Item B: Parks, Recreation and Open Space Comprehensive Plan

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The 1997 parks planning statute appears at ORS 195.120 to 195.125. The LCDC adopted implementing rules for the statute. Those rules appear at OAR Chapter 660, Division 34~ The parks planning statute explains that local parks that are developed on forest and agricultural resourCe land need to take an exception to the statewide planning goals unless the parks are developed under an acknowledged parks master plan that is made a part of the comprehensive plan and implementing regulations. The LCDC rules spell out the essential requirements of a parks master plan. In summary, a local park master plan that qualifies for an exemption for the Goal 3 and 4 exception requirement must: · Include a plan map designation which indicates the location and boundaries of the local parks; · Include appropriate zoning categories and map designations · Include objective land use and siting review criteria · Protect areas of important natural resources in the park from inappropriate park use and development. · Protect areas of important cultural resources in the park from inappropriate park use and development · Provide public recreation opportunities and facilities, including interpretive opportunities and facilities. · Manage the natural resources in the park. · Manage the cultural resources in the park. · Manage the scenic resources in the park. · Interpret natural and cultural resources in the park · Avoid or mitigate significant impacts from adjacent land uses on park uses, facilities and resources. · Avoid or mitigate significant impacts from park uses and facilities on local public services and local and state transportation systems. · Avoid or mitigate significant impacts from park uses on adjacent land uses · Comply with the state land use goals. · Achieve compatibility with the comprehensive plans of affected local governments. The draft parks refinement plan before the Planning Commission falls far short of the minimum state requirements. As relevant here, the plan fails to include a map of the boundaries of the proposed parks, and fails to identify appropriate zoning categories and map designations for the parks. The impacts of these omissions are significant. Eugene has already developed public parks on resource land outside the UGB in rural Lane County. This includes portions of the Ridgeline Trail Park. These parks are developed without the benefit of the county land use approvals required for parks on resource land. If the City hopes to ever make such existing parks legal) or to add to these parks as stated in this draft refinement plan, 6