2 <br />2944 Miles Way <br />I have been heavily involved with the City on the original adoption of the City’s stormwater standards <br />many years ago and have always been at the table through all updates. This proposed change in the City’s <br />practices and policies is beyond disappointing. Until now, the City’s position and practices has been to <br />honor the planning documents that approved development based on the stormwater standards in effect at <br />the time of the planning approval. Through this proposed Stormwater Ordinance process it seems clear <br />that the City no longer takes this view, and that all my currently adopted approvals may no longer be relied <br />upon when I seek to fully develop these projects. <br />I have always told people I enjoy building, and that I GET to build here in Eugene. I have always thought <br />that we had an amazing team and that the City of Eugene is a great part of that team. There is a trust that <br />we have built over 40 years of building in this community that now seems to have broken. Even when I <br />have land use approvals from the City and even when we have many previous project approvals that match <br />we can’t trust what outcome we will be met with. That is not a climate that we want to continue building <br />and investing in. <br />At the Planning Commission hearing I provided an example of how the City staff’s position to not honor <br />existing planning approvals will affect building in this community. The example that I provided was Lot <br />76/77 of Crescent Village PUD. My concerns seemed to be brushed aside. It is disappointing that the City <br />has characterized all the public testimony as “hypothetical”. I find that providing you an actual example of <br />how one of our projects would be affected by this proposed ordinance far from hypothetical. Our project <br />is on its way to engineering. Our project has all of the stormwater pipes installed and inspected by the City. <br />And now, if the City Council adopts the Planning Commission’s recommendation we would need to find a <br />way to install stormwater treat ment facilities into this project. I have spent the last 5 years on various fronts <br />discussing the barriers to affordable housing. We have talked endlessly with City staff about what hurdles <br />we face to building affordable housing within our City. The City is making the choice to change its policies <br />and practices and disregard the our approvals. This abrupt change adds yet another barrier to housing and <br />is directly in opposition to the goal of providing more housing to alleviate our housing crisis. <br />On history and principle alone, I cannot sit idly by and not communicate my disappointment and <br />disapproval of the proposed Stormwater Ordinance amendment as recommended to the City Council. Nor <br />can I accept the City staff position that it may disregard legal existing planning approvals merely because <br />the Stormwater standards may change. Our approvals are binding agreements and the City is choosing to <br />change their legal opinions and not uphold their own approvals. <br />Kindly <br />Dane Butler <br />Butler Homes <br />541-913-3288 <br />CA 24-3 Testimony Batch 3