Item 2: Proposal to Redesignate and Rezone "The Rexius Site"

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Public Hearing: Proposal to Redesignate and Rezone “The Rexius Site” by: Amending the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan Diagram; and Amending the Eugene Zoning Map (City Files MA 11-2 and Z 11-4) Meeting Date: February 21, 2012 Agenda Item Number: 2 Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Steve Ochs www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541/682-5453 ISSUE STATEMENT This public hearing is for a proposal to amend the Metro Plan and Eugene Zoning Map for property commonly referred to as the Rexius site. Approval of the applicant’s request would change the plan designation of the site from Light-Medium Industrial to a combination of Low-Density Residential, Medium-Density Residential and Commercial. The concurrent zone change would apply R-1 Low Density Residential, R-2 Medium Density Residential and C-2 Community Commercial zoning (with /PD Planned Unit Development and /WP Waterside Protection overlays on portions of the site), consistent with the proposed Metro Plan designations. BACKGROUND The area subject to this request includes 27.9 acres of the 40 acre development site which is located th south of West 11 Avenue between Bailey Hill Road and Wallis Street (see Attachment A). The northern portion of the property is currently developed with the Rexius Sustainable Solutions green recycling facilities, and the southern portion of the site adjacent to residential uses, is undeveloped. The request is to change the plan designation and zoning on the subject property (see Attachment B) from Light-Medium Industrial with I-2 zoning to a combination of Low-Density Residential designation with R-1 zoning (2.49 acres), Medium-Density Residential designation with R-2 zoning (22.2 acres) and Commercial designation with C-2 zoning (3.2 acres).The applicant also proposes to add the /PD Planned Unit Development overlay to the R-2 and C-2 areas, and to retain the existing /WP Waterside Protection overlay along the Amazon Channel. The remaining 8.79 acres of R-1 Low Density Residential land along the south border of the development site, and 3.55 acres of existing I-2 Light- Medium Industrial land along Wallis Street, will retain their current zoning and Metro Plan designation and are not part of this application. The basis for this request is to allow this site, which has been in industrial use for many years, to be transformed into a mixed-use center. The property, once located in a rural setting, is now surrounded by residential and commercial development. Given the current industrial use and its associated operational impacts (truck traffic, noise and odors), it has become increasingly difficult for the Rexius facility to operate in this area without affecting the surrounding properties. At the same time, this proposal fits well into the growth management discussions the City is having through “Envision Eugene” as it has been identified in Transplan as an ideal area for mixed-use, nodal development. As noted in greater S:\CMO\2012 Council Agendas\M120221\S1202212.doc