Item A: Ordinance on Chambers Special Area Zone

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Ms. Laurence replied the research had been done, and it had shown that there were two ways to facilitate the process. The first was to create a special zoning district. The second was to state that existing zoning was adequate and ask if it could be treated better. She opined that Eugene fell in the middle, noting that there were multiple layers of zoning districts. She asked if they could be simplified by creating one downtown district. She said the review revealed that the zones were working pretty well, but they were inconsistent, confusing, and perhaps there was not enough flexibility. Ms. Laurence suggested rather than creating an entirely new zoni.~g::aI~ffi6t, ~~~\~g the existing zoning districts to make them work better may be an acceptable ~~t~tion. ~Jte~:iidd~~::~tother c()mmuni. ties had successfully followed this route using a variety of meth~~l\'~~~~tfi~g how ~3.~~~:~J:tf}eqUired FAR, minimums versus maximums, or where flexibility was offe~s9~b~~~::HPon height or;;ij~~;:; Mr. Hudspeth asked for specific examples or case studie~b9'f::::w::b;:lt other regiortil~~lhunities had done ":":-:';":';';';';';"'-""""',',',',', ':.:.:,.;.:".:,:.- to stimulate their downtown areas. .....b..............~.y.~....... .;t,.,. ..,.,....~ .'.~.~.y .~.~.' .................... Ms. Laurence noted that zoning by itself wa~:~~ithe cause.:Br develQ'plft€nt, but rather one tool, coupled with the land use code, to encourage dey1f:1Qlb~~t. Gener~jj~~tll~~~!~ommunities that were successful looked at a diverse Portf~~12?::lJl~I~dintl.~~~~~~g~, codes th::;;~~~~~raged development, and community decisions about w~tsi~8~~~~~~~"~~.::f~~m. SW&l[~~~!~~:;;~ considering this at a future meeting. Mr. Hu~~~~.suggested adding sevei~~~~~~ganizati6ns to the interested parties list, including: University of Or.~g6B:~~::~~,:fommunity College,;E~~ceHealth, and Triad Hospitals, Inc. Additionally, he suggested including E~g~~},~;:~ommunity or~~f,ffizations that drew visitors into the downtown area, such as the Oregon Bach FesiIWfl@~~sene BaJ!~rCompany, Eugene Symphony, and the DO\\1J1town Initiative for the ":';';';':'X'X';';':':';'. ".,:.:.;.;.:- Visual Arts (DIVA). ..::.::.:.:.:.:.................:.:...:.:.. As a board member of the Downtown Eugene Incorporated (DEI) for many years, Mr. Lawless suggested using an aggressive approach by invitation to encourage representation by interested downtO\vn property owners, both inside and outside of the DEI membership, and outside of the identified dO\vntown boundary, such as the Fifth Street Public Market and the Midtown District, to solicit participation, as stake holders. MINUTES - Eugene Planning Commission Regular Meeting September 26, 2005 Page 5