Joint Governing Bodies <br />June 27, 2017 <br />Page 4 <br />Background of Willow Creek Hills Property <br />In 2012, the Eugene City Council directed staff to identify the Willow Creek Hills <br />area as one of four study areas for UGB expansion for single-family residential. The City <br />Council's direction came at a time when the City was seriously contemplating a UGB <br />expansion for single-family residential. My clients have spent many years and resources to <br />develop a complete community concept for the Willow Creek Hills area. See the attached <br />maps for reference. Although the current UGB package does not include expansion for <br />residential, I am confident that, with the adoption of Urban Reserves, a new UGB expansion <br />for residential will be needed in the near future and the Willow Creek Hills area will be the <br />primary candidate for expansion. Below are some of the reasons why the Willow Creek Hills <br />area is the ideal candidate for expansion for residential. <br />Master: Planning ODDortunity <br />It is much easier, orderly and efficient to master plan and develop large, undeveloped <br />properties with a single owner than it is to do so for parcelized and partially developed areas. <br />The Property has one owner and is not limited by previous development. In addition, the <br />owner greatly desires that the Piopeay be included in the UGB. Furthermore, the owners of <br />the Property have, at their own, private expense, developed a master plan concept that can <br />be further refined for creative implementation. <br />In contrast, many owners in the Rural Residential areas (such as the Bailey Hill/ <br />Gimpl Hill study area, as well as the Russel Creek/LCC Basin study area) are opposed to the <br />expansion of the UGB in their area. Although Exception property is technically not <br />considered by the state to be farm or forest property (hence the term "Exception"), the <br />owners of Rural Residential property adjacent to Eugene consider their property suitable for <br />small farms and ranches, as do many other Rural Residential owners in Lane County. <br />No Mapped or inventoried Wetlands or Hydric Soils <br />The Property owned by my client has no mapped or inventoried wetlands nor are <br />there any hydric soils. In sharp contrast, many of the Exception study areas that were also <br />considered for expansion for residential in 2012 have wetlands and/or a considerable <br />amount of hydric soils. <br />No Riparian or Floodplain Areas <br />The Property has no riparian or floodplain areas. The Bailey Hill/Gimpl Hill study <br />area, on the other hand, is at the headwaters to the Willow Creek Natural area and has three <br />111G <br />