HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem C: Student Housing Project
ECC
UGENE ITY OUNCIL
AIS
GENDA TEM UMMARY
Work Session: Capstone Collegiate Communities
Student Housing Development Proposal
Meeting Date: March 12, 2012 Agenda Item Number: C
Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Nan Laurence
www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5340
ISSUE STATEMENT
The work session will be an opportunity for the City Council to hear about and provide direction
on a proposal by Capstone Collegiate Communities (“Capstone”) to build student housing on the
th
former PeaceHealth clinic site on 13 Avenue and Olive Street (see Attachment A).
BACKGROUND
In January, the City of Eugene received a Multi-Unit Property Tax Exemption (MUPTE)
application from Capstone for a proposed student housing development on the property formerly
used as a PeaceHealth clinic and associated surface parking. The proposed five-story development
is anticipated to be built in two phases, and will include 217 units (720 beds) in the first phase and
142 units (514 beds) in the second phase. The development will also include embedded parking
(parking surrounded by the housing units on three sides and open to the alley on the fourth side) to
accommodate approximately 550 cars in phase 1 and 430 cars in phase 2. The property for the
proposed development is zoned C-3, Major Commercial. The use, density and height of the
proposed development are all currently permitted in this zone.
The MUPTE process does not require a public hearing; but, due to the community interest for this
project, a public hearing has been scheduled for April 23, 2012.
Capstone has also submitted an application for an alley vacation. Its proposal is to vacate the
east/west alley and a portion of the north/south alley. The east/west alley would be realigned with
th
the existing 12 Avenue bike path. Both alleys would be improved and dedicated as bicycle and
pedestrian pathways.
Public Engagement Opportunities
The MUPTE application process requires a 30-day comment period, which starts when public
notice is first published in the Register-Guard, in this case February 6. For this project, staff will
continue collecting comments beyond March 6 and will forward them to the council as this
proposal continues to council action.
S:\CMO\2012 Council Agendas\M120312\S120312C.doc
In addition to the comment period, a number of public engagement opportunities have been
scheduled through community organizations, neighborhood associations and the City. They
include:
A City Club discussion on March 11, co-sponsored by the Downtown Neighborhood
Association (DNA);
A Jefferson Westside Neighborhood Association Q&A session on March 13;
A City-sponsored open house on March 14;
A Downtown Neighborhood Association meeting on March 26; and
Public hearings on MUPTE and the proposed alley vacation on April 23.
The Jefferson Westside Neighbors have also appointed a team to look into the impacts and
benefits of this proposal.
Timing & Next Steps
Following council direction, staff will proceed with additional analysis and work sessions as
needed. Currently, the following dates have been reserved for consideration of the Capstone
project:
March 12: council work session
April 9: council work session
April 23: public hearing on the alley vacation
April 23: public hearing on the MUPTE
April 25: council work session
May 9: council work session and action
RELATED CITY POLICIES
Encouraging housing in the downtown core is consistent with numerous adopted planning and
policy documents. Examples include:
Growth Management Policies
Policy 1 Support the existing Eugene Urban Growth Boundary by taking actions to
increase density and use on existing vacant land and under-used land within the
boundary more efficiently.
Policy 2 Encourage in-fill, mixed-use, redevelopment, and higher density development.
Policy 3 Encourage a mix of business and residential uses downtown using incentives
and zoning.
Eugene Downtown Plan
I. Regional Center
1.Build upon downtown’s role as the center for government, commerce, education
and culture in the city and the region.
2.Downtown development shall support the urban qualities of density, vitality,
livability and diversity to create a downtown, urban environment.
S:\CMO\2012 Council Agendas\M120312\S120312C.doc
II. Building a Downtown
1.Actively pursue public/private development opportunities to achieve the vision for
an active, vital, growing downtown.
2.Use downtown development tools and incentives to encourage development that
provides character and density downtown.
V. Living Downtown
Stimulate multi-unit housing in the downtown core and on the edges of downtown
1.
for a variety of income levels and ownership opportunities.
XI. Getting Around Downtown
3.Enhance functional designs for streets, sidewalks and related public improvements
with carefully chosen design elements, including materials, alignments, plantings
and streetscape elements.
Envision Eugene
Two of the seven pillars and the respective strategies are of particular relevance to this project:
Promote compact urban development and efficient transportation options
Provide Affordable Housing for All Income Levels
Eugene Counts
Increased downtown development is one of the desired outcomes identified under the Council
Goal of Sustainable Development.
COUNCIL OPTIONS
The work session is an opportunity to provide information and feedback from the council on the
proposed Capstone development; no formal action is requested.
CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager will use the feedback obtained at this work session to schedule future work
sessions and make recommendations on the proposed Capstone development.
SUGGESTED MOTION
No motion necessary at this time.
ATTACHMENTS
A.Proposed Development Site and Downtown Context
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Staff Contact: Nan Laurence
Telephone: 541-682-5340
E-mail: nan.laurence@ci.eugene.or.us
S:\CMO\2012 Council Agendas\M120312\S120312C.doc