Item 2: Ordinance on South Willamette Metro Plan

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Demonstrate a positive interest in existing and new industries, especially those providing above average wage and salary levels, an increased variety of job opportunities, a rise in the standard of living, and utilization our existing comparative advantage in the level of education and skill of the resident labor force. (Policy B.1) Encourage economic development which utilizes local and imported capital, entrepreneurial skills, and the resident labor force. (Policy B.2) Increase the amount of undeveloped land zoned for light industrial and commercial uses correlating the effective supply in terms of suitability and availability with the projections of demand. (Policy B.6) Encourage economic activities which strengthen the metropolitan area’s position as a regional distribution, trade, health and service center. (Policy B.11) The applicant has submitted findings to support the conclusion that the proposal is consistent with the above Economic Element policies of the Metro Plan. These policies are not directly applicable in that they do not constitute mandatory approval criteria, i.e. direction to “demonstrate a positive interest in” or “encourage” does not provide sufficient objective direction to constitute a mandatory approval criterion under which an application may be evaluated. Further, Policy B.6 applies only to undeveloped land. However, to the extent that these policies apply to the proposed amendment, the applicant’s findings (at pages 13, 14, and 15 of the Metro Plan narrative) are incorporated herein by reference as evidence of consistency with these policies. The 1992 Eugene Commercial Lands Study (ECLS) contains several policies aimed at maintaining the supply of viable commercial lands. The proposed amendment would change the property's plan designation from one that supports limited commercial use (High Density Residential) to another that supports a wider range of commercial uses (Commercial). Both designations would also allow high density residential construction. As a result, the potential change in the level of commercial use on this .5-acre property would have an insignificant impact on the total supply of commercial land. Several policies in the ECLS support, in general, a Commercial designation of the subject property. These policies are discussed below. Promote redevelopment of existing commercial areas and compact, dense growth by encouraging businesses to revitalize and reuse existing commercial sites. (Policy 6) Promote neighborhood-oriented commercial facilities and community commercial areas rather than additional major retail centers. (Policy 11) Concentrate development in existing commercial areas to minimize traffic impacts on the rest of the city. (Policy 12) Findings – South Willamette Properties Page 9 of 16