City of Eugene <br />Concurrent Conditional Use Permit & Adjustment Review Applications <br />January 27, 2026 <br />Page 38 of 43 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Findings: The proposed project provides the minimum distance and other means of screening to <br />separate the parking area and ambulance drop-off lane from adjacent uses. The required minimum 7- <br />foot-wide planting bed abutting the driveway is provided, and with the exception of the adjusted canopy <br />tree, the other required L-2 landscape materials are proposed. Additionally, to soften the impact of the <br />use while also offering a degree of privacy for emergency medical personnel and patients, a proposed <br />trellis is affixed to the covered staff entryway located north of the adjusted planting bed. The trellis is <br />intended to create a “green wall”-type element that better fits within the narrow area and does not conflict <br />with ambulance operations. This alternative landscape treatment meets the adjustment criterion. <br /> <br />2. In those instances where visibility between areas is more important than a <br />total visual screen, the alternative landscape treatment is appropriate for the <br />site. <br /> <br />Findings: As noted above, the alternative landscape treatment is appropriate for the site because it does <br />not conflict with the ambulances and other emergency response vehicles. As noted above, the canopy <br />tree required in the landscape bed adjacent to the north side of the Grant Street driveway presents <br />operational concerns about the tree trunk and crown limiting visibility and impeding the path of arriving <br />vehicles. The proposed alternative – a trellis and “green wall”-type landscape element – is more <br />appropriate for the urban setting and relatively narrow planting area that separates the ambulance drop- <br />off lane from the abutting public right-of-way. It should also be recognized that the adjusted canopy tree <br />did not provide a “total visual screen.” Instead, when the plants affixed to the trellis reach maturity, the <br />“green wall” is intended to provide a greater visual screen in an area that serves the attendant medical <br />personnel and ambulatory staff and patients. Again, for operational benefits, removing the canopy tree <br />from the L-2 landscaped area reduces potential vehicular impediments and improves visibility for arriving <br />emergency response vehicles. The proposed alternative treatment provides a visual screen in a location <br />that is more appropriate for the ED operations, and removing the canopy tree enhances visibility where <br />needed to benefit vehicular operations. This adjustment criterion is met. <br /> <br />Based on the findings provided here and as depicted on the attached Site Plan, the adjustment is <br />consistent with the approval criteria. <br /> <br />As allowed under EC 9.6440 and EC 9.8030(10), the Applicant requests an adjustment to the parking <br />area landscape standards at EC 9.6420(3)(c)(1)(a) to provide less than the minimum required 7-foot- <br />wide parking area landscaping along West 6th Avenue and West 7th Avenue. <br /> <br />EC 9.6420 Parking Area Standards <br />(3) Landscape Standards <br />(c) Parking Area Landscaping Along Street and Driveway Entrances. <br />1. Parking areas within 50' of a street, except an alley, shall provide a <br />landscape strip between the street and the parking areas as follows: