Item C: An Ordinance Amending Metro Plan and Jefferson/Far West Refinement Plan

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Action: An Ordinance Amending the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan Land Use Diagram and the Jefferson/Far West Refinement Plan Land Use Diagram and Text; Amending Section 9.9580 of the Eugene Code, 1971; Adopting a Severability Clause; Providing an Immediate Effective Date; and Providing a Sunset Date (Jefferson/Far West, MA 06-5, RA 06-3, CA 06-1) Meeting Date: March 12, 2007 Agenda Item Number: C Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Terri Harding www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5635 ISSUE STATEMENT This proposal would amend the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan (Metro Plan), amend the Jefferson/Far West Refinement Plan and amend the Eugene Code for a portion of the Jefferson neighborhood known as “Area 15” in the refinement plan (see Attachment A, exhibits A and B). Approval would cause the area to be designated for Low Density Residential development. In accordance with City Council’s September 11, 2006, motion on this topic, and further direction given February 20, 2007, the proposal includes a sunset clause that would change the area back to its current land use designations on January 1, 2009, unless further action is taken by the council. Please note: An immediate effective date is requested with this ordinance. An immediate effective date requires a 2/3 majority or six (6) affirmative votes from the council to enact. Ordinances without an immediate effective date do not take effect for 30 days. BACKGROUND In 2004, the City Council adopted a series of 'Housekeeping' amendments to the Metro Plan, one of which was an attempt to reconcile the subject area’s Metro Plan designation with its Refinement Plan designation and policy description by changing the area from Low Density to Medium Density Residential on the Metro Plan diagram. Once this change became effective, Jefferson Westside neighborhood leaders approached the City Council for solutions to what they felt was the threat of too much, inappropriately designed infill development allowed if properties were designated Medium Density Residential and thus eligible for rezoning to R-2. The City Council reviewed several options to address the concern, and decided to initiate the subject amendments to change both the Metro Plan and the Refinement Plan to Low Density Residential. At the September 11, 2006, meeting, the following motion was passed: “I move to initiate amendment of the Metro Plan, the JFW Refinement Plan and the Land Use Code to limit the subject area to Low Density Residential development. In addition, direct the City Manager to make this task one of the high priority tasks on the Planning Commission work plan and to accomplish this as quickly as practicable within L:\CMO\2007 Council Agendas\M070312\S070312C.doc