Metro Plan Amendment (MA 15-1): amends the Metro Plan diagram to change the adopted land <br />use plan designation from Parks and Open Space to Low Density Residential. <br />Zone Change (Z 15-1): rezones the site from being split-zoned PL Public Land (northern portion) <br />and R-1 Low Density Residential (southern portion) to entirely zoned R-1 Low Density <br />Residential. No new overlay zones are proposed (the /WR Water Resources Conservation Overlay <br />Zone remains). <br />In the request, the applicant indicates that the purpose for this amendment and zone change is to <br />enable long-term productive use of the land that is currently not developed or platted with <br />cemetery plots. The applicant has indicated that there is no intention to further develop this <br />property for cemetery use and is, therefore, requesting a change in designation to enable low- <br />density residential development. If approved, the applicant has indicated that a new CUP <br />application would be submitted to reduce the size of the previously approved cemetery. <br />Planning Commission Process <br />The Planning Commission recommended minor edits to the findings and voted unanimously to <br />recommend that the council approve the request. <br />At the initial Planning Commission public hearing held on July 14, 2015, a total of six people <br />testified; one provided testimony in favor (an applicant representative), one provided neutral <br />testimony, and four provided testimony in opposition (although one of the four signed up as <br />neutral). The record was not left open. The Planning Commission deliberated and took action on <br />July 27, 2015. The majority of the commission's discussion centered on whether changing the <br />property from parks and open space loses the opportunity for a future park. The commission <br />agreed with staff that although the Parks, Recreational and Open Space Project and Priority Plan <br />identifies this area as in need of a park, the plan was not adopted as a land use plan and therefore <br />cannot be used as a basis for determining compliance with the applicable criteria. Additionally, <br />parks are permitted in low-density residential. <br />Findings in support of the Planning Commission's recommendation for approval are included as <br />Exhibit C to the ordinance (see Attachment C). The ordinance and findings, with any directed <br />changes, will be utilized in the event that the City Council votes to approve the proposal upon <br />finding that it complies with the applicable approval criteria. The council will also consider <br />additional public testimony and other materials that may be presented at the public hearing, <br />before making a final decision. Final action is scheduled for a subsequent council meeting on <br />October 12, 2015. <br />These land use applications are subject to quasi-judicial procedures for the upcoming public <br />hearing, as well as the approval criteria from the Eugene Code (EC) for each application type. For <br />reference, the quasi-judicial hearing procedures applicable to this request are described at EC <br />9.7065 through EC 9.7095. The applicant's written statement addresses the approval criteria <br />from EC 9.7735 for the Metro Plan amendment and EC 9.8865 for the zone change. The full record <br />of application materials and public testimony to date is included in a binder that has been placed <br />in the City Manager's Office, for reference. <br />MACM0\2015 Council Agcndas\M150921\S1509211.doc <br />