From:Benjamin Sloan <br />To:GIOELLO Nick R <br />Subject:PUD 24-001 and ST 240-003 <br />Date:Monday, July 8, 2024 12:11:35 AM <br />You don't often get email from sloanbj@gmail.com. Learn why this is important <br />[EXTERNAL ] <br />Mr. Nick Gioello <br />Eugene City Planning <br />RE: PUD 24-001 and ST 24-003 <br /> <br />Mr. Gioello, <br /> <br />I would like to commend the city for finding creative ways to increase our housing availability <br />at all levels, particularly low and middle. My perception is that the city is in greater need of <br />lower income housing rather than middle, but I suppose we could use both. <br />Regarding the proposed development, I am in favor in theory but opposed to this particular <br />proposal on the following grounds: <br /> <br />Location in Eugene. Plopping several hundred units (four-plexes most likely) in the middle of <br />a decades old hillside subdivision with no public transportation and challenges to biking (due <br />to terrain) seems like the wrong way to go for the city. The city needs to Plan carefully, as you <br />well know, and not just respond to whatever developers reckon would earn them money. <br />Middle housing would be best located much closer to city infrastructure especially <br />transportation options in order to maintain and boost sustainable living. There is an <br />abundance of undeveloped land much closer to the city center that would provide a better <br />quality of life for residents in terms of access to transportation options other than cars. <br /> <br />Scale. The proposed development would be 39 lots with up to a fourplex each, so 156 <br />residences with an average of 2 people each so 312 people on 15 acres in an oak <br />meadow/wetlands surrounded by single family homes. The huge size and density of the <br />development relative to the surrounding legacy homes while providing wonderful diversity <br />creates a terrible imbalance. The proposed development will quickly become an island of its <br />own issues related to parking, noise, drainage, emergency services, etc that will put it at odds <br />with existing neighbors. A better solution to integrating middle housing would be to scatter <br />them 3-4 at a time on existing single undeveloped lots over a much larger area. <br /> <br />Park Land. The Videra Oak meadow has a best and highest purpose to remain native given its <br />rare old oak trees and wetlands adjacent to the existing Videra Park. The area has likely <br />remained undeveloped to date owing to its relatively low position relative to surrounding <br />terrain. Developers tend to put homes on the higher spots for views, drainage, etc. What <br />message does it send to cram 300 residents into a lowland are surrounded by single family