Item 1: Ordinance on EWEB Downtown Riverfront Property

Home Browse Search

EWEB DOWNTOWN RIVERFRONT LAND USE COMPONENTS As shown on Sheet R1 Regulatory Plan (Exhibit G Plan Set), of the portion of the subject property within the Greenway Boundary, open spaces areas consist of approximately 1.71 acres. As illustrated on Sheets S1 and S2 Existing Conditions Plan, the natural vegetative fringe along the Willamette River, containing landscape areas and vegetation, is limited to the area between the waters edge the easternmost edge of the Riverbank Trail, with the exception of small patches of landscaping (islands, planter strips, and foundation plantings) associated with parking areas and access drives within the site. The vast majority of the subject site is prior developed and has been used for industrial/utility uses since the acquisition of the riverfront property in 1908. Since that time, large volumes of fill material have been imported and placed on the subject site and the entire length of riverbank is armored with riprap. The average slope of the riverbank, between the Riverbank Trail and water’s edge, ranges between 34 and 44 percent. These factors have reduced riverbank complexity, which, has contributed to a loss of riparian habitat on the subject site (Exhibit E Riverfront Ecological Analysis and Design Report). Of the area of the subject site within the Willamette Greenway boundary, 92 percent of the site is covered by building or structures (approximately 5.92 acres), impermeable surfaces (approximately 9.03 acres), or other (gravel) surfaces (3.09 acres), as illustrated on Sheet R1 Regulatory Plan. The proposed amendments and zone change re-zone sixteen (16) parcels within the subject site to the proposed S-DR Zone (Exhibit B S-DR Downtown Riverfront Special Area Zone). The special area zone establishes two land use sub-districts; a mixed-use sub-district (S-DR/CL) and a cultural landscape and open space sub-district (S-DR/CL). The proposed S-DR/CL sub-district comprises approximately 7.74 acres of land adjacent the Willamette River and includes existing landscape areas, open space, and vegetation adjacent to the Willamette River, as described above. Permitted and prohibited uses are consistent with those allowed in the PRO Zone. Proposed development standards are based on exiting established development standards in the PRO, NR, and PL Zones, and are designed to achieve equal or higher performance in landscape and open space site protection, restoration, and enhancement. The S-DR/CL sub-district implements the cultural landscape and open space program framework and design guidelines of the SAP (Exhibit A Downtown Riverfront Specific Area Plan). Implementation of the cultural landscape and open space framework ensures high-quality landscape areas and open space between redevelopment areas and the river. In addition, the proposal does not affect existing established /WR Overlay Zone protections, which establishes a 100-foot conservation setback along the Willamette River within the subject site. The /WR provisions limit the types of activities permitted within the setback and will ensure the continued provision of landscape and open space area between redevelopment and the river. As shown on Sheet C1 Cover Sheet, the proposal will result in approximately 7.74 acres of land dedicated as cultural landscape and open spaces areas. Pursuant to redevelopment, the proposal will create approximately 3.43 acres of new landscape and open space area and will increase the overall site coverage of said areas by 12 percent. The above findings demonstrate that the proposal will provide the maximum possible landscape area, open space, and vegetation between redevelopment and the river. Based on the above findings, this criterion is satisfied. (2) To the greatest possible degree, necessary and adequate public access will be provided along the Willamette River by appropriate legal means. As founded in 1911 and chartered by the City, the applicant (EWEB) is a municipal publicly owned utility. The applicant owns all parcels within the subject site. Existing public access along the Willamette River is provided by the Riverbank Trail, a paved multi-use path that spans the entire length of the subject site. Within the subject site, public access to the Riverfront Trail from surrounding areas is provided at three points: the western terminus of the DeFazio Bridge at the th north end of the site, the EWEB plaza at the eastern terminus of 4 Avenue, and a multi-use path th connection extending from 6 Avenue to the Riverbank Trail at the south end of the site. Cameron McCarthy FINAL SUBMITTAL | December 5, 2012 {00091176;1 }