HomeMy WebLinkAbout200928 WSMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Virtual Work Session
Eugene, Oregon 97401
September 28, 2020
5:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Betty Taylor, Emily Semple, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Claire
Syrett, Chris Pryor, Greg Evans
Mayor Vinis opened the September 28, 2020, work session of the Eugene City Council.
1. WORK SESSION: Initiation of Land Use Code Amendments for Commercial Setback
Requirements
Principal Planner Terri Harding and Associate Planner Chad Cramer gave a PowerPoint presentation
on the code amendment proposal related to commercial setbacks.
Council Discussion:
Councilor Pryor - spoke about the need to incorporate Americans with Disability Act
considerations into any proposed changes.
Councilor Zelenka - noted that his work session request was now four years old and the issue is
still not being addressed; suggested changing the setback default to protect against another
Capstone -like development; encouraged adopting a supplemental proposal until new standards
can be implemented.
Council Syrett - expressed concern that the issue wasn't fully addressed; asked whether the
proposed changes would apply to the Riverfront development and if elements from the overlay
zone could be transferable to downtown development; asked for clarification of differences
between residential setbacks and commercial setbacks; said commercial -only development
should be approached differently.
Councilor Clark - asked about the level of public engagement in developing the proposals and
voiced concern that analysis of potential issues was occurring before stakeholders are engaged;
encouraged looking at practical aspects of standards as well as aesthetic goals.
Councilor Evans - asked how a development like Applebee's on West 1101 Avenue was allowed
to occur and supported changes to current standards.
Councilor Zelenka - reiterated that the default settings are backwards, and they should err on
the side of required setbacks with defined exceptions.
Councilor Clark - said significant shifts are occurring with the demand for commercial space
and asked about the impacts of code changes.
Councilor Taylor - agreed that current setback provisions are a problem and need to be
addressed.
Councilor Pryor - said the City's setback standards caused unforeseen problems; encouraged
thought and deliberation of possible impacts is needed before simply switching the default.
Councilor Zelenka -said he would propose a motion to begin a process to change the default
policy that allows for no commercial setbacks, but instead sets a policy that would require
commercial setbacks with a planter strip and allow a process to obtain a waiver, for a no
commercial setbacks and building up to the sidewalk, in certain specific circumstances.
• Councilor Yeh - asked for clarification for the proposed motion would do.
Councilor Syrett - said she was interested in considering other types of setback features and
hearing staffs recommendations related to particular streets.
MINUTES - Eugene City Council September 28, 2020 Page
Work Session
Councilor Clark - asked why the downtown was chosen as the pilot area; encouraged
consideration of unintended consequences of a citywide change to the default standards;
expressed concern about the scope of the proposed change and supported getting input from
stakeholders by the end of the year.
Councilor Semple - asked about the process for expanding the standards to the whole city if the
initial focus is on the downtown and River Road area; acknowledged that a cookie -cutter
approach is not desirable but consideration of individual situations is time-consuming.
Councilor Zelenka - said he was not proposing a blanket policy, simply starting the code
amendment process with opportunity to consider potential consequences; supported
completing the process in six months, including defining additional design elements and
gathering stakeholder input.
Councilor Pryor - encouraged consideration of what it will cost to satisfy the desire to make the
right changes quickly.
Councilor Clark - asked about the impacts of council direction on Planning staff resources.
MOTION and VOTE: Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Syrett, moved to initiate
a code amendment to change the default allowing for no commercial setbacks, to
require commercial setbacks with planter strips, other amenities and design elements
to be completed within six months if possible, The code amendment should allow for
adjustments or outright exceptions of no commercial setbacks in building up to the
sidewalk in certain specific circumstances to be enumerated in the code, and staff will
check before the end of the year reporting on feedback and potential exceptions for
circumstances. PASSED 8:0
Mayor Vinis announced the second agenda item to discuss the City Manager Evaluation Process
would be rescheduled due to time.
The meeting adjourned at 6:56 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Deputy Julie Adams
City Recorder
(Recorded by Beth Forrest)
Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting here.
MINUTES - Eugene City Council September 28, 2020 Page 2
Work Session