David and Judith Berg <br />03 July 2015 <br />Eugene Planning Commission <br />c/o Heather O'Donnell <br />99 West Tenth Avenue <br />Eugene, OR 97401 <br />RE: Rest Haven Metro Plan Amendment and Zone Change (MA 15-1; Z 15-1) <br />Honorable Commissioners, <br />Thank you for the opportunity to testify on the subject of this hearing. <br />Received <br />JI <br />City of Eugene <br />Planning Division <br />We do not oppose the Metro Plan Amendment application to align the designation and zoning of Rest Haven <br />Cemetery to Low Density Residential and R1, respectively, subject to City's approval of the application and <br />responses to its Completeness Review. <br />However, wherever it is appropriate in the succeeding steps towards development of this property, we ask that <br />you consider the environmental effects of development on neighboring properties along the east and north side <br />of Brae Burn Drive that sit at the bottom of the slope that comprises the western- and southern-most edges of <br />Rest Haven as regards stormwater runoff, erosion, and wind throw. <br />While there is currently imposed a 75-foot buffer between properties mandated in the cemetery's Conditional <br />Use Permit, we would like to see this buffer redrawn based on the topography of the land. <br />This U.S.G.S. Topographic map reflects the geography of the landscape and the gradient between Rest Haven and <br />the adjacent properties. Each contour represents a 20-foot gradient. The dark line through the Rest Haven <br />Property is the 700-foot contour. Brae Burn Drive circumscribes Rest Haven's western and southern boundaries. <br />Observe the steep gradient coming off the700-foot ridge along the southern edge and 720-foot ridge along the <br />western edge of Rest Haven (drawn-in red line), dropping down to the back yards of neighboring properties below <br />on Brae Burn Drive. The gradient presents a 40 to 80-foot drop in elevation as you move south on Brae Burn along <br />the redesignation area (drawn-in blue line). This slope is currently forested, which largely protects neighboring <br />properties from stormwater runoff, erosion, and wind-throw that would otherwise have a damaging effect on <br />these properties, and provides a haven for the wildlife that inhabit it. <br />We submit that the 75-foot buffer currently designated in the cemetery's Conditional Use Permit is arbitrary and <br />doesn't reflect the depth of the geography that more appropriately describes the affected area, and respectfully <br />request that wherever it is appropriate in the steps leading towards development that the buffer be restated in <br />terms of its geography - specifically along the 700- and 720-foot contour lines as shown above - instead of an <br />arbitrary distance - and further, that this buffer be not only restricted from development, but also restricted from <br />deforestation to continue its environmental protection of neighboring homes. <br />Thank you for your consideration. <br />4125 Brae Burn Drive Eugene, OR 97405.2037 541.683.0904 david_berg@comcastnet <br />PC Agenda - Page 27 <br />