Item 8: Ordinance Establishing Chambers Special Area Zone

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Local Refinement Plan Goals and Policies Almost two decades ago (1986), Westside residents listed as the very first policy in the local refinement plan for their area: Prevent erosion df the neighborhood's residential character. This statement was formally adopted as City policy by the City Council, and residents have remained unwavering in their desire that the City live up to the requirements of this policy in their land use regulations and processes. Unfortunately, the City has done nothing to further this policy in the Westside and instead has changed the R-2 zone's development standards to allow infill densities and scale that contribute significantly to the erosion of the neighborhood's residential character. The affected area includes the CR residential neighborhood east of Chambers Street. (We describe this neighborhood's character in detail in a later section.) The Jefferson/Far West Refinement Plan, which covers the CR area west of Chambers Street is less explicit in its policies, but the policies for the "North Low-Density Residential Area" and "Central Low-Density Residential Area" state that the City shaH "maintain" (for the North) or "recognize" (for the South) the "residential character of the area." Policies for both areas state they are "low- density," which has been reflected in the R-1 zone for these areas. The City has left intact the R-l zone's limit of one dwelling on a lot (and duplexes on comer lots), which has provided relatively effective protection against erosion of these neighborhoods' character by infill. TransPlan Policies According to the Eugene Planning and Development Department (PDD) publication, "Chambers Area Nodal Development Pilot Project Existing Conditions Report Update" (July 2004), TransPlan policy for mixed-used nodes (such as the Chambers Node) requires an "average density that is within the medium-density range for residential uses", which is 10-20 units per gross acre. According to PDD staff, City Council has established a minimum overall density requirement of at least 12 dwelling units per net acre (du/na) for mixed use centers. The "8-C Chambers Special Area Zone Potential Density Analysis" section of the report presents CAPlIN's research and analysis on current land use and potential density in the CR project area. This analysis shows that under the infill development standards proposed by CAFHN, the potential density for the CR project area is in the range of22-25 du/na, wen above state and city targets for MUCs.9 9 A recent analysis by the Lane Council Of Governments (LCOG) concluded tllat the CR area from W. 12th Avenue north (an earlier CR boundary that was later adjusted to the north side of W. 13th Ave) has an overall density of 12.22 du/na. November 1, 2005 Chambers Revisited - Neighbors' Report 9