the project design. Even better, these impacts can avoided entirely by retaining this land in public <br />ownership. <br />The following paragraphs explain in more detail why the Lombard Apartments project should not be <br />approved. <br />Greenway Conflicts <br />In 1967 the legislature of the State of Oregon had the vision and wisdom to create the Willamette River <br />Greenway, which this project site is contained within. The Eugene Metro Plan Update “recognizes the <br />Willamette River environs as being an important asset to the entire metropolitan area. The passage of <br />the Greenway Law and Statewide Goal 15, Williamette River Greenway, lend further evidence to the <br />importance of this natural waterway.” Goal 15 states its purpose as: <br />To protect, conserve, enhance and maintain the natural, scenic, historical, agricultural, <br />“ <br />economic and recreational qualities of lands along the Willamette River as the Willamette River <br />Greenway. <br />” <br />By removing several beautiful, large trees within the Greenway, and placing a three-story apartment <br />building within about 60 feet of the River Bank Trail, the scenic and recreational qualities of the <br />Greenway and trail will be significantly diminished. <br />Additional evidence of the importance of the Willamette River Greenway to our community is provided <br />by the 421 reviews currently posted on the popular website TripAdvisor <br />(https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g51862-d146978-Reviews- <br />Willamette_River_bike_trail-Eugene_Oregon.html). <br />These reviews were written by both local residents and visitors to Eugene, that describe the value of the <br />River Bank Trail to them. A typical comment reads: “this is a wonderful community asset.” More than <br />three-fourths of the reviewers gave the River Bank Trail a five-star rating (the highest rating possible). <br />Tens of thousands of Eugene residents and visitors to our city experience the Greenway each year by <br />walking or biking the River Bank Trail. <br />Greenway Permit Approval Criteria <br />The Willamette Greenway Permit Approval Criteria adopted by the City of Eugene Planning and <br />Development Department states, in part: <br />To the greatest possible degree, the intensification, change of use, or development will <br />“(1) <br />provide the maximum possible landscaped area, open space, or vegetation between the activity <br />and the river. <br />” <br />According to planning department staff, the developer has not provided any documentation or evidence <br />to support a finding that this important criterion has been met. To the contrary, the developer has <br />maintained that this criterion is not applicable to the project because the project is “needed housing” <br />under Oregon statute ORS 197.303(4) and, also because this standard cannot be applied because it is <br />not “clear and objective.” I disagree with the developers contentions. <br />-2- <br />139 <br /> <br />