~~-3 I <br />Joan Connolly'. <br />131 McClure Lane, <br />Eugene OR 97404 <br />541 688-3304 <br />4 `0c--tobe~'- {b13 <br />To Hearings Official, <br />Here is the written version of my spoken testimony from the 10/2/2013 public <br />hearing: <br />My name is Joan Connolly. I am a 24-year resident of the River Road <br />neighborhood. I live at 131 McClure Lane. Our house will be next door to <br />Oakleigh Meadow Cohousing. <br />I moved to Oakleigh Lane in 1989. -Four years ago, when my husband, David, <br />and I, along with our then four-year-old daughter, outgrew our little house on <br />Oakleigh Lane, we moved one block south to a house on McClure Lane-attached <br />to a 2-acre lot largely covered in blackberries. <br />For most of our years on Oakleigh. Lane, in order to get to the bike path and the <br />river, which was east of us, we had to walk west to River Road and around to <br />either East Hilliard or McClure Lane. During our last few years on Oakleigh, it <br />became possible to get to the river from the east end of Oakleigh, but it meant <br />careful navigation though a formidable acre of blackberries; barbed wire, and <br />transient tent campers and drug dealers. It Was neither safe nor inviting. <br />After our family bought the land, friends and neighbors helped with an initial <br />clean up and many work days followed. When the land was open and, clear, we <br />invited neighbors to walk through to keep an eye on anything that might need <br />attention. <br />Before we bought our new home, it was clear that the vacant field would be . <br />built -upon at some point. We committed ourselves to steering it toward <br />community-minded development. As we explored the many options for how <br />best to move ahead, the idea that emerged repeatedly and sparked much <br />interest was cohousing. The appeal of cohousing is that it begins with forming <br />a-community of people who share. values and are interested in living in <br />proximity. Cohousing,is designed, developed and funded by the future <br />residents. Cohousing is first and foremost about addressing the community <br />needs of people, rather than simply building structures to be filled with <br />strangers. <br />Through-the years I have spent much time caring for the public open space . <br />along the river. I have been deeply involved in both the planning and planting <br />of Rasor Park. <br />966 <br />