9 June 2015 <br /> <br />Testimony regarding South Willamette Special Area Zone and related amendments: <br /> <br />I encourage the Planning Commission to support the South Willamette Special Area <br />Zone and amendments with a strong recommendation to the City Council. The <br />Special Area Zone is a product of a dynamic and tested public involvement process. <br />Over several years, diverse members of the community collaborated in the <br />systematic building of the character of the special area zone. The work of the special <br />area zone has also benefited from close scrutiny and discussion by the Eugene <br />Planning Commission. <br /> <br />The Special Area Zone and related code and amendments represent an integrated <br />set of components that rely on one another to create a balanced plan. This balanced <br />plan allows for the slow evolution of the neighborhood. The plan defines a gradual <br />change of scales across the district, which is supported and protected by detailed <br />design standards for new development. These design standards address features <br />that members of the community care about and look to community leaders and <br />decision makers to implement. In casual discussions in the community, I often hear <br />people wishing for this kind of direction for the design of new development. <br /> <br />Perhaps most of all, I am happy to see the allowance for different types of housing, <br />including small and attached houses with a bit of garden space, row houses and <br />particularly mid to high rise apartments and condos. Many of my friends and peers <br />are talking about where they want to live when they downsize. This district meets <br />their goals; many live in south Eugene and want to stay in the area, shop in familiar <br />places and drive their cars less often. All these will be possible in this district. And <br />even better, there will be a large open space nearby. This is the right place and right <br />time for implementation of this special area plan. Time is important; as years go by <br />and new options are not available for more urban living near transit, huge <br />opportunities are missed. Though there may be unexpected outcomes, no doubt <br />there are many unintended consequences that the current code perpetuates. This <br />plan has been thoughtfully developed to address those. And in place are methods to <br />make minor code amendments should some particular element of the zone need <br />further attention after it is implemented. <br /> <br />Like a good composition, musical or artistic, all the components rely on one another. <br />To take away one disturbs the whole. I support acknowledging this balanced plan <br />and the implementing amendments as a whole and moving them forward. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br />Patricia Thomas