From: Dawn Lesley <br />To: Euaene RR -SC Plan <br />Subject: River Road/Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan <br />Date: Tuesday, October 31, 2023 10:19:35 AM <br />You don't often get email from dawnlesley6@gmail.com. Learn why this is important <br />[EXTERNAL ] <br />Planning commissioners, <br />I have been involved in the River Road/Santa Clara neighborhood plan efforts over <br />the last six years. I and many others spent many hours hosting and attending <br />listening and discussion sessions, preparing and reviewing drafts, addressing <br />comments, discussing details, comparing ideas, preparing and submitting testimony. <br />This plan reflects the values, vision and priorities of our neighbors and has a long list <br />of actions many in our neighborhoods are ready to tackle. <br />The loss of the RR/SC corridor plan and the fine-grained zoning plan along with it is <br />regrettable but the scope of what was possible changed over time due to state <br />mandates, a global pandemic, a shift in the City of Eugene's corridor planning vision, <br />and City of Eugene resource constraints. There is a wealth of information in our <br />corridor plan that I would like the City to use when they get to the citywide corridor <br />zoning project. Detailed (lot specific) information that is unique to River Road informs <br />that plan and was generated by engaged neighbors. The longer we wait before <br />adopting our plan, the more opportunities to capitalize on resource and programming <br />already underway slip through our fingers. <br />So many of our Santa Clara Community Organization meetings in years past (before <br />this planning effort) included angry neighbors talking about "what is the City/County <br />going to do to us next?" We have been telling folks, this neighborhood planning <br />process is our way of working with the City and County to craft our own future. This <br />new model of neighborhood planning will require ongoing collaboration across city <br />and county departments and prioritization of resources and staff support to be <br />successful. This will be the case for all neighborhoods and we would like for your <br />help to assure that part of this plan, the mechanism to bring neighborhoods and <br />departments together annually to craft a yearly plan, becomes the "new normal" in <br />neighborhood planning. It is the best way I can see to improve relationships between <br />the City, County, and residents, so we no longer have that sense that things are being <br />imposed on us. We can work together, and this plan provides the best path forward. <br />I support this plan and urge you to do the same and help us get to the work of crafting <br />a more resilient and livable future. <br />Sincerely, <br />Dawn Lesley <br />Elected Board Member, Santa Clara Community Organization (SCCO) <br />Writing on my own behalf, not on behalf of SCCO <br />15 <br />