CC Minutes - 02/20/02 Work Session

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Mr. Kelly, seconded by Mr. Pap~, moved to direct the City Manager to schedule initiation of amendments to apply the/ND Nodal Development Metro Plan diagram designation and/ND Nodal Development overlay zone to the eight high-priority nodal development areas recommended by the Planning Commission and described in Attachments C and D. Mr. Kelly thanked the Planning Commission for its work. He stressed the importance of moving ahead with the process of designating nodes. He added that he liked the "urban village" name for nodes since it would mean more to citizens. Mr. Fart suggested a meeting with the mayor and Ms. Nathanson to discuss the Royal Node and how to allay local concerns over nodal development. He opined that the proposed overlay zone would actually increase property values in the area. Ms. Bettman expressed her appreciation of the Planning Commission focusing on opportunities. She said she would support the motion but stressed the importance of moving forward expediently in designating more nodes. The motion passed unanimously. Ms. Bettman, seconded by Mr. Kelly, moved to direct the City Manager to include amendments to the/ND Nodal Development Overlay Zone to achieve an average overall residential density of 12 units per net acre as part of the Spring 2002 amendments to the Eugene Land Use Code. Ms. Bettman noted the origin of the concept in the work done at the request of the mayor by the Friends of Eugene, the Chamber of Commerce, Neighborhood Leaders Council, and the Lane County Homebuilders Association. An average overall density of 12 units per acre was common to two strongly supported scenarios that came out of that work. Participants agreed that density was valuable to preserving existing residential land, and had discussed down zoning existing residential land to make up the needed density elsewhere. In addition, participants discussed opportunity mapping for additional density at other sites in the community. Another value expressed by participants was to provide a mix of housing types, rather than achieving density by subdividing lots in existing neighborhoods. The approach also maintained neighborhood integrity and property values. Mr. Pap~ raised concern that the motion would not be appropriate for all nodes. Mr. Belcher stressed that 12 residential units per acre was needed to make transit work. He said the goal of nodal development was to provide services to citizens without their having to drive. He added that 12 residential units per acre was not particularly dense. Ms. Childs said the fundamental needs of nodes would require 12 residential units per acre. She said Ms. Bettman's motion provided more flexibility than the existing code provided. In response to a question from Mr. Pap~ regarding whether the character of neighborhoods would be changed to achieve an average of 12 residential units per acre, Ms. Childs noted that there could be a mix of residential zone densities within a node that could equal out to the recommended average. MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 20, 2002 Page 4 Work Session