HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 8: Ordinance on Downtown Code Amendments
ECC
UGENE ITY OUNCIL
AIS
GENDA TEM UMMARY
Action: An Ordinance Amending Sections 9.0500, 9.2161, and 9.4530, of the Eugene
Code, 1971, Adding a New Map 9.2161(6) (Downtown Plan Map) to that Code; and
Amending Map 9.4510 and Figure 9.4530(3)
Meeting Date: July 14, 2008 Agenda Item Number: 8
Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Nan Laurence
www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541/682-5340
ISSUE STATEMENT
The City Council will take action on an ordinance that will amend sections of the Eugene Land Use
Code (Chapter 9) to implement Phase I of the Downtown Code Amendments.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the Downtown Code Amendments is to implement the Downtown Plan by facilitating
the desired development and redevelopment of properties in the downtown core and immediately
adjacent areas. The amendment topics under consideration are the result of a public outreach process
over the past four years that included numerous workshops, forums and other public meetings. The
amendments are summarized below; the draft ordinance enacting the amendments is provided as
Attachment A.
The Downtown Code Amendment process is intended to proceed in two phases. The draft ordinance
implements Phase I, which consists of a set of code amendment proposals that are relatively limited in
scope. Phase II will entail more extensive discussion and analysis of development-related code issues,
potentially resulting in a new zone for downtown and related metro plan amendments. Phase II is intended
to begin immediately after adoption of the code amendments proposed in Phase I and will include
additional public involvement.
Summary of Proposed Code Amendments
The code amendments listed below were the subject of the City Council Public Hearing on June 16, 2008.
1. /TD Transit Oriented Development Overlay Zone Standards
Amend the following five specific code areas:
a.Amend the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) required from 1.0 FAR to .65 FAR, the FAR requirement in the
code prior to the Land Use Code Update in 2001, for the area outside of the downtown core.
b.Amend the area used for calculating FAR from “development site” to “lot” to allow a smaller area for
calculating required density.
c.Allow basement areas, including underground parking, to be included for the purpose of calculating
FAR.
d.Clarify the existing provision that structured parking within a building’s footprint may be used as part of
the FAR calculation.
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e.Amend the /TD zone to allow all parcels within this overlay zone to be eligible for the adjustment
review process, to provide a discretionary review process while maintaining the intent of the code
provisions.
2. C-2 Community Commercial Zone
Currently, developments on property zoned C-2 are required to have at least 60% of the building’s street
frontage in commercial use, and a minimum of 20% ground floor area in commercial use. These requirements
are spelled out in 9.2161(6) Residential Use Limitation in C-1 and C-2, and Table 9.2161 Commercial Uses
Requirements in Mixed-Use Residential Developments. The proposed code amendment would remove these
requirements for properties within the Downtown Plan area, allowing residential use on the ground floor.
3. C-3 Major Commercial Zone
Currently, surface parking is permitted in the C-3 Major Commercial Zone at the rate of one space for every
1,000 square feet of related development, up to a maximum of 20 spaces. The proposed amendment would
remove the 20 space maximum limit, but maintain the requirement and ratio for related development.
Council Action History
City Council held a public hearing on the proposed code amendments on June 16, 2008. The record was
held open until 5:00 PM June 30, 2008. Prior to the close of the public hearing, council asked for
information on a number of related issues. The information is provided in Attachment B.
Planning Commission Recommendation
Planning Commission held a public hearing on the proposed code amendments on April 16, 2008. On
April 28, 2008, Planning Commission considered an ordinance enacting the proposed code amendments for
Phase I. On a vote of six to one, Planning Commission recommended approval of the changes to the
downtown code. In the same motion, Planning Commission recommended that staff include adjustments to
the findings of the ordinance. The intent of the adjustments was to reflect the input from the Eugene
Redevelopment Advisory Committee and other testimony received, and the understanding that
commercially zoned land outside the /TD zone was being developed and land inside the zone was not.
Additional Background Information
Background material on the Downtown Code Amendments, including the public involvement and
decision-making process, is available for review in the City Council office.
RELATED CITY POLICIES
The Downtown Code Amendments are related to the City Council goal to revitalize downtown.
Additionally, Eugene Code requires that the code amendments be consistent with the Metro Plan, the
Eugene Downtown Plan and any other applicable refinement plans as well as the Statewide Planning
Goals.
COUNCIL OPTIONS
The City Council may consider the following options:
1. Approve the draft ordinance.
2. Approve the draft ordinance with specific modifications as determined by the City Council.
3. Deny the draft ordinance.
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CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends the City Council adopt the draft ordinance as attached.
SUGGESTED MOTION
Move to adopt an ordinance amending sections 9.0500, 9.2161, and 9.4530, of the Eugene Code, 1971,
adding a new map 9.2161(6) (Downtown Plan Map) to that code; and amending Map 9.4510 and Figure
9.4530(3).
ATTACHMENTS
A.Draft Ordinance and Findings
B.Information requested by City Council on June 16, 2008
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Staff Contact: Nan Laurence
Telephone: 682-5340
Staff E-Mail: nan.laurence@ci.eugene.or.us
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