Item 5: Public Hearing on Ordinance Establishing Chambers Special Area Zone

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PROPOSED CLEAR & OBJECTIVE STANDARDS ALLEY GARAGE AND DRIVEWAY: No current standard. Proposed standards: Max. garage door width within 30' setback: 18', or (2) at 9' each. Max. driveway width within 30' setback: 20'. PROPOSED CLEAR & OBJECTIVE STANDARDS ALLEY OPEN SPACE: No current standards for non-multifamily housing. Proposed standards: Alley Open Space shall abut alley on at least 25% of lot width at the alley property line and be a minimum of 400 sf. Area in setbacks may be included. PROPOSED CLEAR & OBJECTIVE STANDARDS ALLEY-ONLY ACCESS: Alley-only access lots are not expressly allowed. Proposed standard: Allow alley-only access lots. . ALLEYSCAPE In contrast to streetscapes, "alleyscapes" are highly informal. Though there is housing along alleys, it is small in scale, informal in layout, and the relationship to the alley and to the main house on the street is varied and informal. Alley houses tend to be small and cottage-like, often occurring in lieu of a garage. In many cases alley houses are converted garages or have been built above garages. The varied texture of small buildings found along the alleys of the ETN is a pattern throughout Eugene's older neighborhoods. Since alley house development has not been well supported in Eugene, there are many that are not legal conversions, further hindering growth of an important housing type in close-in neighborhoods. . Alleys considered by residents to be positive places do have some discernible characteristics. Garages and Driveways One purpose of alleys is to provide a place for the storage of automobiles and for services such as trash collection, power lines and power drops to houses. New developments should balance the need to accommodate these functions. When the utility and storage functions become the dominant characteristic, the alley loses its mixed-residential character that residents enjoy. Balancing residential uses is key to successful alleys. Alley Open Space As the amount of housing along alleys has increased over the years, the character of some alleys has changed from primarily back yards with the occasional garage or garden shed to small scale residential lanes. Central to this balanced vision for alleys is the need for open space.