Item A: Downtown Strategies - Laserfiche WebLink

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SECTION A – ITEMS FOCUSED EXCLUSIVELY ON DOWNTOWN 1.Downtown Plan Date: Ordinance passed April 2004 Context: In 2001, City Council accepted the Vision for Greater Downtown Eugene and directed staff to use it as the basis to update and replace the 1984 Downtown Plan. (The Vision was created by a City Council appointed committee in 2000.) In 2002, Mayor Torrey appointed Councilors Bettman, Meisner, and Nathanson to join with the City Planning Commission to form the Downtown Plan Update Committee. Public Involvement: The community involvement was extensive and multifaceted, ranging from city initiated events such as design workshops for the Downtown Vision and Courthouse District Concept Plan, to citizen initiated discussions, such as the City Club series on downtown planning. Residents were involved in both long-term vision discussions and specific design decisions. Numerous organizations and agencies partnered with the City in the development and review of the Plan: EWEB, University of Oregon, Lane Transit District, and the Oregon Department of Transportation. A draft of the Plan was released for public review on May 2003 including being posted on the City’s website. That same month, the plan was referred to the City of Springfield, Lane County, all neighborhood groups, and other interested parties. Notice of the proposed adoption was delivered to the Land Conservation and Development Commission and mailed to all owners and occupants of property within the Plan area and within 300 feet of the Plan area. The Planning Commission held a public hearing notice of which was published in the Register Guard. The Historic Review Board also reviewed and commented on the Plan. Two public open houses on the Plan and downtown financial tools were held, one in June and the other in December of 2003. Council Involvement: The policies in the textual version of the Downtown Plan were adopted as a refinement of the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan for the Downtown Plan Area on April 12, 2004. The implementation strategies were recognized as ways in which to implement the policies, but were not adopted as Council policy. Outcome: The Downtown Plan incorporates the Vision into a framework for public and private decisions affecting downtown in the future. The Plan includes nine related elements as fundamental aspects of downtown urban vitality and economic strength (listed below). The discussion of each element includes policies, implementation strategies, and examples of possible projects. 1)Strong Regional Center – build upon downtown’s role as the regional center, support urban qualities of density, vitality, livability and diversity: support business development 2)Building a Downtown – use of economic tools, collaborative, strategic actions th 3)Great Streets – recognize, create, support: 8 to the River, Willamette and Broadway as the arts th and entertainment district, 5 as a retail destination 4)Special Places – enhance, celebrate, reinforce: Park Blocks, Broadway Plaza in particular, as well as new places and historic places 5)Living Downtown – encourage downtown housing: variety of ownership and cost options, redesign sidewalks and provide park for downtown open space 6)Downtown Riverfront – create a special place, provide access 7)Cultural Center – reinforce arts and entertainment 8)Safe Civic Center – take actions to make downtown safe and inviting 9)Getting Around Downtown – create walkable streets, support transit, take actions to support vital downtown, “park once” concept