Eugene Planning Commission <br />January 4, 2017 <br />Page 5 of 5 <br />former plant site is closed and DOGAMI has identified no outstanding issues with the property <br />from the prior mining activity. Given its plan designation, from a technical standpoint, the <br />ES&G property falls within the highest priority category of lands provided for under ORS <br />197.298. The City must include this property under the statute and Goal 14 before it can add any <br />acreage designated Agricultural to the UGB. <br />In addition, there are also practical and public interest reasons for including the ES&G property. <br />The remainder of the ES&G property consists of a large pond and riverfront property that are <br />well suited for conservation efforts and park uses. The ES&G property affords the City an <br />opportunity to extend park land, including a river front bike path, along the river from Beltline to <br />the edge of the UGB north of the River Ridge golf course. <br />Given its location, the property is well suited to meet urban land needs, including industrial. Its <br />contiguous, relatively flat, 35 acres is immediately adjacent to the full range of city services, <br />which makes it ideal for near-term development, for which other areas beyond the fringes of the <br />existing UGB are unsuited. The ES&G property is not only one that ORS 197.298 and Goal 14 <br />mandate be brought into the UGB first, it is a property that presents a win-win opportunity for <br />the City. <br />We have been pressing the city staff to take a close look at this site for about two years now, as <br />demonstrated by Attachment A. It has not received an in depth review. Perhaps that is the result <br />of a misunderstanding how this site fares in the statutory priorities. Regardless, this 35 acre site <br />must be first on the city's list. <br />We request that the Planning Commission do what city staff has been reluctant to do so far - take <br />a closer look at this acreage. <br />We look forward to discussing this proposal with you during the public hearing on the UGB <br />expansion proposal. Thank you for your consideration. <br />Sincerely, <br />Fa ~Uow <br />Bill Kloos <br />Attachments: <br />Attachment A Letter to Eugene City Council, January 20, 2015 <br />Attachment B Letter to Anne Davies, Eugene City Attorney's Office, dated February 4, 2014 <br />Attachment C ORS 197.298 <br />Attachment D LandWatch of Lane County v. Lane County, Or LUBA (LUBA Nos. <br />2016-003/004, August 21, 2016) <br />Attachment E LandWatch of Lane County v. Lane County, Or App (CA-A162909, <br />December 29, 2016) <br />Attachment F DLCD Staff Report - UGB Rulemaking, dated November 23, 2015 <br />Attachment G Eugene Sand & Gravel 2004, aerial image <br />