Agenda Packet 7-22-19 Work Session

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Ordinance Exhibit DOrdinanceExhibitD DOWNTOWN RIVERFRONT LAND USE COMPONENTS CA 19-1,RA 19-1,Z 19-5,WG 19-3,ST 19-3,and SDR 19-2 April 19,2019 3.6 Standards Review As illustrated on Exhibit B.3:Standards Review Plan Set,the proposal includes a new Riverfront Park on the subject site.An inviting and accessible public park along the Willamette River has long been a critical component to creating a new riverfront neighborhood district in Downtown Eugene.The proposal requests approval to develop the riverfront to serve as an anchor amenity for new development and create access points to the riverfront for the community. The 2018 Eugene Parks and Recreation System Plan is a 30-year strategic plan with implementation recommendations for the first 10 years.The plan includes new parks and trails,improved access to the Willamette River,revitalized pools and community centers,and more recreation opportunities in underserved areas.The Plan was shaped by more than 12,000 residents during an extensive and inclusive outreach process that garnered two citizen engagement awards for the City. Within the Parks and Recreation System Plan,a proposed Riverfront Park on the subject site is identified as Project #C1 "Downtown Riverfront Park development at former EWEB site to serve [the City Central Neighborhood Planning area]"in Appendix A Planning District Summaries and Recommendations.The Plan allocates $9,000,000 in capital cost to the project and identifies it as a Priority 1/2 project.13 The Riverfront Park concept was originally included as a key element in the prior approved "EWEB Riverfront Master Plan".The S-DR Zone established a Cultural Landscape and Open Space (S-DR/CL) subdistrict and designed approximately 3-acres for parks and recreation uses.In 2013,the City and EWEB entered into an MOU that stated that EWEB would donate 3-acres of riverfront property to City of Eugene Parks in exchange for a dedication of a funds for park development in the future. In 2018,the City officially took ownership of the Riverfront Park site from EWEB and finalized the concept design for the Riverfront Park.In addition to the original three acres,one additional acre of upland Park Plaza was added to the site as part of the redevelopment acreage to the west. The Riverfront Park spans approximately 1,300 linear feet along the Willamette River between the EWEB Steam Plant and the Peter DeFazio bicycle and pedestrian bridge.Existing conditions on the site are reflective of the long-term use of the site as a largely industrial and operational facility.Much of the upland areas of the site are currently paved in asphalt with very little vegetation and are crisscrossed with multiple underground utility lines.A significant section of the Ruth Bascom Trail, Eugene's riverfront bicycle path,runs along the top of the riverbank and is in need of relocation and replacement.The bank itself is steep and also in rel atively poor condition with significant basalt rock rip-rap and concrete armoring,blackberries and other non-natives,along with some native species and riparian vegetation.The river turns north in this location,creating a scour-side bank condition currently secured by this structured armoring system.The piped outfall of the Millrace is also part of the existing bank condition. The vision for the Riverfront Park is to reconnect Downtown Eugene with the Willamette River.While this section of river bank is steep and the speed of the river is quick,visual access through view corridors and bank enhancements have become the hallmark of the vision for the redevelopment site. In order to see the river's surface currently,one has to come right to the top of the riverbank.By Eugene Parks and Recreation System Plan.Appendix A Planning District Summaries and Recommendations.13 July 2018. City of Eugene FINAL SUBMITTAL 82July 22, 2019, Work Session – Item 3