Revised Narrative 8-13-18 - Laserfiche WebLink

UNIVERSITY OF OREGON NORTH CAMPUS CONDITIONAL USE & WILLAMETTE GREENWAY PERMIT APPLICATION 6 develop conceptual site plan options exploring how physical education and recreation fields (also known as outdoor classrooms), support facilities, restoration, river access, a reconfigured bike 7 path, areas for outdoor teaching, and other university uses could work together on the site. Because of the unique location along the river and strong interest in this area from members of the university and wider community, the university decided to do further study to test the ideas of the Framework Vision Project and understand what was feasible. The Conceptual Study included a Riparian Assessment and Management Report (by Mason, Bruce & Girard, Exhibit B), which provided a functional assessment of the riparian corridor along the 8 Willamette River and Millrace Outfall and upland habitat in the eastern portion of the study area. Riparian restoration goals for the Conceptual Study were informed by the report and confirmed by community feedback. The Conceptual Study went through multiple iterations to develop conceptual site plan options. As described in the Public Outreach section (Section 4), the Conceptual Study engaged in extensive outreach to inform the study. The Conceptual Study resulted in two final options that show how the universityÈs needs and community desires could work together (includedin Exhibit J, Attachments 7A and 7B). The Conceptual Study found that: Only four fields would be feasible (two new fields and two replacement fields), considering site limitations, operational considerations, and riparian restoration goals. Therefore, one field could not be accommodated in North Campus; There would be enough room to lay back (re-grade) the bank to a more natural slope and provide riparian restoration areas at a width of at least 200 feet from the top of bankin many locations; It would be possible to align the bike path closer to the river (in the required 100-foot conservation setback) as well as align it further away outside the 100-foot setback; and The need to accommodate future development in North Campus is greater than the 9 Framework Vision Project suggests; therefore, limited building development north of the tracks could be proposed. 6 The Framework Vision Project identified a need for three year-round recreational fields in addition to the two existing grass recreational fields, totaling five fields in North Campus. Through further study and work with the focus group during the Conceptual Study, the project team found a need to replace the two existing grass fields with year-round fields. The existing fields are not playable year-round due to poor drainage, recovery time after use, and other maintenance considerations. 7 Several disciplines use the riverfront as an outdoor classroom, including courses in Anthropology, Art, Biology, Environmental Studies, Geology, Earth Sciences, History, Landscape Architecture, the Library, and through the Museum of Natural and Cultural History. (Information provided by Bitty Roy, UO Professor of Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution.) 8 Overall. the Riparian Assessment found that the study area provides many of the necessary functions and values necessary for healthy local aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, but that the previous land uses have degraded or removed the historic, native vegetation composition in many locations. The report provides recommendations for riparian management, addressing protection of water quality, revegetation and habitat enhancement, erosion control, promoting biodiversity, and recreation, 9 While the Framework Vision Project noted that the land north of the tracks would not be needed for buildings, it did not take into account all of the space that the university currently leases off-campus, some of which the university may consider consolidating on campus one day. Also, the Framework Vision Cameron McCarthy FINAL SUBMITTAL | Revised August 13, 2018 19