Attachment 1 <br />The Riverfront Park Study's Environment Policy C.1., in section II Polices, includes the establishment of a setback <br />from the top of bank along the south side of the Willamette River as described below: <br />C.1 The City of Eugene shall protect the riparian strip along the southern bank of the Willamette <br />River within the study boundaries by: 1) directing future development away from this <br />environmentally sensitive area, 2) establishing a buffer strip beginning at the top of the bank <br />and extending a minimum of 35 feet to the south, 3) establishing a deeper setback to protect <br />the east Millrace outfall and the heavily used bicycle/pedestrian area around the south <br />approaches of the Autzen Bike Bridge, and 4) developing, with the University of Oregon and the <br />Eugene Water Electric Board and other major property owners along the river's banks, an <br />active management plan intended to enhance the environment of the natural vegetation along <br />the river's edge. <br />In this area, the riparian strip refers to the narrow vegetative strip along the steep south bank of <br />the river. This policy is intended to protect the riparian strip along the river which will result in: 1) <br />preservation of valuable natural elements; 2) riverbank stabilization; and 3) protection of <br />developable property from potential debris during major flooding (a rare possibility). This policy <br />also recognizes that development within the Riverfront Park Study area provides unique <br />opportunities to create more of an urban edge along portions of the river through sensitive <br />location of buildings along the river, and that location of some public improvements can occur <br />within the buffer and riparian strip. For example, a bicycle/pedestrian path could appropriately be <br />included within the buffer strip and a public plaza and public access improvements could <br />appropriately extend to the river through the riparian strip. <br />The buffer strip establishes a minimum 35 foot building setback south of the top of the <br />riverbank to provide an area for development of public improvements that encourage access to <br />and enjoyment of the river. Two areas have been identified where deeper setbacks would be <br />required. The first is located around the east Millrace outfall where a building setback extending <br />150 feet south of the riverbank would protect the outfall as a significant natural water feature. <br />This setback would not preclude the potential incorporation of the outfall into a development, <br />nor would it preclude potential relocation of the bikepath across the outfall. The second area of <br />special protection would occur around the south approach to the Autzen Bike Bridge. At this <br />point a building setback extending 50 feet from each side of the bike bridge and about 135 feet <br />south of the top of the riverbank would recognize the Autzen Bike Bridge and the riverbank to <br />the west as areas of heavy bicycle/pedestrian and river-oriented activity. <br />The relevant portions of this policy relate to the establishment of a Greenway setback which has been <br />mapped and incorporated into the proposed clear and objective standards for the review of proposed <br />housing, as part of the Willamette River Greenway Code Amendments. The policy establishes a minimum <br />setback of 35 feet from the top of bank adjacent to the river with two exception areas. For the area <br />identified as the east Millrace outfall, the policy establishes a setback extending 150 feet south of the <br />riverbank to protect the outfall as a significant natural water feature. For the area identified as the south <br />approach to the Autzen Bike Bridge (subsequently renamed as the Frohnmeyer Bridge), the policy <br />establishes a setback extending 135 feet from the top of bank within 50 feet from each side of the bridge. <br />The Willamette River Greenway Setback, established by the Willamette River Greenway Setback Map <br />attached as Exhibit to the Willamette River Greenway Code Amendments is consistent with the <br />setback requirements established by this policy, and the only amendment proposed to the S-RP zone is to <br />add the allowance for an applicant proposing to develop housing within the Greenway to choose to proceed <br />under the newly established clear and objective approval criteria for Willamette River Greenway Permits. <br />Page 35 of 125 30 <br />