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D. WORK SESSION: Ordinances Adopting Royal Node Development Area <br /> <br />The council was joined for the item by Planning Director Jan Childs and Senior Planner Allen <br />Lowe. Mr. Lowe described the location and size of the proposed node, 191-acre greenfield site <br />located on both sides of Royal Avenue between Carrie Street and Greenhill. He said the site was <br />adjacent to but completely outside the city limits. It was within the City's urbanizable land area. <br /> <br />Mr. Lowe referred to the Royal Avenue Specific Plan, included in the meeting packet, saying it <br />guided development in the node. He highlighted some of the characteristics desired for the node <br />in the plan, including a transit stop within one-quarter mile of anywhere in the node; mixed land <br />use patterns, including mixed housing types and residential densities; public places and spaces <br />within the node that could be reached without driving; and design elements that foster pedestrian <br />and transit use. Mr. Lowe said the project projected achieved all those characteristics. <br /> <br />Mr. Lowe used a map of the development area to describe proposed development patterns. He <br />pointed out the location of commercial and residential development and identified open space <br />areas. He used the map to note the location of infrastructure improvements proposed for the <br />area. <br /> <br />Mr. Lowe noted the complications created by the existence of wetlands in the area and the <br />extensive amount of work that had been done with the regulatory agencies, property owners, and <br />consultants to resolve those issues. The wetlands on the site were of extremely Iow quality, and <br />the mitigation proposed in the plan forwarded the idea of a comprehensive wetlands system <br />without degrading the wetlands. There were no endangered plant or animal species located on <br />the 65 acres of wetlands. About half of the wetland area was proposed for fill, and the other half <br />was to be retained as drainage channels or open space areas. <br /> <br />Mr. Lowe noted that the Royal node was one of the pilots the City initiated to test the <br />implementation of nodal development. The project was unique in many respects. Specifically, it <br />contained a large amount of wetlands, it was located outside the city limits, and it was a greenfield <br />site, in comparison to most nodes, which were redevelopment sites. In addition, the number of <br />property owners was limited in comparison to the other nodes. For that reason, the planning <br />process was more specific than other City planning processes. Mr. Lowe doubted another node <br />would resemble the Royal node, making it less useful as a model for the future. It was unlikely <br />any future node planning would be so specific. <br /> <br />Mr. Lowe said that the council would be asked to adopt a zoning code for the node, and that code <br />was very specific. It included an adjustment review process that allowed for more development <br />flexibility when conditions called for flexibility. However, the developer was required to follow the <br />principles stated in the plan. <br /> <br />Mr. Lowe noted the upcoming joint hearing on the Royal and Chase nodes before the Board of <br />County Commissioners and the council, scheduled for September 18. Mr. Lowe reviewed the <br />actions that would be requested of the City Council and the Board of County Commissioners <br />following that hearing. <br /> <br />Mr. Lowe used the map to identify the wetlands designated for protection, mitigation, and fill. <br /> <br />Mr. Lowe discussed a policy issue that remained to be resolved, relating to street assessments. <br />The Eugene and Lane County planning commissions had recommended that the street <br /> <br /> MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 9, 2002 Page 13 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />