Good Evening. My name is Katy Patton. I am a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner making house calls <br />here in Lane County. I have lived in Oregon since 1973, currently living in Springfield. I am one <br />of th,e member/developers of Oakleigh Meadow Cohousing. I believe cohousing offers a unique <br />cooperative living arrangement different than the usual condominium. Eugene is the kind of <br />city where cohousing really fits. <br />I have been putting a lot of my hard earned cash and sweat equity into this project for the past <br />year. It is part of my retirement plan. I am going to sell my lovely 3 bedroom, 2 bath almost <br />new 15 hundred square foot home. This is too much for a single gal to maintain. I want to <br />down size. And I do not want to be so alone-and isolated as I get older "Aging in place" is a buzz <br />phrase, and studies show people who are connected stay healthy, live longer and contribute <br />more to society. To do that it is best to be near a bus line and activities such as a bike path, and <br />near convenient shopping and people. Relationships with friends and neighbors is deeply <br />important for successful aging. <br />Also I value careful use of infill inside the Urban Growth boundary and have worked on several <br />projects over the years to.keep Oregon green and support Oregon Farm lands. It is a matter of <br />perspective, how you see density and infill. I see this project as full filling the goal of <br />appropriate development inside the UGB. <br />This new cohousing unit will allow me to walk to River Road to the core commercial areas that O <br />are there now and yet to be developed. I plan to walk to the dog groomer. There are 2 to pick <br />from. There is a wonderful coffee shop just at the end of.our street as well as a-great Indian <br />restaurant. The bus stop will be wonderful when I retire. This is just a few years away and one <br />of the reasons I want.to move from Springfield to Eugene. <br />This is an ideal location for a multi-unit development inside the urban growth boundary, near <br />a main transportation artery, and adjacent to core commercial area. <br />Thank you for approving this wonderful project. <br />xWvaerm <br />3406 Watermark Dr . <br />Springfield, OR 97477 <br />1088 <br />