Item B: Ordinance Concerning Goal 5 Natural Resources Study

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?Ie Eqene~TM Association of REALTOItSw RECEIVED September 26, 2005 f-' ~) 2 6 2005 TO: Mayor Kitty Piercy and Eugene City Council CITY OF EUGENE PLANNING DEPARTMENT RE: GoalS Natural Resources Study The Eugene Association ofREALTORS@ (EAR) are supportive ofthe GoalS planning process and are pleased that this process will complete the fmal phase in the periodic review for Eugene. It is evident that the city of Eugene has put a lot oftime and work into the analysis, recommendation, and ordinance preparation. For the most part, it is also evident that the city of Eugene has abided by the statewide planning goals wherever they apply. However, EAR maintains that Goal 10 has not been adequately addressed during the periodic review process which will finally be finished with the GoalS Natural Resources Study. Goal 1 0 [OAR 660-015-000(10)] requires local governments, "To provide for the housing needs of citizens of the state," and under "Implementation, (1.) Plans should provide for a continuing review of housing need projections and should establish a process for accommodating needed revisions." This provision and rule establishes that there should be an ongoing process that would provide fairly current information and data on the housing needs of the city. Needed housing information and data should be available for the citizens of Eugene, and a part of this "recommendation," in the form of a city wide inventory of all types and amounts of land within the urban growth boundary available for needed housing, such as was produced by LCOG and the Homebuilders of Lane County (2003-2004). It is disappointing that it has not been properly reviewed using current data. As applied, the city should be applauded for the workable and flexible plan to mitigate the "use restrictions" of the Water Resources Overlay Zone when a portion of a property is within a specified distance from an identified water feature or "Water Resource conservation area." This provision will help those property owners affected by the WR overlay zone and it will not completely stop them from the intended use of their property. Although, this provision will help a few properties, as stated in the report, the real concern for many people wanting to build in Eugene is whether or not there is now, or is going to be in the future, a 20 year buildable lands inventory for residential development. The recommendation from the city planning department as presented to the Planning Commission, insisted that "This ordinance, which applies only within the Urban Growth Area, does not have a direct impact on residential development opportunities." The ordinance has subsequently been reworded to state"... there would still be a net surplus of buildable lands in the applicable categories for residential land," and concluded with, "... the ordinance is consistent with Goal 10." #".#~~/tkh-~