Item 3: Ordinance Concerning Jefferson/Far West Plan Amendments

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HARDING Terri L From: Sent: To: Subject: Katherine Boyd [kboyd@uoregon,edu] SaturdaYf November 181 20066:35 PM HARDING Terri L Residentia'lZoning Change Dear Terri Harding, I am writing because I recently received a letter describing the request to change the ttArea I5H neighborhood from medium density residential to low density residential. As a Eugene native and a student learning more about land-use planning, lam saddened that the City Council initiated this 'application. As David Hinkley wrote in a recent Eugene Weekly article, our city is developing a Hhollow core" with less density at the center and more toward the peripheral areas. This migration away from the central area has led to tl1e dismal state of downtown Eugene, an area which the city has been trying to re-invigorate for years. How is it that, after countless ideas for how to revitalize downtown, as \-\l'ell as pouring millions of dollars into this effort, the City Council has decided to back a reduction of housing density in an areas directly adjacent to downtown Eugene? Perhaps they were thinking that because none bf the efforts have succeeded so far, the best choice would be to rip out the feeding tubes and let it die. Putting a cap on the amount of density allowed in a neighborhood so int~grated with downtown robs us of the opportunity to create well designed, beautiful housing that is within walking distance of local businesses, the library, and public transit. Instead of encouraging smart growth, we are catering to the wishes of a few short-sighted individuals. SiTnultaneously, this zoning change will encourage development toward the fringes of the city, putting pressure on the urban growth boundary. Instead of looking for ways to mo\re denser housing out of our backyards, we should be looking for ways that it can, satisfy our ideas about: \tv-hat a neighborhood should accomplish socially, aestheticall)l, and environmentally. There are 111..1merOUS precedents that illustrate hO\-\1more density can increase the vitality of a neighborhood if it is done well. Bottom Line; Eugene is growing. A dense core. means a cit)r with thriving local businesses that is less dependent on automobiles. Grovvth toward the perimeter facilitates urban sprawl. The choice 'Are make about Area 15 is a choice between the two. Thank you for your time, Katie Boyd