City of Eugene – Zone Change <br />April 23, 2026 <br />Page 3 of 8 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />IV. Approval Criteria – Zone Change Supporting Facts and Findings <br /> <br />This section is organized by the applicable approval criteria per EC 9.8865. Applicable approval criteria <br />are outlined in bold italics below, followed by proposed findings in normal text. <br /> <br />EC 9.8865 Zone Change Approval Criteria. <br />Approval of a Zone Change application, including the designation of an overlay zone, shall <br />not be approved unless it meets all of the following criteria: <br />(1) The proposed change is consistent with applicable provisions of the Metro Plan. The <br />written text of the Metro Plan shall take precedence over the Metro Plan diagram where <br />apparent conflicts or inconsistencies exist. <br /> <br />Finding: The Metro Plan is the guiding policy document for the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area. <br />Under state law all implementing ordinances and regulations, including the Eugene Zoning Code, must <br />be consistent with the Metro Plan. The City of Eugene has also adopted a local comprehensive plan, the <br />Envision Eugene Comprehensive Plan, which has replaced certain elements of the Metro Plan. <br /> <br />The adopted Metro Plan Diagram designates the site Commercial. According to the Metro Plan <br />description, the Community Commercial designation allows a wide range of uses and can be integrated <br />with higher density residential development. The C-1 Neighborhood Commercial zone is commonly <br />referred to as a “floating” zone that can be applied to parcels outside of a Commercial designation when <br />consistent with specific location criteria. The Metro Plan does not include a Neighborhood Commercial <br />designation. The Commercial designation is implemented by more intense zones, such as C-2 <br />Community Commercial or C-3 Major Commercial. As a less intense zoning district, the C-1 zone is <br />consistent with the Commercial designation and can be applied within this designation. <br /> <br />There are no Metro Plan policies that can be interpreted to prohibit or preclude the proposed Zone <br />Change. In fact, the proposed Zone Change is supported by Metro Plan policies, as summarized below. <br /> <br />A.22 Expand opportunities for a mix of uses in newly developing areas and existing neighborhoods <br />through local zoning and development regulations. <br /> <br />The proposed C-1 zone advances this policy by allowing a mix of uses in an existing neighborhood that is <br />currently predominantly developed with residential uses and designated Low- or Medium-Density <br />Residential. The proposed Zone Change is consistent with the Metro Plan policies and complies with the <br />criterion. <br /> <br />As noted above, select elements of the Metro Plan have been replaced by the adoption of the Envision <br />Eugene Comprehensive Plan. The C-1 zone is a commercial zoning district that can be linked to the <br />Economic Element of the Envision Eugene Comprehensive Plan. The Applicant has reviewed this new, <br />adopted and acknowledged Comprehensive Plan, and finds that the goals and policies are not applicable <br />here. As stated within the “How to Use the Comprehensive Plan” section, “[a] policy should not be <br />applied as a criterion for approving or denying an individual land use development application unless