In their request, the applicant indicates that the purpose for this amendment and zone change <br />is to enable long-term productive use of the land that is currently not developed or platted with <br />cemetery plots. The applicant has indicated that they do not intend to further develop this <br />property for cemetery use and are therefore requesting a change in designation to enable low <br />density residential development. If approved, the applicant has indicated that they would <br />submit a new CUP application to reduce the size of the previously approved cemetery. <br />Process <br />These land use applications are subject to quasi-judicial procedures (EC 9.7065 through EC 9.7095) <br />for the upcoming public hearing, as well as the approval criteria from the Eugene Code (EC) for <br />each application type. The applicant's written statement addresses the approval criteria from EC <br />9.7730 for the Metro Plan Amendment and EC 9.8865 for the Zone Change, which are included in <br />the package of application materials already provided to the Planning Commission under separate <br />cover. The Eugene Code requires City staff to prepare a written staff report, prior to the public <br />hearing, for the Planning Commission's consideration concerning any Metro Plan amendment and <br />zone change request. This agenda item summary and the attached preliminary findings <br />(Attachment C) addressing compliance with the applicable approval criteria constitute the initial <br />staff report on this matter. <br />The Planning Commission will also consider additional public testimony and other materials that <br />may be presented at the public hearing, before making a recommendation on these applications. <br />Following the close of the public hearing and record, the Planning Commission will make a <br />recommendation to the City Council to approve, approve with modifications or deny the <br />applications, based on the required approval criteria. The requests will be heard before the Eugene <br />City Council in a separate public hearing following Planning Commission action. Eugene Code (EC) <br />9.7740(4) provides that no new evidence should be allowed at the city council public hearing; <br />however City Council does have the option to amend this. <br />Application, Referrals and Public Hearing Notice <br />On January 16, 2015, the concurrent Metro Plan amendment and zone change applications were <br />submitted to the City. In response to the City's completeness review comments, the applicant <br />provided supplemental application materials and the application was deemed complete on May 11, <br />2015. <br />Referrals were provided to the appropriate agencies, and notice of the June 12, 2015 public hearing <br />was mailed and posted consistent with Eugene Code requirements. Since the public notice, staff <br />has received some inquiries and written public testimony. Responses to the public testimony are <br />included in the preliminary findings under Goal 1 (Attachment C) and the public testimony received <br />through July 2, 2015 is provided as Attachment D. Testimony received after that date and prior to <br />the public hearing will be forwarded to the Planning Commission at the public hearing for inclusion <br />into the public record. <br />As of July 2, 2015, staff received written comments addressing the following topics: <br />PC Agenda - Page 3 <br />