In short, the goal of the proposed code amendments is to provide a relatively simple but <br />effective means of addressing the requirements of Goal 15 for proposed housing within the <br />Greenway. The intended scope of the changes is limited but definitive; to help reduce barriers <br />to housing development, meet the City's obligations under State law, and maintain a balanced <br />approach to protecting the river as one of Eugene's most valuable natural resources with <br />effective development standards. To be successful within our current budgetary and staffing <br />limitations, as well as the Planning Division's full work plan over the next several years, the <br />scope of the proposed code amendments needs to remain focused and is intended to be <br />relatively simple as compared to other recent City-wide code amendment projects. <br />As noted previously, the proposed amendments will not change the existing Willamette <br />Greenway Boundary. This means the proposed amendments will not add or remove any lands <br />within the formal boundary where Greenway regulations apply, as adopted and in place since <br />the mid-1970's. As proposed, the regulations will only apply to the review of proposed housing <br />on lands within the existing Willamette River Greenway Boundary that are zoned and <br />designated for those uses and types of development. Proposed housing developments within <br />the Greenway will have the option of choosing between the clear and objective standards and <br />the existing discretionary standards. <br />PROJECT UPDATE <br />Planning Commission held the initial public hearing for proposed Willamette River Greenway <br />Code Amendments on March 8, 2022. The March 8th public hearing packet includes a detailed <br />summary of the code amendments as initially proposed, project background, related maps and <br />other materials which can be found here. Testimony received to date has been provided to the <br />Planning Commission previously, and is also available on the project website. Following an open <br />record period for more testimony, and additional staff research on key topic areas for <br />discussion, Planning Commission held a work session on June 14, 2022. For additional detail and <br />background, those meeting materials can also be found here. <br />At the June work session, Planning Commission provided clear support to move away from the <br />initially proposed Type II "administrative review" review process for clear and objective track <br />applications and continue using the City's existing Type III land use application process. This will <br />maintain the City's existing requirement for a public hearing on all Willamette Greenway <br />Permits, thereby simplifying the State's adoption process and eliminate the need for approval <br />of a "Design Plan" as that term is used in the language of Goal 15. <br />Planning Commission also unanimously passed a motion to re-open the record and direct staff <br />to schedule a second public hearing on a revised draft code, to allow for more public input prior <br />to deliberations and recommendation to City Council on the adoption package. At this work <br />session, staff will provide additional details and seek direction on remaining key topics and <br />revisions to the draft code, prior to the second public hearing. <br />KEY PROPOSED CHANGES & TOPICS FOR CONSIDERATION <br />A brief summary is provided below, with more information about remaining key proposed <br />changes and topics for discussion at this work session: <br />