UNIVERSITY OF OREGON <br />NORTH CAMPUS <br />CONDITIONAL USE & WILLAMETTE GREENWAY PERMIT APPLICATION <br />Franklin Boulevard and the south Bank Trail and to destinations <br />within the study area. <br />This policy recognizes the importance of bicycles as a component of the transportation system <br />and the need to achieve high levels of bicycle use to reduce traffic demands on the street system. <br />A bikeway network providing direct access to buildings and covered bicycle parking areas can <br />help attain the highest possible levels of bicycle commuting. In addition, sensitively integrated <br />paths can help make the area attractive and support improved access to the river and the Ruth <br />Bascom Riverfront Path System. With these principles in mind, the proposal seeks to improve the <br />bicyclist experience for commuters and recreational cyclists alike by connecting the bike path to <br />the east and west along the Willamette River to form a cohesive multi-modal path, and providing <br />improved access across the railroad tracks and Franklin Boulevard, as shown on Sheet L03 <br />Pedestrian and Bicycle Primary Circulation Plan (Exhibit A). Through improvement to the <br />comprehensive bicycle path network within the site, the proposal addresses this policy. <br />C. Environment Element <br />1. The City of Eugene shall protect the riparian strip along the <br />southern bank of the Willamette River within the study <br />boundaries by: 1) directing future development away from this <br />environmentally sensitive area; 2) establishing a buffer strip <br />beginning at the top of the bank and extending a minimum of 35 <br />feet to the south; 3) establishing a deeper setback to protect the <br />east Millrace outfall and the heavily used bicycle/pedestrian area <br />around the south approaches of the Autzen Bike Bridge; and 4) <br />developing, with the University of Oregon and the Eugene Water <br />& Electric Board and other major property owners along the <br />river's banks, an active management plan intended to enhance <br />the environment of the natural vegetation along the river's edge. <br />In this area, the riparian strip refers to the narrow vegetative <br />strip along the steep south bank of the river. This policy is <br />intended to protect the riparian strip along the river which will <br />result in: 1) preservation of valuable natural elements; 2) <br />riverbank stabilization; and 3) protection of developable property <br />from potential debris during major flooding (a rare possibility). <br />This policy also recognizes that development within the <br />Riverfront Park Study area provides unique opportunities to <br />create more of an urban edge along portions of the river through <br />sensitive location of buildings along the river, and that location <br />of some public improvements can occur within the buffer and <br />riparian strip. For example, a bicycle/pedestrian path could <br />appropriately be included within the buffer strip and a public <br />plaza and public access improvements could appropriately <br />extend to the river through the riparian strip. <br />/WR Conservation Overlay Zone regulations establish a minimum required 100-foot conservation <br />setback from the Willamette River top of bank. The Applicant has proposed a setback of 200-feet <br />for buildings and recreational fields along most of the length of the property, as shown on Sheet <br />Cameron McCarthy FINAL SUBMITTAL | Revised August 13, 2018 75 <br /> <br />