JANISCH Amy C <br />From:Shane MacRhodes <shanerh@mac.com> <br />Sent:Monday, September 23, 2013 1:47 PM <br />To:TAYLOR Becky G <br />Subject:Oakleigh Meadows Support <br />Follow Up Flag:Follow up <br />Flag Status:Flagged <br />Dear City of Eugene Planning Department, <br />I am writing in support of the Oakleigh Meadows Cohousing application. As an active community member <br />working to increase active transportation and improve Eugene's sustainability and livability I believe this <br />project would be a great asset to the community. As a third generation Eugenian and a father raising three of the <br />next generation I have seen Eugene change over the decades and have worked and advocated for a Eugene that <br />will be an even better place for my kids to grow up. Oakleigh Meadows Cohousing so peaked my families <br />interest that we had discussed becoming a part of the project but currently have no ties or connections beyond <br />attending a couple open house events to find out more information about the project. We were excited about <br />the sustainable aspects of the project, especially the ability to access the wonderful river path system, the local <br />neighborhood school (River Road), and the resources that surround this area of the River Road <br />neighborhood. Creating a higher density housing development is in line with plans such as Envision Eugene <br />and creating a cluster of homes that is focused on building community is the exact type of development that <br />should be encouraged throughout our city. I believe building near the river path is actually an asset to that <br />section of the path. As someone who has led hundreds of students from Kelly Middle School along the West <br />Bank path as part of our SRTS Bike Safety Education program I believe that having a development that is <br />focused on community will help to improve the feeling of safety and comfort along the path. I was impressed <br />with the work the community had already done to clear out the invasive species that were choking out a filbert <br />orchard next to their property. By adopting and cleaning up this area they not only cleaned out invasive species <br />and garbage but they created a more open, inviting, and safe feeling space along the path. <br />As someone who has lived in a housing cooperative similar to cohousing I know the amount of work that goes <br />into building community and I know that the people who buy into cohousing are dedicated individuals who <br />want to improve their neighborhood and city. I am confident that the people in homes surrounding the <br />development could not find better neighbors. As a dad who encourages his kids to "play in the street" I also <br />understand the fear of more traffic on a neighborhood street. Yet, I truly believe that Oakleigh Meadows <br />Cohousing would actually be better than leaving the land vacant and certainly better than having it developed in <br />a much less sustainable manner with a few large houses that take much more resources per square foot or <br />another large development that is not created with community or sustainability in mind. Yes there will be an <br />impact on the number of cars traveling on the neighboring streets but that is what growth of a city looks like. <br />What matters is HOW you grow and a community like this will be more likely to have people choosing other <br />modes of transportation and driving safely through a neighborhood they are connected with. <br />This is exactly the kind of development we need to encourage and exactly the kind of area we need to be <br />encouraging it in; it's easy to choose active transportation & transit (Pedestrian & Bicycle Master Plan), <br />resources are close in (Envision Eugene; 20-minute neighborhoods), and the development is sustainable <br />(Climate and Energy Action Plan). <br />1 <br /> <br />