Item 8: Ordinance Establishing Chambers Special Area Zone

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LOWE Allen 0 From: Sent: To: Subject: Katie Sloan [ktsloan@efn.org] Monday, November 07,200510:36 PM LOWE Allen 0 Chambers Land Use Code & Zoning Map Amendments Dear Mr. Lowe: I was out of town until late this evening, so couldn't attend any recent hearings ( but would like to send my Comments via email. I'm writing about File #8 CA 04-5 and Z 05-14, the amendments concerning new standards for in-fill in the Chambers Area Plan. While I do not live in this neighborhood, I totally support the concepts put forth in the plan and believe it to be a win-win situation for everyone. I am hoping that such a plan could be adopted in my neighborhood as well, which is also an established older area. When people buy homes in the older parts of town, they are doing so intentionally because they like the mature trees and the character of the neighborhood. They enjoy being in their back yards and working in their gardens. When someone builds a big box apartment building in the back of the lot behind them, there goes their privacy and enjoyment of the yard they have worked on for years. Many families have had to sell their homes and move elsewhere when this has happened. The Chambers area plan would ensure that new development would have to retain the character of the existing neighborhood, so that people would not have to move when property owners around them put up new buildings. High density in-fill is also a safety issue( increasing the traffic in areas where children and pets have formerly been safe. This kind of development usually rents to single adults, not families, which changes the character of the neighborhood. Renters do not have the incentive to keep up their rentals, since the landlord is responsible for the grounds, so you begin to see unsightly trash and dumpsters where there used to be nice trees. I especially abhor the removal of beautiful mature trees which add so much to our neighborhoods, when they are replaced with ugly no-character buildings that block everyone's view. I urge the City Council to adopt the Chambers Area Plan, and to consider extending it to similar areas where we have the same problem. We are currently being threatened with an in-fill problem right in my neighborhood as well, which if allowed to happen, will most certainly change the character of our block and force someone to move. I also do not think the "Enhancement Plan" has priority over the "Metro Plan," and I would hope the Council would abide by the current plan in place for single family neighborhoods. Thank you. Katie Sloan 1525 Washington St. Eugene 1