Item 3: Ordinance Concerning Jefferson/Far West Plan Amendments

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Jefferson Westside Neighbors A City-Chartered Neighborhood Association wwwJwneugene.org November 27,2006 ftI!Ill<.'" ~tt ~, ~~.~ut:' C~~ ~ w ~'jr t ~;:~t:l't: . BUftOtNG t)fRMi1 SERVtCES Eugene Planning Commission 99 W. 10th Ave. Eugene, OR 97 40 I ~JOV 2 7 2005 RECEIVED RE: Proposed Metro Plan, JeffersonlFar West Refinement Plan, and Eugene Code amendments (files MA 06-5,RA 06-3, and CA 06-1) Dear Commissioners: The Jefferson Westside Neigbbors (JWN) urges the Planning Commission to recommend approval of the proposed Metro Plan, JeffersonlFar WestRefmement Plan, and Eugene Code amendments that are the subject of the December 5, 2006 Public Hearing. These amendments were initiated by City Council's September 11, 2006 motion in order "to limit the subject area to Low Density residential development." Council initiated these amendments after receiving Planning staff and JWN recommendations that resulted from the following motion that Council adopted (6-1) on July 24, 2006: To schedule a work session for August 16 to consider {that] Jeffirson- T1iestside is. currentl}' threatened by inappro]Jriate infill, and l~}hat call11Je do in the short term to pause and mitigate this negative effect. As part of the preparation for this l1Jork session, staff If/ill l1;ork l1,Jith Jeffirson JJ1estside Neighbors to consider approaches to their situation l1lith R-l to .R-2 up-zonings. Council has made clear their intent that relevant plans and code be amended to "pause and mitigate" the negative effect of inappropriate infill that threatens the subject area, specifically~ to pause tIle threat ofincom.patible infill that \\Tould result from R-l to R-2 upzonings in this area. The proposed ame.ndments will. fulfill Council's directive. At our general meeting on September 12, the JWN voted unanimously (34-0) to endorse Council's action (see attached resolution). Specifically, the JWN requested the Metro Plan, JeffersonlFarWest Refinement Plan, and Land Use Code be changed to designate the subject are-a as Hl~o\v Dellsity Residential." This vote is consistent with the JWN membership's unanimous vote (48-0) on March 14, 2006 requesting a temporary moratorium on zone changes for lots within the subject area (see att.ached resolution). These repeated, unanimous votes should leave no question that the neighborhood association o'venvhelmingl~y supports the proposed amendments.