Item 7: Action: Ordinance on Infill Compatibility Standards Code Amendments

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Councilors, Mayor Piercy, My name is Lauren Hulse and I live in Ward 3. I stand before you to talk about South University’s effort to reduce building th heights along 18 Avenue. When we first learned of a proposed 7-story building for th Alder and 19, we were stunned but knew we had to try and lower the height. We contacted the developer and had several conversations with him, including a SUNA General meeting or two. He reduced the height to 4 stories. We then became aware of the MiCAP process and thought it a good way to protect our livability. We talked to city staff, gathered information from professionals, architects, landscape architects, planners, developers, real estate agents. We used their expertise to gather facts to gain the support of the Council for needed height protections. We contacted other cities in Oregon to ask what heights they had in their high-density areas to get a sense of what would be a fair and equitable height for both neighbors and developers. We held SUNA general meetings and a workshop that drew over 75 participants. We testified at CC meetings and public hearings. We used our newsletter (delivered to every address in South University) for Public Opinion Surveys and to relay information. MiCAP was passed. CC then referred the MiCAP Height Ordinance to the newly created ICS Task Team. SUNA had a representative on the TT and the Steering Committee and 2 representatives on the Multi-Dwelling Committee and 2 on the Single-Dwelling Committee. SUNA as a neighborhood volunteered and will continue to volunteer countless hours to the city to honor the ICS Goal statement of "preventing residential infill that would significantly threaten or diminish the stability, quality, positive character, and livability of a residential neighborhood" while "encouraging those very same qualities”. South and West University support higher density near the University. We had a building boom during MiCAP of over $17,000,000 dollars with not one building over 5 stories tall. South University is not within MUPTE’s boundaries and all of our construction was private with no tax exemptions or incentives. th We agree with the PC recommendations of 35 feet for south of 19 and 50 feet th for the first 1/2 block north of 19. We just don’t agree with anything over 65 feet along th the south edge of 18. Maximum density can be achieved in building 3 – 4 stories tall but th we are willing to accept 65 feet or 5 stories along the south edge of 18. Anything above that is “excess” and will only serve to diminish our neighborhood’s livability and character. Remember “high” density does not necessarily mean “high” buildings. I think we have more in common with the PC’s recommendations than many might think. We just ask for heights no higher than 65 feet and no exceptions be made for buildings taller than 65' until design standards are mandated by City Council and incorporated into the code. Thank you. Lauren Hulse th 1256 E. 20 Avenue Eugene, OR 97403