Item 2: Ordinance on South Willamette Metro Plan

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Although Recommendation #1, to rezone the lot across the street from the subject property to General Office, is not directly applicable to the proposed amendment, it is relevant in that General Office is suggested as an appropriate transition between residential and commercial. North of the subject property is an area zoned R-3 Limited High Density Residential, to the west (across the th alley) is R-2 Medium-Density Residential, and to the south (across 24 Place) is C-2 Commercial zoning. The proposed plan amendment to General Office would provide a transition between residential uses and the start of community commercial uses to the south. Further, the height limit of 50 feet in the GO zone (the same height limit in the R-3 zone) maintains a buffer between residential uses and C-2 Community Commercial to the south. Based on this, the proposal is not inconsistent with Recommendation #1. thth Recommendation #4: Commercial or office zoning along Willamette between 19 and 24 Place should not be expanded. The area should appropriately remain in residential uses as it is designated in the Metro Plan Diagram. The traffic volumes projected for a two-way Willamette in this section are approximately 12,000 vehicles per day, an increase of 4,400. This level of traffic is lower than several other arterial streets which are primarily thth residential: 18 Avenue, 11 Avenue between downtown and Garfield Street, and th Patterson south of 24. Staff feels that the projected increase in traffic volumes does not support the conversion of residential to office or commercial uses. Recommendation #5: In recognition of existing mix of low, medium and high density th residential uses and the current zoning on the west side of Willamette between 19 Avenue th and 24 Place, this study recommends that the Metro Plan diagram be refined to reflect a high density residential designation on parcels currently zoned R-3 in the area. As noted previously, the subject property has been developed as a medical health facility with associated parking since prior to the adoption of the 1988 SWS. It is located in an area of mixed th residential and commercial uses. The block in which the property is located, between 24 Avenue th and 24 Place, contains three parcels, all of which are currently developed in similar medical, commercial or office uses. To the south of this block are C-2 Community Commercial uses; to the north of this block, residential uses begin. A General Office designation for the subject property would have little visible effect with regard to existing site improvements or the vicinity and, based on the findings under Statewide Goal 12, the amendment would not result in any significant change in traffic. While the change in designation would allow a range of office uses on the site, the R-3 High Density Residential zone to the north would remain primarily residential under the proposed amendment. A General Office designation on the subject property does not conflict with the intent of the original recommendations with regard to residential uses as the property is not in residential use, nor does it expand commercial uses in the area, as the property is already developed with a use that would be allowed in the proposed designation. Therefore, the proposed amendment is consistent with the remaining provisions of Recommendations #4 and #5. The applicant proposes to amend Recommendations #4 and #5 such that they will not apply to the subject property, and to clarify that the property should be designated as General Office. Findings – South Willamette Properties Page 12 of 16