Staff Report: Planning Commission Deliberations 7-27-2015

Attachment C 2. Metro Plan policy A.30 regarding affordable housing. The Planning Commission asked for clarification on policy A.30 and to elaborate on whether this policy applies to this proposal. A.30 Balance the need to provide a sufficient amount of land to accommodate affordable housing with the community's goals to maintain a compact urban form. It is arguable that this policy is indirectly applicable if at all since no specific development application (e.g. affordable or market rate housing) is proposed as part of these applications. While staff believes the current findings are adequate, Staff would also support revising the finding to state (new text in italic): "The applicant cited Residential Land Use and Housing Element policy A.30 as an applicable policy supporting the proposed amendments. Stafffinds that this policy is not directly applicable because no specific housing development is proposed at this time. To the extent it is found to be applicable, it is met as indicated in the applicant's written statement which is incorporated herein by reference." Alternatively, if the Planning Commission finds this policy is directly applicable, staff recommends the following revised finding (additional text in italic): "Affordable housing is defined in the Metro Plan as housing priced so that a household at or below median income pays no more than 30 percent of its total income on housing and utilities. While no specific development is proposed at this time, the proposal creates more Land for housing which in turn creates the opportunity for any type of housing, affordable or market-rate, while at the same time maintains a compact urban form by creating opportunity for housing to infill on a site where no housing was planned." 3. Public Notice /Availability of Materials for Review Planning Commission asked for a copy of the public hearing notice and for clarification regarding the public testimony questioning the adequacy of the public notice. Attached is a copy of the public notice that was mailed to all residents and owners within 500 feet of the subject property. Responses to the concerns about the notice and availability of materials for review are as follows: • Proposed use was not included: The approval criteria do not require the applicant to be more specific, and if they had been, the proposed use would not be locked in at this stage. Understandably, there is interest in what will actually be built on the site, but a specific use was not identified in the notice since this is a higher-level question of whether low density residential uses in general make sense. • EC 9.7735 is cited as the approval criteria: While a Metro Plan Amendment application has to comply with all applicable sections of the Metro Plan Amendment procedures at Eugene Code (EC) 9.7730 through 9.7750 (such as procedures, submittal requirements), our public notices are required to list the applicable criteria. EC 9.7735 is the section that lists the specific approval criteria, which is why this section was cited in the notice. • The website address cited is wrone: While the web address was incorrect, it did redirect users to the correct site. While we attempt to provide several options to get information about the application, website addresses are not required to be included in the public notice or any other materials. • Clarify other options for reviewing materials: The public notice states that all materials are available at the Planning and Development Department and includes the Department's address. My name, phone and email are also included on the notice for more information. • Clarify neighborhood group notice: After the applications had already been submitted, the redrawing of the neighborhood association boundaries resulted in the subject property changing from being within the Southeast Neighbors (SEN) to being within the Southwest Hills PC Agenda - Page 21