Item 3: Ordinance Concerning Jefferson/Far West Plan Amendments

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JEFFERS.ONIFAR WEST REFINEMENT PLAN AREA 15 POLICY AMENDMENT BACKGROUND U[J-7/6(p INTRODUCTION On August 16, 2006 and September 11, 2006, City Council adopted two motions intended to "pause and mitigate [the) negative effect" 1 of inappropriate infill that could occur in Area 15 of the JeffersonlFar West Refinement Plan due to up-zonings to R-2. Council took a two-pronged approach to the solution. In their August 16 motion, Council directed the City Manager to initiate a code interpretation of the Jefferson/Far West (JIFW) Refinement Plan's Area 15 policy, which is incorporated into the Land Use Code at Be 9.9580(17).2 In their September 11 motion, Council directed staff to "initiate amendment of the Metro Plan, the JeffersonIFar West Refmement Plan and the Land Use Code to limit the subject area to Low Densit)T Residential development." Onc,e implemented., these amendments will prevent upzonings from R-l to R-2, thus fulfilling Council's intent to "pause" inappropriate intill allowed under R-2 zone development standards. 3 The Jefferson Wests ide Neighbors (JWN) is the City-chartered neighborhood association that encompasses Area 15, and over 200 residents of the neighborhood association havre been involved in this issue through JWN meetings, signing petitions, or other activities. The JWN general membership has adopted a formal motion supporting the Council- initiated plan and code amendments. In this documellt, the JWN co-chairs present additional background information related to Area 15. DISCUSSION Several factors bear on the proposed Area 15 policy amendments, including: · City Council's intent in directillg that these plan and code amendments be initiated · Incompatibility and. negative impacts of potential R-2 developtnent 011 Area 15 · The history and intent of the Jefferson/Far West Refinement Plan policy for Area 15 · Statements by Jefferson Area Neighbors lea,ders and residents · Land use regulations in effect when the JIFW Refinement Plan was created and adopted · Recent motions adopted by the JWN expressing the neighborhood association's intent for the Jefferson/Far West Refinement Plan"s Area 15 polic)T In the following sections, \ve cov~er all these areas. I Council tnotion adopted July 24, 2006. 2 Although Council's intent was to mitigate the negative effects of inappropriate R-2development in Area 14, the Senior Planner responsible for this dec.ision.regrettably void.ed ail limits 011 R-2 developtnent, includ.ing maximum density and building design. This action exacerbated the probleln, rather than mitigated it. 3 Council also indicated the amendments should Hsunset" on July 1, 2008.