HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem A - Update Land Use CodeEUGENE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Work Session: Economic Development Committee Recommendations Regarding
Updates to the Land Use Code
Meeting Date: October 27, 2004 Agenda Item Number: A
Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Tom Coyle
www. cl. eugene, or. us Contact Telephone Number: 682-6077
ISSUE STATEMENT
A work session regarding the Economic Development Committee recommendations is scheduled on
October 27, 2004, to review issues related to the recommendation specific to zoning code amendments.
It is requested that the City Council approve the recommendation of the Mayor's Committee that work
proceed to update Chapter 9 of the Eugene Code using the identified guiding principles.
BACKGROUND
On August 9, 2004, four primary recommendations of the Mayor's Committee on Economic
Development were presented to the City Council. The report was accepted by the council by a vote of
7-0. Motions related to specific recommendations were postponed with a request that additional work
sessions be scheduled to further examine the specific issues.
The committee agreed that the development code could be modified to make it easier to use and
understand and recommended that Chapter 9 of the Eugene Code be made simpler, and the following
guiding principles should be applied to its review and revision.
· Intuitive. Staff and the public find the code difficult and confusing, and it is likely more
complex than it needs to be to achieve the City's goals. A thoughtful audit of the effectiveness
of criteria and standards should be done to measure their value.
· Adaptable. At this time, the City's code is 'one size fits all.' It could be more flexible and
adaptable on a project-by-project basis. Establishing flexible and adaptable tools would allow
City staff to better respond to challenges and issues that come up during the development
process.
· Enabling. Entrust staff to carry out policies and objectives by utilizing professional expertise.
Empower staff to use creative problem-solving to achieve set policies and goals. Provide the
framework for bounded delegation. Allow staff to make practical, rational decisions on
common sense matters. Common-sense requests by applicants often require exception processes
and may be burdensome.
· Logical. There should be a discernible path from the standards and criteria to the objective the
City is trying to achieve. Make it make sense. Every time amendments to the code are proposed
it should be asked 'what issue is the City trying to address, what problem is it trying to solve?'
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· Strategic. Having a code that is less detail-oriented and more form-based with adjustable
processes that allow more responsiveness to staff, developers, and neighbors about how to
achieve goals and policies can allow staff to be more open to negotiations and hands-on
problem-solving.
· Fair. The code must recognize there will be a variety of different stakeholders needs that must
be met. Negotiations, compromise, balance, and consensus-building must be incorporated into a
code revision process and ongoing code applications in order for the code to embody the diverse
values of our community.
· Additionally, the code should be reviewed on an annual basis.
This item relates to the 2003-2004 vision and goal statement of Sustainable Community Development
which states "A community that retains a high quality of life and a healthy economy, effectively links
land use and transportation planning, and successfully manages growth and change in the urban
environment." Indirectly, it relates to the Effective, Accountable Municipal Government goal which
states "A local government that works openly and respectfully with and for everyone in the community."
Implementing these principles will be incorporated into one of the 'high priority' work program items
titled 'Minor Amendments to Land Use Code.' The Planning Commission has already begun this work
and has started incorporating these basic concepts into its review and consideration of amendments.
RELATED CITY POLICIES
Additionally, reviewing and amending codes using the principles noted above would indirectly apply to
the adopted growth management policies concerning zoning.
COUNCIL OPTIONS
By streamlining processes, being less prescriptive, and implementing an improved regulatory process
(including amending the code annually as needed), the experience and image of doing business in
Eugene could be enhanced.
The council has the following options:
1. Direct the City Manager to implement a process for revising and simplifying Chapter 9 of the
Eugene Code using the guiding principles noted above, as prioritized by the Council in April 2004.
2. Provide direction to not proceed with the implementation of revising and simplifying Chapter 9 of
the Eugene Code. This would mean the high priority item titled 'Minor Amendments to Land Use
Code' would move forward without these basic principles.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager approves the recommendation submitted by the Mayor's Committee on Economic
Development that Chapter 9 of the Eugene Code be made simpler, and that it be intuitive, adaptable,
enabling to staff, logical, strategic, and fair, and that staff should use these principles when working to
improve the City's code.
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SUGGESTED MOTION
Move to direct the City Manager to proceed with a process to revise and simplify Chapter 9 of the
Eugene Code using the named guiding principles referred to in the report approved by the City Council
on August 9, 2004.
ATTACHMENTS
None. Please refer to the Final Report and Recommendations dated July 19, 2004, and included in the
packet presented to the City Council on August 9, 2004, as Attachment B.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Staff Contact: Tom Coyle
Telephone: 682-6077
Staff E-Mail: tom.g.coyle~ci.eugene.or.us
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