`3 <br />P IN i <br />M <br />9/28/13 <br />Dear Hearing Officials, <br />I understand that you are reviewing a Planned Unit Development application concerning the <br />Oakleigh Meadows Cohousing project. Oakleigh Meadows will serve as a model for new <br />development that addresses many of the problems inherent in more traditional suburban <br />housing developments. Oakleigh will provide homes for a group of families working together to <br />create not just housing, but also community. The cohousing model offers the potential to <br />increase the density of our cities while retaining open space and providing opportunities for <br />significant interaction: between members of the community. The resulting density will better <br />use our existing infrastructure., including public transit. Cohousing also results in significant <br />interaction between neighbors, in contrast to the normative tendency for suburban neighbors to <br />remain comparatively isolated from each other. Interaction of this kind will strengthen our <br />community as a whole. <br />I encourage you to strongly consider approval of this application so that Oakleigh Meadows <br />can be constructed as soon as possible. This is an opportunity to demonstrate our ability to <br />reconsider ubiquitous development patterns that bring with them significant problems. As we <br />face unprecedented environmental problems we must recognize that significant change is <br />required. We soon will need to find other ways of inhabiting and moving through our cities. <br />Oakleigh is a positive step towards substantive change that will help address some of the <br />significant challenges we face. <br />Sincerely, <br />Scott Clarke, AIA <br />PIVOT Architecture 44 West Broadway Suite 300 Eugene, OR 97401 t.541.342.7291 1.541.342.1535 pivotarchitecture.com <br />1104 <br />