Item 8: Ordinance Establishing Chambers Special Area Zone

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The S-CIR-2 subarea has been almost fully built out for many years and has enjoyed a relatively stable lot configuration, except for several examples where infill with significant negative impacts has been developed on adjacent lots that were re-configured into irregular shapes. The S-CIR-2 standards do allow reasonable lot line adjustments that are adequate to address issues such as accommodating existing encroachments. The S-CIR-2 standards also allow lot partitioning, which we hope will encourage affordable home ownership. The current lot pattern and the permitted lot reconfigurations provide substantial flexibility to develop additional dwellings that are compatible with the neighborhood character. The purpose of the prohibition against combining lots is specifically intended to avoid larger, multi-unit complexes that span multiple lots and have large parking lots that would accompany such development. A foot tour of the S-C/R-2 area, which many Councilors have taken, provides a good way to see several examples of such out-of- character, cross-lot development and how they destabilize the blocks in which they occur. Row house development would not be practicable within the S-CIR-2 subarea under the proposed standards. While we agree that row house developments can be attractive and appropriate in some areas, so can four-story condominiums. As discussed earlier, however, having visually appealing structures is no assurance a development is compatible in a particular area, and row houses would not be compatible with the character of the S-C/R-2 neighborhood. There are a number of potential sites outside the S-C/R-2 area where a row house development would be appropriate and could even help stabilize the edges of the established neighborhoods. The best way for Eugene to encourage row house development in a future Chambers MUC would be to protect the stability of the established neighborhoods and provide incentives so that interested investors will consider appropriate sites that have already been identified. Open space definition Councilor Bettman asked for information on the definition of "open space" and how it relates to the S-CIR-2 standards for "vehicle use area." For multi-family dwellings, EC 9.5500(9) defines "common open space" and "private open space." Common open space includes what most of us would think of as outdoor living areas: natural areas (woods), lawns, hard-surface patios, gardens, children's play areas, swimming pools, sports courts, courtyards, and others. However, up to 300,10 of the minimum area requirement for common open space can also be met by indoor recreation areas that provide "project or game" equipment. Private open space can be lawn, patio, balcony, or roof-top terrace. Up to 25% of the total open space can be satisfied by being located within !4 mile of a public park. As Allan Lowe mentioned, residents identified overdevelopment of a lot with structures and vehicle-oriented surfaces as one of the most significant negative impacts of incompatible infill. Current minimum "open space" standards appear to be focused on the 5