HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2E: Approval to Allow for New Evidence on Metro Plan Amendment
ECC
UGENE ITY OUNCIL
AIS
GENDA TEM UMMARY
Approval to Allow for New Evidence on a Metro Plan Amendment during the Public
Hearing on the Downtown/Mixed Use Code Amendments
Meeting Date: June 24, 2013 Agenda Item Number: 2E
Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Alissa Hansen
www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5508
ISSUE STATEMENT
This item is a request for the City Council to take action to allow hearing participants to offer new
evidence on a Metro Plan amendment that is part of the Downtown/Mixed Use Code Amendments
scheduled for a City Council public hearing. Approval to allow new evidence does not infer council
support for the Metro Plan amendment, but rather allows the City Council to consider citizen
comments on all aspects of the Downtown/Mixed Use amendment package.
BACKGROUND
As part of Envision Eugene, the City Council initiated amendments to facilitate desired mixed use
development for downtown, along transit corridors and in commercial areas. Consistent with this
direction, the purpose of these amendments is to facilitate compact urban development by
changing land use regulations to better align with Envision Eugene. These amendments are also
necessary as part of the City’s strategy to accommodate the City's 20-year need for commercial
and multi-family housing inside the current urban growth boundary (UGB).
The Downtown/Mixed Use amendments are scheduled to come before the City Council for a public
hearing on July 15, 2013. Included in the package of amendments is a proposed land use code
amendment to exempt a portion of downtown from the traffic impact analysis (TIA) application
requirement. This particular amendment is accompanied by a concurrent Metro Plan/TransPlan
amendment to revise a policy to allow for reduced levels of service within the same downtown
area.
The Eugene Code sets out specific procedures for land use code amendments that are different
from the Metro Plan amendment procedures. While the land use code amendment procedures do
not limit the submittal of testimony or new evidence at the council public hearing, the Metro Plan
amendment procedures require that no new evidence be allowed at the council hearing. However,
the Metro Plan amendment procedures also allow for the City Council to establish a different
process. (See Eugene Code sections 9.7735(4) and 9.7750(1)).
Approval of this request would allow the City Council to consider citizen comments on all aspects
of the Downtown/Mixed Use amendment package, including the proposal to allow for reduced
levels of service within a portion of the downtown area.
S:\CMO\2013 Council Agendas\M130624\S1306242E.doc
Additional background information, analysis, findings and the Planning Commission
recommendation regarding the Downtown/Mixed Use Amendments will be provided in the
agenda packets for the July 13, 2013 council public hearing on this item.
RELATED CITY POLICIES
This item is a request to allow hearing participants to offer new evidence on a Metro Plan
amendment that is part of the Downtown/Mixed Use Code Amendments scheduled for a City
Council public hearing, and not to consider the merits of the proposal. Relevant policy analysis
will be provided in conjunction with the public review process, which will include a July 15, 2013,
public hearing before the City Council.
COUNCIL OPTIONS
The City Council may consider the following options:
1.Allow hearing participants to offer new evidence on the Metro Plan amendment at the City
Council public hearing on the Downtown/Mixed Use amendments
2.Decline to allow for hearing participants to offer new evidence on the Metro Plan amendment
at the City Council public hearing on the Downtown/Mixed Use amendments
CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends the City Council approve the allowance of new evidence specific to
the Metro Plan amendment at the City Council public hearing on the Downtown/Mixed Use
amendments.
SUGGESTED MOTION
Move to allow hearing participants to offer new evidence on the Metro Plan amendment at the City
Council public hearing on the Downtown/Mixed Use amendments.
ATTACHMENTS
A. None
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Staff Contact: Alissa Hansen
Telephone: 541-682-5508
Staff E-Mail: alissa.h.hansen@ci.eugene.or.us
S:\CMO\2013 Council Agendas\M130624\S1306242E.doc