City of Eugene <br />Modification, Willamette Greenway Permit <br />July 22, 2026 <br />Page 5 of 6 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Each original condition required that a note be added to the Final Site Plan to ensure implementation at <br />the time of building permitting. Those notes were added to the Final Site Plan. Each of the four elements <br />addressed in the conditions – landscaping, bicycle parking, accessible parking, pedestrian circulation – <br />were constructed on the site and proposed to remain. The existing ECCO building is operational and <br />student programs have occupied the building for several academic years. The proposed athletic court <br />does not alter the design, location, or quantity of the conditioned site elements. This criterion is met. <br /> <br />(2) The modification will result in insignificant changes in the physical appearance of the <br />development, the use of the site, and impact on the surrounding properties. <br /> <br />Findings: The proposed Modification results in insignificant changes in the physical appearance of the <br />existing development, use of the site, and impact on the surrounding properties. The existing site <br />improvements approved through City File No. WG 19-2 are more than 365 feet south of the top of bank. <br />The proposed athletic court is located south of the existing ECCO building and is screened from the <br />greenway path system to the north by the existing landscape buffer that was planted consistent with the <br />previously approved plans. <br /> <br />Per EC 9.8800, the Willamette River Greenway Permit is intended to implement Statewide Planning Goal <br />15, which is “designed to protect, conserve, enhance, and maintain the natural, scenic, historical, <br />agricultural, economic, and recreational qualities of lands along the Willamette River.” <br /> <br />The distance between top of bank and the Project Site area preserves a wide swath across the parcel for <br />the scenic and recreational qualities of the river. As noted above, the previous approval included a <br />landscape screen along the north side of the existing ECCO building that was intended to buffer the <br />greenway from the development, thereby enhancing the natural and scenic qualities of the greenway. <br />The existing landscaping is maintained and not altered by the current proposal. The proposed athletic <br />court and fencing are located south of this existing landscape screen and the northern-most wall of the <br />existing ECCO building. This intentional siting results in insignificant changes to the physical appearance <br />of the existing site improvements, as the improvements are screened from view of passersby on the <br />greenway trail approximately 300-feet to the north. <br /> <br />The proposed Modification does not change the existing use of the site. The public school district offices <br />and other educational facilities are permitted uses in the PL zone. The proposed athletic court serves the <br />existing educational use and students in the existing ECCO building. <br /> <br />Lastly, as described above, the proposed Project does not include any changes to the existing landscape <br />screening, which minimizes the impact on the surrounding public recreational properties , the greenway <br />path system, and the Owens Rose Garden. The proposed outdoor recreational amenity is one commonly <br />associated with both educational campuses and public parks. The project site abuts the City’s greenway <br />system that includes playgrounds, soccer fields, and other active recreational offerings. The proposed <br />athletic court is an insignificant change that is compatible with the adjacent recreational properties. <br /> <br />This criterion is met.