HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4: Southbank Bike Viaduct: Metro Plan Amendment
ECC
UGENE ITY OUNCIL
AIS
GENDA TEM UMMARY
Action: An Ordinance Amending the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General
Plan Text, Chapter III, Section D, Policy #11; Adopting an Exception to Statewide
Planning Goal 15 Willamette River Greenway; Adopting a Severability Clause; and
Providing an Effective Date (Eugene City file MA 09-4)
Meeting Date: October 12, 2009 Agenda Item Number: 4
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 an amendment to the text of the Metro Plan, including
an exception to Statewide Planning Goal 15 (Willamette River Greenway), that would allow the
placement of fill within the Willamette Greenway boundary for the purpose of constructing the South
Bank Viaduct bicycle and pedestrian path beneath the Willamette River I-5 Bridges.
BACKGROUND
On September 22, 2009, the Eugene and Springfield City Councils and the Lane County Board of
Commissioners held a joint public hearing on a City of Springfield initiated proposal for the I-5
Willamette Bridge Replacement Project. The proposal would amend the Metro Plan text and adopt an
exception to Statewide Planning Goal 15 that would allow the placement of fill within the Willamette
Greenway boundary for the purpose of constructing the South Bank Viaduct bicycle and pedestrian path
beneath the Willamette River I-5 Bridges. Vicinity maps are included at the end of the Metro Plan
Findings (Exhibit A of Attachment A).
At the public hearing, no one provided public testimony. Following the public hearing, the Eugene City
Council, the Springfield City Council and the Lane County Board of Commissioners voted to leave the
record open until September 30, 2009, in order to receive additional testimony. No testimony was
received by the cities of Eugene or Springfield or by Lane County.
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
amendment has been prepared and is attached for your reference (Attachment A). The Planning
Commission’s findings of approval, which provide a detailed analysis of the proposal’s compliance with
applicable approval criteria, are attached to the ordinance as Exhibit A. These are identified as general
findings so that the council can amend or adopt it as necessary. This ordinance, including any changes
directed by the City Council, will be the adopting ordinance in the event that the council finds that the
proposed amendment complies with the applicable approval criteria.
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A full copy of all materials in the record is available at the City of Eugene Permit and Information
th
Center at 99 West 10 Avenue.
RELATED CITY POLICIES
Eugene Code requires that a Metro Plan amendment be consistent with the Metro Plan, the applicable
refinement plans, as well as the Statewide Planning Goals. The Metro Plan policies and the Riverfront
Park Study and the TransPlan plans applicable to this request are addressed in the Planning
Commission’s findings and recommendation (Exhibit A of Attachment A).
COUNCIL OPTIONS
The City Council may consider the following options:
1.Adopt the draft ordinance
2.Adopt the draft ordinance with specific modifications as determined by the City Council
3.Deny the draft ordinance
CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends the City Council adopt the draft ordinance amending the text of the
Metro Plan, including taking an exception to Goal 15.
SUGGESTED MOTION
Move to adopt the draft ordinance attached as Exhibit A, amending the text of the Metro Plan, including
taking an exception to Goal 15, consistent with the applicable approval criteria at EC 9.7730(3).
ATTACHMENTS
A. Draft Metro Plan Amendment Ordinance with Exhibit A:
Exhibit A: Metro Plan Findings, dated September 2009
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Staff Contact: Heather O’Donnell, Associate Planner
Telephone: 541/682-5488
Staff E-Mail: heather.m.odonnell@ci.eugene.or.us
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