HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 19401~r
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ORDINANCE NO. I CI ~ D
AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING SGLAR ACCESS IN THE
MU-R To~HITEARER RESIDENTIAL MIXED USE DISTRICT
FoR PROPERTIES LGCATED IN THE WHITEAKER CoM-~
MUNITY; AMENDING ORDINANCE No. 19329; AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
The City Council of the City flf Eugene finds that:
A. Having identified energy conservation as one of its
primary goals, in 1981 the Council adopted rev ision s to the Eugene
Code, 19?l providing for the provision of solar access in new
planned unit developments and subdivisions. At that time the
Council directed staff to develop regulations and recommendations
for provision of solar access throughout the City in existing as
well as new developments.
B. In March of 1985 the Planning Commission began its study
and issued a report in July, 1985 concerning proposed solar access
Code provisions. Cver 14Q copies of that report were distributed
to potentially affected parties such as the local homebuilders'
association, Neighborhood Grganizations, the Local Chapter of the
American Institute of Architects, the Chamber of Commerce. EwEB,
etc., for their review and comment.
_ C. The proposed amendments were the subject of several work
~~~~-~~~~~~ sessions by the Planning Commission, and it held a ublic hearin
p g
thereon on December 3, 1985. This was followed by work sessions
and transmittal of its recommendation to the City Council.
D. The Council held a public hearing on the Planning Commis
sion's recommendation on April 14, 198, and also considered the
proposal at subsequent work sessions.
E. The adoption of these proposed solar access provisions
would be consistent with the City's goal of improving the economic
climate for its citizens. As indicated in the summary provided to
the Planning Commission by staff entitled Solar Access Protection
Summary of Economic Rationale":
~1 ~ A BPA funded study found that the potential energy
savings from installation of solar energy systems in existing
metro area housing would be nearly 2~ percent of the area's
residential needs. Based on 1985 electricity prices, this
could be over $9 million annually;
~2~ A 1983 survey by Lane County found that 75 percent
of those surveyed were interested in solar energy systems,
and over 18 percent of those planned to buy a system within
the following two years. Given the degree of interest, it is
-~ ~~ important to insure those investments in solar ever s stems
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are protected;
t3} Research has also indicated that a vast majority of .w.~r.
homes in the metro area benefit from solar access by default. ~.~yJ
That is to say, a typical home saves from 5 percent to 24
percent of its space heating needs because of solar radiation
that f ails upon the roof, walls and windows. The economic
value of this incidental solar benefit to Eugene is estimated
to be over $soo,ooo annually. Conversely, a Solar Study
funded by BPA found that only 44 percent of the residences in
the metro area have clear solar access to their south-facing
walls and 65 percent clear access to the roofs. The value of
this lost solar development potential to single family hous-~
ing was estimated to be over $7 million annually; and
~4~ Analyses developed by the Northwest Power Planning
Council and EWER have determined that passive solar buildings
offer the most cost-effective means for meeting energy effi-
ciency standards.
F. The proposed amendments are also consistent with adopted
energy conservation goals, including Goal 1 of the Energy Element
of the Eugene_Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan set forth
on page III-J-3, to "Maximize the conservation and efficient
utilization of all types of energy.", and with Statewide Planning
Goal 13, which provides that "Land and uses developed on the land
shall be managed and controlled so as to maximize the conservation
of all forms of energy, based upon sound economic principles , "
G. Based upon the above f findings, and the hearings before il-~:~,,~~~'
the Planning Commission and Council the Council ado ted the ~`~~``~~~~
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proposed solar access amendments to the Eugene Code, 1971, to be
effective on January 1 198?, and the MU-~R Whiteaker Residential
Mixed Use District Ordinance No. 19329 should be amended to
reflect certain of those changes.
NGW, THEREFDREr
THE CITY QF EUGENE DGES GRDAIN AS FGLLGWS:
Section 1. Based upon the above findings, which are adopted
herein, Subsection ~ ? ~ of Section 4 of Ordinance No. 19329 is
amended and a new Subsection X127 is added thereto, to read and
provide:
Section 4.
~7j Street Trees. Any street tree removed in the
public right-of-way pursuant to Section 4,?9D of the
Eugene Cade, 1971 Cutting or Removing Plants on Public
Property, that is abutting this~MU-R District, shall be
replaced by an approved shade tree having a minimum
caliper size of 2-1/2" to 3". If the right-of-way is
oriented to within 45 degrees of the true east-west
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axis, then only trees on the list of solar friendly
trees maintained by the Parks and Recreation Department
may be planted.
~12~ Solar Setback. R--4 district solar setback
requirements and exemptions in section 9.535 of the
Zoning Ordinance apply except that maximum density as
otherwise permitted shall not be precluded.
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Section 2. This Ordinance shall become effective on January
1, 19 Except as herein amended, all other provisions of Ordi-
nance Na. 19329 remain in full force and effect, to which the City
Recorder is requested to append this Ordinance.
Passed by the City Council this
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~ da of ~ u S ~ 1986
~~ ~~~
ty Recorder
Approved by the Mayor this
13~"~` days ~ , ~"" 1986
yor
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Ordinance ~- 3