Item B: South Willamette Concept Plan Update

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South Willamette Concept Plan 1. INTRODUCTION Role and Use of Concept Plan What the Plan Does First and foremost, the plan combines the ideas of hundreds of residents into a clear and illustrated vision for the future of the South Willamette area. It translates community values into a future, physical form. However, the term "concept plan" is intended to reinforce the fact that this is not the final implementation tool, but a road map to action. The South Willamette Concept Plan captures the intent of community engagement as specifically as possible to provide clear direction for work needed to realize the vision. In addition an extensive list of public improvements can be found in the Implementation Plan, Section 7. This list includes, for example, significant upgrades to Willamette Street. What the Plan Doesn't Do During the planning process, a variety of questions and concerns arose regarding how the plan might affect future residents. To address these concerns, it was helpful to explain that the plan - including the actions listed above - does not require anyone, whether property owners, business owners, or renters living in the district, to move or sell their property. The plan also does not require anyone to redevelop their property, nor does it guarantee that any property will ever be redeveloped. These decisions are all up to individuals owning property in the district, based solely on their needs and goals. Guiding Change Change occurs in every community over time, whether it is planned for or not. The factors driving change are complex and reach well beyond the scope of any plan. The South Willamette Concept Plan works by setting up an inspiring framework for how that future change should look and function, and to take positive action in moving toward this best outcome. Ultimately, most change within the district will be driven by market forces and individual enterprise. Based on recent analysis of Eugene's market, changes in the South Willamette area are expected to occur slowly and incrementally as the market begins to support a wider range of options for property owners. South Willamette Street Improvement Plan South Willamette Street, the central spine of the district, presents major obstacles and opportunities for implementing the vision in the Concept Plan. The South Willamette Street Improvement Plan is a project, funded by a grant from the Oregon Department of Transportation, to work with the community to develop a concept for better access by all travel modes, walking, biking, riding a bus or driving through the district. The intent is to increase safety while allowing all users to move about and through the district more comfortably and safely. The Improvement Plan is a short term project to be implemented by 2018, while the Concept Plan strives to set out a long term vision for the street that creates the adjacent character and amenities that support a walkable and thriving commercial district. The Concept Plan addresses street design in Section 5 and Appendix D including draft ideas for the character of Willamette Street. Given the timing of the South Willamette Street Transportation Improvement Project, the concept plan will contain these draft ideas as a placeholder to be filled after the shorter -range street plan has been established. Development of a longer -term vision for South Willamette, likely including changes in how future buildings will relate to the street edge, will carry on concurrently, and in collaboration with, the street improvement project. The Concept Plan will be revised at that time to include the final result of the long -term design, replacing the general concepts contained in this version. 10 ■ City of Eugene