Agenda Packet 08.02.2022 - Laserfiche WebLink

AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY August 2, 2022 To: Eugene Planning Commission From: Gabe Flock, Principal Planner & Project Manager Jeff Gepper, Senior Planner Subject: Work Session on Willamette River Greenway Code Amendments (City File: CA 22-1) ACTION REQUESTED At this work session, Planning Commission will continue the process of considering proposed land use code amendments that would create a new set of clear and objective standards for the review of proposed housing within the Willamette River Greenway. Staff will present additional materials in response to topics raised at the last work session in June, including possible setback alternatives and potential options for tree preservation standards. In addition, staff will also review several remaining key topic areas to get direction for revising the draft code in preparation for the second public hearing this fall. BACKGROUND The primary purpose of the Willamette River Greenway Code Amendments project is to update Eugene's Willamette Greenway Permit approval process to provide a set of clear and objective approval criteria for the review of housing development within the Willamette River Greenway. Several key components of the new clear and objective approval criteria are proposed to ensure that housing development within the Greenway will continue to be reviewed for consistency with the requirements of Statewide Planning Goal 15, and will comply with the "clear and objective" requirements of ORS 197.307 for housing. These key components, which were included in the draft code and were discussed at the initial public hearing, are summarized below: • Proposed Greenway Setback generally 100 feet from top-of-bank along the river, subject to exceptions for existing adopted Greenway setbacks in certain areas. (See Project Update Section below) • Limit on Maximum Length of Building Facades of 80 feet, when the fagade is located within 40 feet of the Greenway setback line. • Native Landscaping Buffering to require a 10-foot wide native landscape buffer along the development side of the setback line, with a combination of low screen shrubs and canopy trees required every 30 feet. (See Project Update Section below) • Limitations on Walls and Fencing within and near the proposed setback to help protect views to and from the river. • Limitations on Parking and Vehicle Use Areas between new buildings and the Greenway setback line. (See Project Update Section below) • Pedestrian Access Standards including required on-site pedestrian paths and public access connections toward the river.