r r i~ <br />LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS® <br />OF LANE COUNTY <br />March 5, 2017 <br />City of Eugene Planning Commission <br />Lane County Planning Commission <br />Eugene, Oregon 97401 <br />On behalf of the League of Women Voters of Lane County, thank you for the opportunity to <br />provide comments on the Envision Eugene Urban Growth Boundary Project. The League <br />supports the adoption of the provisions of Ordinance #1 and Ordinance #2 as described in the <br />Notice of Joint Public Hearing of the Eugene Planning Commission and the Lane County <br />Planning Commission on March 7, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. <br />The League has followed the Envision Eugene project for many years. Between April 2011 and <br />September 2016 the League submitted testimony on nine separate occasions on various <br />aspects of the planning process as well as the interim decisions and actions that are now <br />imbedded in the ordinances that are the subject of this hearing. Our prior comments have <br />addressed issues such as the seven-pillar framework, the housing mix, the re-designation of <br />land for single family housing, expansion of the urban growth boundary for jobs and other <br />purposes, and proposals to accommodate multi-family housing. <br />We understand that the foremost criteria that these proposed ordinances must meet are <br />consistency with the applicable Oregon statewide planning goals and regulations. To that end <br />the City has provided extensive findings supported by technical documents and analyses to <br />demonstrate compliance with these requirements. The City has also addressed the need for <br />compatibility with Eugene Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan and the Eugene Land Use <br />Code. <br />As an organization whose primary mission is to encourage the informed participation of citizens <br />in government, the League has been especially impressed with the City's commitment to the <br />spirit and requirements of Goal 1, Citizen Involvement. The City's public engagement process <br />has included e-mail newsletters; a website with updates and links to explanatory materials and <br />technical publications; community surveys; open houses; presentations to neighborhood, <br />business and civic groups; and even trailers at summer concerts in the park. City staff have <br />responded to e-mail queries and have scheduled briefings on request. They have sought <br />planning commission input on the text of the draft Envision Eugene Comprehensive plan to help <br />ensure that the draft was understandable by citizens. <br />It has been clear since early in the Envision Eugene process when the seven pillars were <br />adopted as a guiding framework that adequate attention would be paid to the values inherent in <br />statewide planning goals such as preservation of natural resources, affordable housing options, <br />job availability, and orderly urbanization with adequate public services. The City has worked <br />hard to balance goals with inherent potential conflicts. <br />The League believes that it is time now for the planning commissions to recommend adoption of <br />ordinance #1 and ordinance #2 to the Eugene City Council and the Lane County Board of <br />Commissioners. Due to the complexity of the requirements and the extensive public outreach, <br />the planning effort has consumed many years and generated volumes of material. It is time to <br />338 West 11 'h Avenue, Suite 101, Eugene, OR 97401-3962 541.343.7917 league@Iwvlc.org www.lwvlc.org <br />