II. The RRSC Code Amendments are NOT Consistent with Envision Eugene <br />The Envision Eugene Comprehensive Plan states, "New land use plans and changes to the <br />City's land use code and land use plans must be consistent with the policies in the Envision <br />Eugene Comprehensive Plan." (page 1-3) <br />The proposed RRSC code amendments are not consistent with the Envision Eugene <br />Comprehensive Plan policies below on page ED -4. <br />Policy 3.5 Business retention and expansion. Facilitate the retention and growth of <br />existing businesses in the community. <br />Policy 3.6 Responsible economic development. Support economic development <br />initiatives that reflect long-term priorities, improve community resilience to climate <br />change and natural hazards, improve energy efficiency or reduce greenhouse gas <br />emissions, and enhance opportunities to borrow, rent, or otherwise make better use of <br />underutilized public and private assets. <br />Policy 3.7 Home-based and microenterprises. Promote the development of small, <br />locally -owned businesses that have minimal adverse impacts on their surrounding <br />neighborhoods. <br />The proposed RRSC code amendments will substantially increase the cost of commercial <br />development and do not support business retention and expansion. According to EC 9.1200, <br />the purpose of regulating nonconforming uses is to "limit the expansion of the nonconformity" <br />and to provide for "the correction or removal of the nonconforming situation in an equitable, <br />reasonable, and timely manner." <br />While the current proposed RRSC code amendments would prohibit new uses, the proposed <br />amendments would demote current lawfully established uses to "nonconforming" status. While it <br />is true that nonconforming uses and developments may continue to operate and be sold a <br />nonconforming use is on unstable footing and is reduced in value because the use and <br />development is not permitted to be expanded or intensified. See EC 9.1220. The nonconforming <br />use status of existing businesses will negatively impact the owners as the cost of financing <br />increases, business retention suffers, and growth is squelched. <br />The proposed RRSC code amendments would change the percent of the building required to be <br />within a maximum front yard setback and establish new building articulation standards. These <br />proposed standards do not make sense for many existing and future businesses and will hinder <br />or prevent certain types of businesses or redevelopment. <br />Action Rent -All & Events provides a sustainable business model to help protect the environment <br />by providing: 1) Shared use, 2) Repairability, 3) Resource use, 4) Reusability, and 5) <br />RRSC Code Amendments Page 2 of 5X019 BISHOW <br />Bishow Testimony March 4, 2024 dM CONSULTING <br />19 <br />