Item A: West 11th Avenue Setbacks

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th map was adopted in 1999, many factors have changed along the West 11 Avenue corridor warranting reexamination of the future right-of-way needs identified on this map. The land use code requires that new buildings be located between 0 and 15 feet of the front property line. The purpose behind this standard is to promote pedestrian connections between the sidewalk and buildings while discouraging strip commercial designs with large parking lots fronting the street. Given th the relatively narrow right-of-way that currently exists on West 11 Avenue, this circumstance can pose conflicts with future corridor enhancements. Locating buildings at the back of the sidewalk is practical and desirable in downtown Eugene where there is generally a parking lane that serves as a buffer between traffic and pedestrians on the sidewalk, lower vehicle speeds, and wider sidewalks with street th trees. However, this approach has created unintended consequences on a major arterial like West 11 Avenue where the sidewalk is curbside, there are few street trees, no on-street parking buffer, and considerably higher vehicle speeds. th Establishing a wider right-of-way for West 11 Avenue within the ACSP would address these current conflicts by ensuring that future development is set back from this newly defined right-of-way. The land use code provides the City the authority to require “special setbacks” from the approved right-of- way. No acquisition or purchase of private property is necessary under this approach. Rather, this tool enables the City to preserve its ability to purchase additional rights-of-way at some point in the future. If the council decides to proceed with the City Manager’s recommendation for increasing the right-of- th way width on West 11 Avenue, staff would conduct outreach to affected property owners. If the council decides to proceed with the City Manager’s recommendation for increasing the right-of- th way width on West 11 Avenue and EmX ultimately does not end up on this street, the right-of-way could be narrowed by future council action, closer to the existing condition. However, staff recommends that at such point consideration should also be given to other transportation needs, such as th the pedestrian realm and current lack of street trees on West 11 Avenue. RELATED CITY POLICIES From Eugene-Springfield Transportation System Plan (TransPlan): TSI Transit Policy #2: Bus Rapid Transit Establish a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system composed of frequent, fast transit service along major corridors and neighborhood feeder service that connects with the corridor service and with activity centers, if the system is shown to increase transit mode split along BRT corridors, if local governments demonstrate support, and if financing for the system is feasible. TSI Pedestrian Policy #1: Pedestrian Environment Provide for a pedestrian environment that is well integrated with adjacent land uses and is designed to enhance the safety, comfort and convenience of walking. From Adopted Growth Management Policies: Growth Management Policy 11 Increase the use of alternative modes of transportation by improving the capacity, design, safety, and convenience of the transit, bicycle, and pedestrian transportation systems. Z:\CMO\2010 Council Agendas\M100609\S100609A.doc