HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 7A: I-5 Willamette Bridge Project
ECC
UGENE ITY OUNCIL
AIS
GENDA TEM UMMARY
Action:
An Ordinance Concerning Amending the Eugene-Springfield Metro Plan Text;
Amending the Willakenzie Area Plan Text; Adopting an Exception to Statewide Planning
Goal 15 Willamette River Greenway; Adopting Severability and Savings Clauses; and
Providing an Effective Date (I-5 Willamette Bridge Project, Eugene files MA 07-3, RA
08-1; Springfield file LRP2007-00010; Lane County file PA08-5230);
and
An Ordinance Amending the Willakenzie Area Plan Text in the Willamette Greenway
Section; Adopting an Exception to Statewide Planning Goal 15 Willamette River
Greenway; and Adopting a Severability Clause
Meeting Date: July 28, 2008 Agenda Item Number: 7A
Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Heather O’Donnell
www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541/682-5488
ISSUE STATEMENT
The City Council is scheduled to take action on the request for a Metro Plan amendment and refinement
plan amendment for the I-5 Willamette Bridge Replacement Project.
BACKGROUND
On June 24, 2008, the Eugene and Springfield City Councils and Lane County Board of Commissioners
held a joint public hearing on a privately initiated proposal for the I-5 Willamette Bridge Replacement
Project to: amend the text of Policy D.11 of the Metro Plan to allow for the placement of fill in the
Willamette River Greenway and to allow for a goal exception to Statewide Planning Goal 15
(Willamette River Greenway) to authorize a nonwater-dependent, nonwater-related use within the
Willamette River Greenway setback; and to amend the text of the Willakenzie Area Plan (WAP) to
allow for the placement of fill within 35 feet from the top of bank of the Willamette River (Eugene
decision only).
At the public hearing, two of the applicant’s representatives spoke in favor of the proposal, and four
people spoke as neutral to the proposal. Following the close of the public hearing, the Eugene City
Council and Lane County Board of Commissioners voted to leave the record open until July 1, 2008, in
order to receive additional testimony (Springfield City Council voted to close its record). Additional
testimony received through July 1, 2008, is attached here as attachments C and D, and includes a staff
memo addressing questions received from the council during the public hearing that were not already
addressed during the proceedings.
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The proposed Metro Plan and refinement plan amendments are being reviewed concurrently. Approval
of a plan amendment requires the City to adopt an ordinance. Approval of a three-jurisdictional Metro
Plan amendment requires the jurisdictions to adopt identical decisions. To comply with the Charter
requirements for ordinances, a draft ordinance approving the requested Metro Plan amendments has
been prepared and is attached for the council’s reference (Attachment A). Because the refinement plan
amendment is a Eugene decision only, a separate draft ordinance approving the requested refinement
plan amendment has also been prepared and is attached for your reference (Attachment B). All three
Planning Commissions voted for unanimous approval of the proposed amendments. The Planning
Commissions findings of approval, which provide a detailed analysis of the proposal’s compliance with
applicable approval criteria, are attached to each draft ordinance as Exhibit A (Metro Plan findings) and
Exhibit B (refinement plan findings). These are identified as general findings so that the council can
amend or adopt as the council determines necessary. This ordinance, with any directed changes, will be
utilized in the event that the City Council makes positive findings that the proposed amendments comply
with the applicable approval criteria.
Additionally, as described in a memo from the City Attorney to the council under separate cover, the
City has provided notice (Attachment E) to interested parties to inform them that the record will be re-
opened at the outset of the July 28 council meeting, for the limited purpose of addressing ex parte
contact and receiving any testimony rebutting information provided by ODOT in its presentation about
the I-5 Willamette River Bridge Project to the Metropolitan Policy Committee on July 10. After
receiving any testimony rebutting the ex parte contact, the council should re-close the record and take
action on the pending plan amendment applications.
RELATED CITY POLICIES
Eugene Code requires that a Metro Plan amendment and refinement plan amendment be consistent with
the Metro Plan, the applicable refinement plans, as well as the Statewide Planning Goals. The Metro
Plan, Willakenzie Area Plan, Laurel Hill Plan, River Front Park Study, and TransPlan policies
applicable to this request are addressed in the Planning Commission’s findings and recommendation
(Exhibit A of Attachment A, and Exhibits A and B of Attachment B).
COUNCIL OPTIONS
The City Council may consider the following options:
1. Adopt the proposed ordinances.
2. Adopt the proposed ordinances with specific modifications as determined by the City Council.
3. Deny the proposed ordinances.
CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends the City Council adopt the draft ordinances amending the text of the Metro
Plan, including taking an exception to Goal 15, and amending the text of the Willakenzie Area Plan.
SUGGESTED MOTION
Move to adopt the draft ordinances attached as Exhibit A, amending the text of the Metro Plan including
taking an exception to Goal 15, and Exhibit B, amending the text of the Willakenzie Area Plan,
consistent with the applicable approval criteria at EC 9.7730(3) and EC 9.8424.
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ATTACHMENTS
A. Draft Metro Plan Amendment Ordinance with Exhibits A:
Exhibit A: Metro Plan Findings, dated June 2008
B. Draft Refinement Plan Amendment Ordinance with Exhibits A and B:
Exhibit A: Metro Plan Findings, dated June 2008
Exhibit B: Refinement Plan Amendment Findings, dated June 2008
C. Testimony submitted by applicant, received June 27, 2008
D. Memo to City Council from City staff dated July 1, 2008
E. Notice to Interested Parties, dated and mailed July 17, 2008
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Staff Contact: Heather O’Donnell
Telephone: 541/682-5488
Staff E-Mail: heather.m.odonnell@ci.eugene.or.us
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