HomeMy WebLinkAbout23_10_24_1559 River Road-Santa Clara Draft Code Amendment FindingsFrom:DOMINGO Elena M
To:ISAACSON Dan (SMTP); FRAGALA Lisa (SMTP); RAMEY Chris (SMTP); BEESON Ken (SMTP); EDWARDS Tiffany
(SMTP); BEHLING Diane (SMTP); LEAR Jason (SMTP)
Cc:HARDING Terri L; HANSEN Alissa H
Subject:River Road-Santa Clara Draft Code Amendment Findings
Date:Tuesday, October 24, 2023 3:59:00 PM
Attachments:10.24.23 DRAFT RRSC Code Amendment Findings.pdf
Hello commissioners,
Attached you will find our first draft of the RRSC Code Amendment findings. We recognize that they
don’t yet address all of the issues raised in the testimony received to date - for some of the issues,
staff will be preparing some different options for Planning Commission to consider. We wanted to
get out this first draft before the Planning Commission record closed next week.
Thank you,
Elena
Elena Domingo | Associate Planner (she/her)
City of Eugene | Community Planning and Design
99 West 10th Avenue
Eugene OR 97401
541-682-5002
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Findings in Support of the
River Road-Santa Clara Neighborhood-Specific
Code Amendments
City of Eugene
(City Files: CA 23-3)
Overview
The City of Eugene and Lane County, in collaboration with the River Road and Santa Clara
Community Organizations and neighborhood volunteers have been working together on an updated
neighborhood plan that creates a vision for growth and development in a manner that respects the
area’s unique characteristics and opportunities.
The adoption package for the River Road-Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan (Neighborhood Plan)
includes an ordinance adopting the new Neighborhood Plan, repealing the 1987 River Road-Santa Clara
Urban Facilities Plan, and amending certain sections of the Eugene Springfield Metropolitan Area
General Plan (Metro Plan), and a separate ordinance adopting a set of changes to the Eugene Code that
apply only within the Eugene city limits and the boundary of the Neighborhood Plan. These findings
only address and support the ordinance amending the Eugene Code. The Eugene City Council and the
Lane County Board of Commissioners will adopt a separate ordinance and set of findings in order to
approve the Neighborhood Plan, repeal the 1987 River Road-Santa Clara Urban Facilities Plan, and
amend the Metro Plan.
As a part of River Road-Santa Clara neighborhood planning, a set of changes to the City of Eugene’s Land
Use Code are proposed. The purpose of the Code Amendments is to:
• Implement important land use policies and actions from the River Road-Santa Clara Neighborhood
Plan and Action Plan.
• Promote walkable neighborhoods through pedestrian-friendly building design standards.
• Support a shift to less auto-oriented land uses in alignment with city-wide climate and
transportation goals.
Land Use Code Amendments
The proposal involves a Type V Code Amendment pursuant to EC 9.8060 to establish the following River
Road and Santa Clara neighborhood-specific code amendments (Code Amendments) that apply to
properties located within the city limits and within the boundaries of the River Road-Santa
Neighborhood Plan:
• In the C-2 Community Commercial Zone, the Code Amendments apply the following design
standards:
o Limit building height to 60 feet (current limit is 120 feet).
o Apply transition standards (setbacks, landscaping, and/or fencing) to new buildings and
building additions that increase the square footage of floor area by 20% or more for any
development on property abutting Low Density Residential (R-1) zoned land.
o Require buildings fronting River Road to provide a main entrance facing that street or
facing the corner where River Road and another street intersect.
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o Increase the minimum percentage of the street facing building façade that must be
within the maximum front yard setback from 25% to 80%.
o Require minimum percentage of windows along the ground floor of street facing
facades and prohibit blank walls of more than 20 linear feet of any façade.
o Require weather protection features over all building entrances.
• In the C-2 Community Commercial Zone, the Code Amendments prohibit the establishment of
the following uses:
o Motor Vehicle Sales/Rental/Service, excluding recreational vehicles and heavy trucks
o Motorcycle Sales/Rental/Service
o Recreational Vehicles and Heavy Truck, Sales/Rental/Service
o Agricultural Machinery Rental/Sales/Service
o Boat and Watercraft Sales/Service
o Equipment, Heavy, Rental/Sales/Service – includes truck and tractor sales
o Storage Facility, Household/Consumer Goods, enclosed
• In the R-1 Low Density Residential Zone, the Code Amendments allow the “Display and Sale of
Agricultural Products Grown Offsite” as a permitted use and include limits to size of display,
hours of operation, and signage in keeping with “small scale.”
• The Code Amendments amend Table 9.8010 and Map 9.8010 to remove references to the 1987
River Road- Santa Clara Urban Facilities Plan and add references to the new River Road- Santa
Clara Neighborhood Plan.
• The Code Amendments delete Eugene Code section 9.9610 River Road-Santa Clara Urban
Facilities Plan Policies. The River Road-Santa Clara Urban Facilities Plan is being repealed as part
of the associated Metro Plan Amendments (see City file MA 23-5).
Code Amendment Criteria
EC 9.8065 – Code Amendment Approval Criteria.
If the city council elects to act, it may, by ordinance, adopt an amendment to this land use code that:
(1) Is consistent with applicable statewide planning goals as adopted by the Land Conservation and
Development Commission.
(2) Is consistent with applicable provisions of the comprehensive plan and applicable adopted
refinement plans.
(3) In the case of establishment of a special area zone, is consistent with EC 9.3020 Criteria for
Establishment of an S Special Area Zone.
1) Is consistent with applicable statewide planning goals as adopted by the Land Conservation
and Development Commission.
Statewide Planning Goal 1 – Citizen Involvement. To develop a citizen involvement program that
insures the opportunity for citizens to be involved in all phases of the planning process.
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The City’s acknowledged procedures for adoption of legislative land use decisions, located in sections
9.7050 and 9.7500 through 9.7560 of the Eugene Code, 1971, ensure the opportunity for community
members to be involved in all phases of the legislative land use decision process and set out the
requirements for such involvement. The River Road-Santa Clara neighborhood-specific code
amendments do not amend or change the City’s adopted citizen involvement program. The process for
adoption of the Code Amendments complies with Goal 1 because it is consistent with the City’s
acknowledged procedures for legislative land use decisions, as detailed below.
In addition to compliance with the City’s acknowledged legislative land use decision procedures, the City
also solicited public involvement prior to the date pre-adoption notice was provided to the Department
of Land Conservation and Development.
In March 2023, the Neighborhood Plan’s Community Advisory Committee approved bringing the
neighborhood-specific code amendments out for community feedback, kicking-off the broader
engagement process for the Adoption Phase. An initial draft of the neighborhood-specific code
amendments was published to the project website and the project’s Engage Eugene site, part of the City
of Eugene’s online engagement platform.
Project staff distributed information about the neighborhood planning process and the adoption process
through a variety of digital media, including the project website, Engage Eugene webpage, social media,
and e-newsletters from the City Planning Division, and both community organizations. Project staff also
developed summary documents that were made available online and at in-person events, as well as
graphics depicting the Code Amendments.
In early May 2023, project staff mailed a postcard to all owners and residents of the River Road and
Santa Clara neighborhoods, approximately 16,800 people. The postcard featured ways to engage during
the adoption phase, including virtual information sessions, an in-person community event, a meeting
toolkit, and an online feedback form. Project staff sent an additional mailing in mid-June to owners,
leaseholders, and occupants of commercial property, a total of 487 addresses with information about
the neighborhood-specific Code Amendments and an invitation to a virtual information session about
the Code Amendments. The recording of that information session was posted to the project’s Engage
Eugene page.
A public hearing on the proposed River Road-Santa Clara neighborhood-specific code amendments was
held by the Planning Commission on October 17, 2023. Consistent with land use code requirements, the
Planning Commission public hearing on the proposal was duly noticed to all neighborhood organizations
in Eugene as well as community groups and individuals who requested notice. Notices were provided at
the following times:
September 12, 2023: The City’s proposed River Road-Santa Clara neighborhood-
specific code amendments and notice of the Planning
Commission public hearing on the amendments were filed with
the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and
Development.
September 15, 2023: Notice of the Planning Commission public hearing on the
proposed amendments was mailed to the parties listed in
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section 9.7520(2) of the Eugene Code and to the individuals and
entities on the City’s interested parties list.
September 15, 2023 Notice of the Planning Commission public hearing, consistent
with ORS 227.186 was mailed to owners of C-2 Community
Commercial zoned property within the City limits to provide
notice that the City proposed a land use regulation that may
affect the permissible uses of their property.
September 22, 2023: Notice of the Planning Commission public hearing was
published in the Register Guard Newspaper.
October 17, 2023: The Eugene Planning Commission held a public hearing on the
proposed Code Amendments.
In addition, information concerning the Code Amendments, including the dates of the public hearings
and instructions on how to submit testimony, was posted on the City of Eugene website and project
updates were provided via email to the Planning Division e-newsletter that is sent to over 17,000
subscribers, as well as to the River Road-Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan Interested Parties List.
The public was able to provide spoken testimony at the October 17, 2023, virtual Planning Commission
public hearing and to submit written testimony to the Eugene Planning Commission, c/o Elena Domingo,
City of Eugene Planning Division, 99 West 10th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97401, or by email
to RRSCPlan@eugene-or.gov.
*Placeholder for information about the process before City Council*
These processes afforded ample opportunity for citizen involvement; therefore, the Code Amendments
are consistent with Statewide Planning Goal 1.
For more information about the extensive public involvement and outreach conducted as part of the
neighborhood planning process over the course of several years, see the document titled River Road-
Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan Engagement Summary (Findings Appendix 1) included in the record,
which summarizes the public engagement efforts used to educate the public and obtain feedback on the
River Road-Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan throughout each phase of the planning process.
Statewide Planning Goal 2 – Land Use Planning. To establish a land use planning process and policy
framework as a basis for all decision and actions related to use of land and to assure an adequate
factual base for such decisions and actions.
Eugene’s land use code specifies the formal adoption procedure and approval criteria that were used in
considering these amendments. The record shows that there is an adequate factual basis for the
amendments to the land use code. The Goal 2 coordination requirement is met when the City engages
in an exchange, or invites an exchange, between the City and any affected governmental unit and when
the City uses the information obtained in the exchange to balance the needs of their constituents.
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To comply with the Goal 2 coordination requirement, the City engaged in an exchange about the subject
of these amendments with affected local governmental units. Specifically, the City provided notice of
the proposed action and opportunity to comment to the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and
Development, Lane County, the City of Springfield, and special districts including the River Road Water
District, River Road Parks and Recreation District, Santa Clara Water District, Junction City Water Control
District, Santa Clara Rural Fire Protection District, Lane Fire Authority, and Lane Transit District. There
are no exceptions to Statewide Planning Goal 2 required for these amendments. Therefore, the
amendments are consistent with Statewide Planning Goal 2.
Statewide Planning Goal 3 – Agricultural Lands. To preserve agricultural lands.
These Code Amendments only affect properties located within the City of Eugene and therefore do not
affect any lands designated for agricultural use. To the extent that there are properties within the City
currently zoned for agricultural use, the Code Amendments do not force a discontinuance of agricultural
practices. The Code Amendments only apply in the R-1 and C-2 zones. Therefore, the Code Amendments
are consistent with Statewide Planning Goal 3.
Statewide Planning Goal 4 – Forest Lands. To conserve forest lands.
These Code Amendments only affect properties located within the City of Eugene and do not affect any
lands designated by the comprehensive plan for forest use. The Code Amendments are therefore
consistent with Statewide Planning Goal 4.
Statewide Planning Goal 5 - Open Spaces, Scenic and Historic Areas, and Natural Resources. To
conserve open space and protect natural and scenic resources.
OAR 660-023-0250(3) provides: Local governments are not required to apply Goal 5 in consideration of a
PAPA unless the PAPA affects a Goal 5 resource. For purposes of this section, a PAPA would affect a Goal
5 resource only if:
(a) The PAPA creates or amends a resource list or a portion of an acknowledged plan or land use
regulation adopted in order to protect a significant Goal 5 resource or to address specific
requirements of Goal 5;
(b) The PAPA allows new uses that could be conflicting uses with a particular significant Goal 5
resource site on an acknowledged resource list; or
(c) The PAPA amends an acknowledged UGB and factual information is submitted demonstrating
that a resource site, or the impact areas of such a site, is included in the amended UGB area.
These Code Amendments do not create or amend the City’s list of Goal 5 resources, do not amend a
code provision adopted in order to protect a significant Goal 5 resource or to address specific
requirements of Goal 5, do not allow new uses that could be conflicting uses with a significant Goal 5
resource site, and do not amend the acknowledged urban growth boundary. Therefore, the
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amendments are consistent with Statewide Planning Goal 5.
Statewide Planning Goal 6 - Air, Water and Land Resources Quality. To maintain and improve the
quality of the air, water and land resources of the state.
Goal 6 addresses waste and process discharges from development, and is aimed at protecting air, water
and land from impacts from those discharges. These Code Amendments do not affect the City’s ability
to provide for clean air, water or land resources. Therefore, the amendments are consistent with
Statewide Planning Goal 6.
Statewide Planning Goal 7 - Areas Subject to Natural Disasters and Hazards. To protect life and
property from natural disasters and hazards.
Goal 7 requires that local government planning programs include provisions to protect people and
property from natural hazards such as floods, landslides, wildfire and earthquakes and related hazards.
The City protects people and property from natural hazards through various land use and building code
requirements. The Code Amendments do not make changes to adopted policies or regulations that
protect people and property from natural hazards. Based on these findings, the Code Amendments are
consistent with Statewide Planning Goal 7.
Statewide Planning Goal 8 - Recreational Needs. To satisfy the recreational needs of the citizens of the
state and visitors, and where appropriate, to provide for the siting of necessary recreational facilities
including destination resorts.
Goal 8 ensures that recreational facilities are provided to Oregon citizens and is primarily concerned
with the provision of recreational facilities in non-urban areas of the state. The Code Amendments do
not affect the City’s provisions for, or citizen’s access to, recreation areas, facilities, or recreational
opportunities. Therefore, the amendments are consistent with Statewide Planning Goal 8.
Statewide Planning Goal 9 - Economic Development. To provide adequate opportunities throughout
the state for a variety of economic activities vital to the health, welfare, and prosperity of Oregon’s
citizens.
Goal 9 requires local governments to evaluate the supply and demand of commercial land relative to
community economic objectives. Goal 9 and Chapter 660, division 009 of the Oregon Administrative
Rules, which implements the requirements of Goal 9 require the City to provide, through an adopted
comprehensive plan, at least an adequate supply of sites of suitable sizes, types, locations, and service
levels for a variety of industrial and commercial uses within the UGB. This need was addressed when the
City adopted an expanded UGB in 2017. The Envision Eugene Employment Land Supply Study includes
an acknowledged inventory of land for economic growth and activity in Eugene’s UGB. That inventory is
expected to address the City’s needs for such land through 2032. The City’s policies pertaining to
employment are located in the Envision Eugene Comprehensive Plan.
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While the actions taken by these amendments do not impact the City’s supply or demand for
employment land, they do make changes to the C-2 Community Commercial zone applicable to
properties located within the city limits and within the Neighborhood Plan boundary. These changes
include limiting the building height, adding design and transition standards, and prohibiting specific
auto-oriented uses. These changes are consistent with the Neighborhood Plan policies as well as city-
wide climate and transportation goals of shifting to a more compact development pattern and less auto-
oriented land uses. These amendments do not impact the supply of industrial or commercial lands or
prevent adequate opportunities for a variety of economic activities. The proposed prohibited uses are a
narrow subset of economic uses, a variety of uses are still allowed. Therefore, the Code Amendments
are consistent with Statewide Planning Goal 9.
Statewide Planning Goal 10 – Housing. To provide for the housing needs of citizens of the state.
Goal 10 requires cities to provide an adequate supply of buildable land to accommodate their estimated
housing needs for a 20-year planning period. When the City approved an expansion of Eugene’s UGB in
2017, the City adopted, and received State acknowledgement of a 20-year inventory of buildable lands
for residential use. The Envision Eugene Residential Land Supply Study (2012-2032) was adopted by the
City of Eugene in 2017 as a refinement of the Envision Eugene Comprehensive Plan and complies with
the requirements of Goal 10 and Chapter 660, Division 008 of the Oregon Administrative Rules.
The Envision Eugene Residential Land Supply Study includes an inventory of buildable lands for
residential use. According to the Residential Land Supply Study, there is sufficient buildable residential
land within Eugene’s acknowledged urban growth boundary to meet the identified land need. These
Code Amendments do not impact the supply of residential buildable land within Eugene’s UGB. No land
is being re-designated from a residential use to a non-residential use, and the amendments do not
otherwise diminish the amount of land available for residential use.
Goal 10 also requires local governments to conduct a Housing Needs Analysis (HNA) in order to assess
whether their estimated housing needs for a 20-year planning period can be satisfied. The Envision
Eugene Residential Land Supply Study (2017) includes an HNA. These amendments do not impact the
supply of residential buildable lands or affect the estimated housing needs within Eugene’s UGB to
accommodate growth.
While the actions taken by these amendments do not impact the City’s supply or demand for residential
buildable land, the Code Amendments do make changes to the R-1 Low Density Residential zone and C-2
Community Commercial zone applicable to properties located within the city limits and within the
Neighborhood Plan boundary. The changes to the R-1 zone are minimal and do not impact housing
development, but would allow for the display and sale of agricultural products grown offsite in the R-1
zone within the Neighborhood Plan boundary. The changes to the C-2 zone include limiting building
height, adding design and transition standards, and prohibiting certain auto-oriented uses. Though the
limit on building height could impact residential development in the C-2 zone within the Neighborhood
Plan boundary, the Residential Land Supply Study and Buildable Lands Inventory made no assumption
for housing on commercial land within the Neighborhood Plan boundary (there were assumptions made
for housing on commercial land Downtown and the Franklin Boulevard area). Additionally, height alone
is not a determinate of density. There is no intention that these Code Amendments establish barriers to
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housing. The amendments provide consistency with policies in the Neighborhood Plan, implemented
through these Code Amendments.
These amendments do not impact the supply of residential land available for residential use and are
consistent with Statewide Planning Goal 10.
Statewide Planning Goal 11 – Public Facilities and Services. To plan and develop a timely, orderly and
efficient arrangement of public facilities and services to serve as a framework for urban and rural
development.
Goal 11 requires that urban development be supported by urban facilities and services. Goal 11 and ORS
197.712 require a public facilities plan for water, sewer and transportation services within Eugene’s
UGB. The Land Conservation and Development Commission has acknowledged the Eugene-Springfield
Metropolitan Area Public Facilities and Services Plan (PFSP) as the public facilities plan for wastewater
and stormwater facilities within Eugene’s UGB. The Eugene 2035 Transportation System Plan is the
transportation element of Eugene’s comprehensive land use plan, is applicable within Eugene’s UGB,
and was designed to support the Envision Eugene project, the community’s evolving plan for how
Eugene will grow for the next 20 years. Transportation planning is addressed under Goal 12, below.
The City of Eugene updated the PFSP during the adoption of Eugene Urban Growth Boundary in 2017 to
ensure that all lands within the UGB could be served.
These Code Amendments do not affect the planning or development of future public facilities or
services. The Code Amendments do not make changes to the provision of public facilities and services
within Eugene’s UGB or to the currently adopted Eugene/Springfield Public Facilities and Services Plan
(PFSP). Consistent with the PFSP, the City will continue to plan and develop public facilities to support
the land uses designated in the City’s acknowledged comprehensive plan, for lands located within
Eugene’s UGB. The amendments are consistent with Statewide Planning Goal 11.
Statewide Planning Goal 12 – Transportation. To provide and encourage a safe, convenient and
economic transportation system.
The Transportation Planning Rule (OAR 660-012-0060) contains the following requirement:
(1) If an amendment to a functional plan, an acknowledged comprehensive plan, or a land use
regulation (including a zoning map) would significantly affect an existing or planned
transportation facility, then the local government must put in place measures as provided in
section (2) of this rule, unless the amendment is allowed under section (3), (9) or (10) of this rule.
A plan or land use regulation amendment significantly affects a transportation facility if it would:
(a) Change the functional classification of an existing or planned transportation facility
(exclusive of correction of map errors in an adopted plan);
(b) Change standards implementing a functional classification system; or
(c) Result in any of the effects listed in paragraphs (A) through (C) of this subsection based
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on projected conditions measured at the end of the planning period identified in the
adopted TSP. As part of evaluating projected conditions, the amount of traffic projected
to be generated within the area of the amendment may be reduced if the amendment
includes an enforceable, ongoing requirement that would demonstrably limit traffic
generation, including, but not limited to, transportation demand management. This
reduction may diminish or completely eliminate the significant effect of the amendment.
(A) Types or levels of travel or access that are inconsistent with the functional
classification of an existing or planned transportation facility;
(B) Degrade the performance of an existing or planned transportation facility such
that it would not meet the performance standards identified in the TSP or
comprehensive plan; or
(C) Degrade the performance of an existing or planned transportation facility that is
otherwise projected to not meet the performance standards identified in the TSP
or comprehensive plan.
The Transportation Planning Rule requires that land use changes that would significantly affect a
transportation facility provide mitigation measures to address the anticipated impacts. The Code
Amendments will not significantly affect a planned or existing transportation facility, and no changes to
existing, adopted land use designations or zoning of properties are proposed. The amendments will not
change the functional classification of an existing or planned transportation facility, nor will they change
any standards implementing a functional classification system. Further, because the Code Amendments
do not increase the development potential for land within the Neighborhood Plan boundary, the
amendments will not result in levels of travel or access which are inconsistent with the functional
classification of an existing or planned transportation facility or degrade the performance standards of
an existing or planned transportation facility so that it will not meet the performance standards
identified in the Eugene 2035 Transportation System Plan, the City’s adopted transportation system
plan. Therefore, the Code Amendments are consistent with Statewide Planning Goal 12.
Statewide Planning Goal 13 – Energy Conservation. To conserve energy.
Goal 13 provides guidance on the management of land and land uses to maximize the conservation of
energy. The Code Amendments do not concern energy conservation and do not change any local energy
policy or implementing provisions. Therefore, the Code Amendments are consistent with Statewide
Planning Goal 13.
Statewide Planning Goal 14 – Urbanization. To provide for an orderly and efficient transition from
rural to urban land use, to accommodate urban population and urban employment inside urban
growth boundaries, to ensure efficient use of land, and to provide for livable communities.
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These Code Amendments apply only within the city limits and therefore do not affect the City’s
provisions regarding the transition of land from rural to urban uses. As such, the Code Amendments are
consistent with Statewide Planning Goal 14.
Statewide Planning Goal 15 – Willamette Greenway. To protect, conserve, enhance and maintain the
natural, scenic, historical, agricultural, economic and recreational qualities of lands along the
Willamette River as the Willamette River Greenway.
Goal 15 is designed to “protect, conserve, enhance, and maintain the natural scenic, historical,
agricultural, economic, and recreational qualities of lands along the Willamette River as the Willamette
River Greenway.” The River Road-Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan boundary includes lands within the
Willamette River Greenway. However, these Code Amendments do not contain any changes to the City’s
Willamette River Greenway regulations. Therefore, the amendments are consistent with Statewide
Planning Goal 15.
Goal 16 through 19 (Estuarine Resources, Coastal Shorelands, Beaches and Dunes. and Ocean
Resources):
There are no estuarine, coastal, beach and dune, or ocean resources related to the lands affected by
these Code Amendments. Therefore, Statewide Planning Goals 16, 17, 18, and 19 do not apply.
2) Is consistent with applicable provisions of the comprehensive plan and applicable adopted
refinement plans.
The Code Amendments are consistent with the applicable provisions of the comprehensive plan. In
Eugene, the comprehensive plan consists of the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan
(Metro Plan) and the Envision Eugene Comprehensive Plan.
Metro Plan Policies
The following policies from the Metro Plan (identified below in italics) are applicable to these Code
Amendments. To the extent that the following policies constitute mandatory approval criteria, based on
the findings provided below, the Code Amendments are consistent with and supported by the applicable
provisions of the Metro Plan.
Chapter II C. Growth Management Goals, Findings, and Policies
C. 1 The UGB and sequential development shall continue to be implemented as an essential means to
achieve compact urban growth. The provision of all urban services shall be concentrated inside the UGB.
The Code Amendments include a list of prohibited uses on C-2 zoned properties located within the city
limits and within the Neighborhood Plan Boundary. These prohibited uses are:
• Motor Vehicle Sales/Rental/Service, excluding recreational vehicles and heavy trucks
• Motorcycle Sales/Rental/Service
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• Recreational Vehicles and Heavy Truck, Sales/Rental/Service
• Agricultural Machinery Rental/Sales/Service
• Boat and Watercraft Sales/Service
• Equipment, Heavy, Rental/Sales/Service – includes truck and tractor sales
• Storage Facility, Household/Consumer goods, enclosed
Most of these uses are auto-oriented uses that inhibit compact development. Removing these uses is
consistent with the fundamental principle of compact urban growth addressed in the Metro Plan as well
as with policies in the Neighborhood Plan and the City’s climate goals.
Chapter III A. Metropolitan Residential Land Use and Housing Element
A. 22 Expand opportunities for a mix of uses in newly developing areas and existing neighborhoods
through local zoning and development regulations.
The Code Amendments allow for the display and sale of agricultural products grown offsite on R-1 zoned
properties located within the city limits and within the Neighborhood Plan Boundary. This expands
opportunities for an additional use within the existing neighborhood, consistent with this Metro Plan
policy.
A. 23 Reduce impacts of higher density residential and mixed-use development on surrounding uses by
considering site, landscape, and architectural design standards or guidelines in local zoning and
development regulations.
The Code Amendments include transition standards for C-2 development on properties located within
the city limits and within the Neighborhood Plan Boundary that abuts R-1 zoned land. These Code
Amendments are intended to provide development that is more compatible with the adjacent existing
neighborhood and reduce the impacts of higher density residential, mixed-use, and commercial
development on surrounding residential neighborhoods, consistent with this Metro Plan policy.
Chapter III E. Environmental Design Element
E.5 Carefully develop sites that provide visual diversity to the urban area and optimize their visual and
personal accessibility to residents.
These Code Amendments would require buildings fronting River Road to provide a main entrance
oriented to the street or the corner where River Road and another street intersect, would increase
building façade facing the street, require a minimum percentage of ground floor windows facing the
street, and require weather protection features over building entrances. All of these requirements help
promote walkable neighborhoods through pedestrian-friendly building design standards and would help
optimize the visual personal accessibility of new development in C-2 to neighborhood residents,
consistent with this Metro Plan policy.
E.6 Local jurisdictions shall carefully evaluate their development regulations to ensure that they address
environmental design considerations, such as, but not limited to, safety, crime prevention, aesthetics,
and compatibility with existing and anticipated adjacent uses (particularly considering high and medium
density development locating adjacent to low density residential).
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These Code Amendments would add additional design standards for development on C-2 zoned
properties located within the city limits and the Neighborhood Plan Boundary, including transition
standards for properties abutting R-1 zoned land. These transition standards consider the compatibility
between higher density development adjacent to low density residential, consistent with this Metro
Plan policy. The additional design standards referenced under E.5 are also consistent with this Metro
Plan policy, as they contribute to environmental design, such as safety and aesthetics.
Envision Eugene Comprehensive Plan Policies
The currently adopted chapters of the Envision Eugene Comprehensive Plan include Economic
Development, Transportation, Administration & Implementation, and Eugene Urban Growth Boundary.
Economic Development
3.6 Responsible economic development. Support economic development initiatives that reflect long-
term priorities, improve community resilience to climate change and natural hazards, improve energy
efficiency or reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance opportunities to borrow, rent, or otherwise
make better use of underutilized public and private assets.
The Code Amendments, particularly the list of prohibited uses on C-2 zoned properties located within
the city limits and within the Neighborhood Plan Boundary, reflect long-term priorities for both the River
Road and Santa Clara Neighborhood Organizations as well as the City. The prohibited uses are mostly
auto-oriented uses and removing them well help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and work towards
the City’s transportation and climate goals, consistent with this comprehensive plan policy.
3.7 Home-based and microenterprises. Promote the development of small, locally-owned businesses
that have minimal adverse impacts on their surrounding neighborhoods.
The Code Amendments allow for the display and sale of agricultural products grown offsite as a
permitted use on R-1 zoned land located within the city limits and within the Neighborhood Plan
Boundary. This is an opportunity that could lead to the development of more locally-owned businesses,
or minimally, economic activity that has minimal adverse impacts on the surrounding neighborhoods,
consistent with this comprehensive plan policy.
3.15 Adequate Land Supply. Designate an adequate number of sites within the urban growth boundary
to accommodate growing local businesses and new targeted industries, especially a diversified
manufacturing base that includes advanced manufacturing, food and beverages, wood products
manufacturing, regional distribution, trade, and services such as offices, software developers,
educational technology, corporate headquarters, and other employment uses.
As part of expanding the City’s UGB (adopted in 2017), the Envision Eugene Employment Land Supply
Study includes an acknowledged inventory of land for economic growth and activity in Eugene’s UGB.
That inventory is expected to address the City’s needs for such land through 2032. While these Code
Amendments do not impact the City’s supply or demand for employment land, the amendments do
make changes to the C-2 commercial zone for properties located within the city limits and within the
Neighborhood Plan boundary. These changes include limiting the building height, adding design and
transition standards, and creating additional prohibited uses. These changes are consistent with the
Neighborhood Plan policies as well as city-wide climate and transportation goals of shifting to less auto-
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oriented land uses. These amendments do not impact the supply of industrial or commercial lands or
prevent adequate opportunities for a variety of economic activities and are therefore consistent with
this comprehensive plan policy.
Transportation
System-Wide Policy 1. Foster neighborhoods where Eugene residents could meet most of their basic
daily needs without an automobile by providing streets, sidewalks, bikeways, and access to transit in an
inviting environment where all travelers feel safe and secure.
Transit Policy 2. Prioritize improved transit service in Key Corridors and other areas with sufficient
employment, activities, or residential density that best support transit service and transit services that
connect residents to employment centers. If operational funding is sufficient, extend transit to support
higher density housing and employment development planned for other areas.
The Code Amendments promote compact development and walkable neighborhoods through
pedestrian-friendly design standards, for example, requiring buildings fronting River Road to provide a
main entrance facing the street, to increase street facing building façade and windows along the ground
floor, and to provide weather protection features over building entrances. Additionally, the Code
Amendments prohibit the establishment of certain new auto-oriented uses that inhibit compact
development. The Code Amendments are consistent with the transportation policies above to create
more walkable neighborhoods, compact development, and less dependence on automobiles.
Refinement Plan Policies
River Road-Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan
Although none of the policies in the Neighborhood Plan are mandatory approval criteria for individual
land use applications, the proposed Code Amendments implement and are consistent with policies in
the Neighborhood Plan.
Policy 11.2 Well Designed Built Environment: Update design standards through legislative updates to
local land use regulations so that they provide for gradual transitions between different uses and scales
and incorporate pedestrian scale design through building design, size, scale, and site layout
requirements.
Policy 14.1 Compatibility Transitions: Enhance compatibility through development standards such as
height and scale transitions, setbacks, buffering with trees, and window offsets between adjacent
properties that are zoned differently through legislative updates to local land use regulations.
The proposed Code Amendments implement these Neighborhood Plan policies by providing transition
standards between different uses/scales/zones and incorporating pedestrian scale design through
building design, size, scale, and site layout requirements as as follows:
• Design Standards:
o Transition Standards: Apply transition standards (setbacks, landscaping, and/or fencing)
to new buildings and building additions that increase the square footage of floor area by
20% or more for any development on property abutting Low Density Residential (R-1)
zoned land.
14
o Building Orientation: Require buildings fronting River Road to provide a main entrance
facing that street or to the corner where River Road and another street intersect.
o Building Façade: Increase the minimum percentage of the street facing building façade
that must be within the maximum front yard setback, from 25% to 80%.
o Building Walls/Window Coverage: Require minimum percentage of windows along the
ground floor of street facing facades and prohibit blank walls of more than 20 linear feet
of any façade.
o Weather Protection: Require weather protection features over all building entrances.
• Building Height: Limit building height to 60 feet (current limit is 120 feet).
River Road-Santa Clara Urban Facilities Plan
These findings do not address consistency with the River Road-Santa Clara Urban Facilities Plan because
that plan is being repealed at the same time that these code amendments are adopted.
3) In the case of establishment of a special area zone, is consistent with EC 9.3020 Criteria for
Establishment of an S Special Area Zone.
The Code Amendments do not establish a special area zone; therefore, this criterion does not apply.
Appendix 1
River Road-Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan
Engagement Summary
Launched in fall 2017, the River Road-Santa Clara
neighborhood planning process has been a collaborative
effort among community members, River Road
Community Organization (RCCO), Santa Clara Community
Organization (SCCO), City of Eugene, Lane County, and
other stakeholders throughout both neighborhoods. The process had six phases: Reaching Out,
Neighborhood Visioning, Neighborhood Priorities, Policy Development, Action Planning, and Adoption,
with opportunities for community and stakeholder feedback along the way. This engagement summary
includes the community engagement objectives and outcomes from each of the six planning phases.
In July 2017, the Eugene Planning Commission (acting as the Citizen Involvement Committee) approved
the RRSC Neighborhood Planning Public Involvement Plan. The Project Management Team committed to
a community engagement process that was:
•Meaningful: creates a vision crafted with beauty, fun, warmth, and welcome
•Accountable: responds to ideas, critique, comments, and praise
•Inclusive: communicates with all stakeholders, including the under-represented, outside of
structured meetings, in ways that people understand and can relate to
•Transparent: makes decisions public; shares information in a variety of formats and places
•Realistic: informs about constraints, opportunities, and objectives
•Outcome-oriented: creates a community-supported and council-adopted neighborhood plan!
The Public Involvement Plan and the associated Project Charter (July 2017) established several
foundational, community-led groups that would lead neighborhood planning, including:
•Community Advisory Committee (CAC): A group of 11 voting members, appointed by the
Eugene Planning Commission, that represent the varied voices of the two neighborhoods. The
CAC was responsible for considering the full breadth of public input, developing operating rules,
working with City and County staff to reach a mutually agreed upon community vision and plan
that works within the larger Envision Eugene community vision, and making a final community
recommendation.
•Project Management Team (PMT): A small core team of the CAC co-chairs and City and County
staff tasked with carrying out the project in accordance with the Project Charter.
•Technical Advisory Committee (TAC): Composed of City and partner agency staff to serve as
advisory body to the Project Management Team and the Community Advisory Committee. The
TAC represented their own project or departmental interests and communicated how the
neighborhood-specific issues fit within the broader City/County context.
•Topic Area Working Groups: Each group focused on one of the Plan’s priority areas and
included community members and staff.
•River Road and Santa Clara Community Organizations: Both community organizations
supported public outreach throughout the project. During key decision points in the project, the
organizations led efforts to host meetings and communicate with stakeholders. Both community
organizations made recommendations to the CAC to inform the final community
recommendation on the plan adoption package.
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Engagement Summary
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Phase 1: Reaching Out (2017)
In the summer of 2017, the community organizations, volunteers, and staff began the ‘Reaching Out’
phase to raise awareness about the project and opportunities for input.
The goal of the Reaching Out phase was to give as many community members as possible the
opportunity to provide input into the vision for their neighborhood. The results of this outreach
identified areas where community members were united, and it flagged some more complicated areas
for future neighborhood conversations.
Raising Awareness
Community volunteers and project staff began raising awareness about the project by meeting with
neighbors where they were. They promoted the project at fun activities like Sunday Streets and the
grand opening of the new River Road Elementary School and during routine errands at the grocery store.
Volunteers from the community organizations canvassed their neighborhoods with informational flyers,
sent updates in their newsletters, and used social media to share information. In total, there were more
than 20 events in advance of the fall kick-off event.
Kick-off Event
The fall 2017 community event at North Eugene High School was a huge success, with nearly 400 people
filling the Highlander gymnasium. Activities at the kick-off event included a mapping exercise to identify
what residents value about the area and a ‘my ideas’ activity that asked participants to share their
future hopes for the neighborhood. Community volunteers and project staff were thrilled with this
result but knew there were community members who were unable to attend evening meetings, so an
extra effort was made to meet with them at more convenient times and places with targeted outreach.
Targeted Outreach
To bring in fresh voices, the project stepped out of the meeting room and into the community,
conducting unique activities with interesting visuals that stimulated important conversations. The
project staff and community volunteers formed partnerships with local organizations like St. Vincent
DePaul, Food for Lane County, and our local schools. These organizations helped reach a broader cross
River Road-Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan
Engagement Summary
Page 3 of 11
section of residents. Small group meetings were held with high school students, affordable housing
residents, Spanish speakers, and rural residents in Santa Clara. In addition, a group of neighborhood
volunteers and City and County staff did door-to-door canvassing of local businesses to gather their
input on the neighborhood.
• Rural Santa Clara: SCCO includes rural residents who live beyond the urban growth boundary (UGB).
Members of this community are more unlikely to participate in broader neighborhood workshops
that are not tailored to their unique geographic location. The project staff and volunteers thought it
was important to target outreach efforts at these constituencies. A rural Santa Clara workshop in
December 2017 attracted over 20 participants.
• Business Canvassing: Regardless of whether
business owners and employees reside in the
neighborhood, they have a stake in the outcome of
the neighborhood planning process. However, they
are often tied to their workplace and may not be
able to attend conventional neighborhood
outreach events. Community volunteers and
project staff made a concerted effort to reach out
to businesses in the River Road and Santa Clara
neighborhoods. In November and December 2017,
neighborhood volunteers teamed with City and
County staff to conduct door-to-door outreach.
These pairs spoke with nearly 300 businesses along River Road and in other commercial areas
throughout the neighborhoods. They promoted the planning process, conducted interviews, and
encouraged business owners and employees to get involved.
• Inclusive Outreach: Building a foundation of trust and democracy starts with understanding who has
a stake in the outcome of the project and how and when they can participate. Public meetings are
often filled with elderly, white, middle-class people listening to public servants slogging through long
presentations. To involve youth, low-income residents, people with disabilities, and communities of
color, project staff and community volunteers forged relationships with community partners who
have earned the trust and respect of historically marginalized community groups through consistent
service. Working in collaboration with organizations such as Saint Vincent De Paul, Food for Lane
County, and the school districts, the project involved people who do not typically attend public
meetings.
This targeted outreach to rural Santa Clara residents, the business community, and historically
marginalized community groups helped diversify the voices involved in the neighborhood planning
process. The values, hopes, and concerns expressed by these stakeholders were balanced with those
expressed by other members of the public to create a comprehensive community vision.
City staff and community volunteers
canvassing neighborhood businesses
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Engagement Summary
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Phases 2-3: Visioning and Neighborhood Priorities (January – June 2018)
The Visioning and Neighborhood Priorities phases continued focus on raising awareness of the project
and asking community members what they valued in their neighborhoods and hopes for the future.
Starting in early 2018, the CAC and topic area Working Groups met monthly to compile and review the
feedback received during the Reaching Out phase, recognizing the priorities and values heard during this
process, as well as the many years of community engagement through previous planning work. Different
themes emerged and the Neighborhood Plan began to develop around five main topic areas: Economic
Development, Transportation, Parks and Natural Resources, Land Use, and Community. A vision for the
future of the River Road and Santa Clara communities started to appear.
Outreach Questionnaires
In summer 2018, the CAC and Working Groups developed outreach questionnaires for each of the plan
topic areas. These questions were used during community forums, an online survey, and several
targeted outreach events.
The June 2018 community forums (attended by over 300 people) provided a chance for neighbors to
come back together and review the community vision, developed by the CAC, working group members
and staff, based on community input received in the Reaching Out Phase. They discussed the
questionnaire in small groups and heard each other’s opinions. The events were held on two different
days of the week (Wednesday and Sunday) and at different times (evening and afternoon) to make it
more accessible to people with varying schedules. A light meal and activities for children were provided.
Recruitment to these forums included a hard copy invitation mailed to all property owners in River Road
and Santa Clara, email invitations to more than 1,000 people on the project’s interested parties list, yard
signs at high traffic areas (such as parks and major intersections), and posters in area businesses. In
addition, community volunteers attended neighborhood events and personally extended invitations.
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Engagement Summary
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The online survey, posted after the June
2018 forums, was disseminated through
the website, interested parties emails, area
organizations, and Facebook, resulting in
106 completed surveys.
The project staff and community
volunteers worked hard on inclusive
outreach to connect with people who were
not well represented at the community
forum: youth, communities of color, people
with disabilities, and low-income residents.
Events included a picnic for young families,
attendance at the North Eugene
Highlanders football team practice, a small
group discussion with people with
disabilities, and individual conversations
with people with limited incomes.
The project collaborated with organizations such as Cornerstone Housing, St. Vincent De Paul,
Headstart, Lane Independent Living Alliance, St. Mary’s Church, the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz,
North Eugene High School, and Huerto de la Familia. This targeted outreach resulted in an additional
142 completed surveys.
A CAC volunteer guides a neighbor through a survey at a
community event
Chatting with the North Eugene Highlanders football team
River Road-Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan
Engagement Summary
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Phase 4: Policy Development (July 2018 – May 2019)
After laying the groundwork through the phases of Reaching Out, Visioning, and Neighborhood
Priorities, the Policy Development phase started in late 2018 through spring 2019 and focused on the
drafting of policies related to the vision and neighborhood priorities developed from community input.
Throughout the policy development phase, Working Group meetings were held periodically and
interested community members were welcome to attend.
Policy Round-Up
Policy writing was led by the CAC and supported by staff on the TAC as well as Working Group members.
At the ‘Policy Round-Up’ in December 2018, participants sorted the draft policies into broad, cross-
cutting themes organized under 18 high-level goals. The goal of the activity was to review the draft
policies and identify missing ideas, such as places where certain themes across a topic area were not
well represented within the draft policies. More than 60 people participated.
Triple Bottom Line Sounding Board
In January 2019, the TAC did a closer review of the policies to ensure that the draft policies aligned with
existing City and County policies. In February 2019, the first Triple Bottom Line Sounding Board meeting
was held to provide a citywide perspective about the equity, environmental, and economic implications
of proposed action items in the Neighborhood Plan topic areas. Throughout the topic areas, there are
overarching themes such as equity and inclusion, connectivity, healthy people and climate, safety,
prosperity, and neighborhood identity.
River Road Corridor Study
February 2019 brought the first workshops for the River Road Corridor Study.1 Over the span of the
three-day open house the public had a chance to dive into the details and create actual designs for
neighborhood centers along River Road. The theme of the first open house was, “Getting Started:
1 The River Road Corridor Study was a partnership between Lane Transit District and the City of Eugene, supported
by a grant from the Federal Transit Administration. The completed study is available here: https://www.eugene-
or.gov/DocumentCenter/View/60545/River-Road-Corridor-Study-FTA-Grant
River Road-Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan
Engagement Summary
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Reflecting the Neighborhood Vision and Priorities,” the second “Developing Concepts: Exploring the
Ways the Vision Can Take Shape Along the Corridor,” and the third open house concluded with
“Establishing Criteria: Refining Ideas and Creating Evaluation Criteria.” These workshops were followed
by an email survey to participants asking about additional ideas, concerns, and areas of excitement. For
those that couldn’t attend, we developed an online survey to give people an opportunity to weigh in on
both high-level principles for the project and some of the early concepts.
As part of the initial workshops, the Corridor Study project staff hosted a Business Round Table, inviting
businesses and commercial properties along River Road to talk about design concepts along the corridor
and provide input.
Planning in Action Open House
In April 2019, another community event, the ‘Planning in Action Open House’ at North Eugene High
School provided community members an opportunity to review the draft policies as well as draft
actions. The Open House took place on both a Sunday afternoon and a Wednesday evening to
accommodate as many community members and businesses as possible. Food and activities for children
were provided at these meetings. More than 200 neighbors attended in total and there were great, in-
depth conversations at each of the tables. There were many new faces joining the neighborhood
planning process at these open houses. These conversations were a chance for neighbors to see how
their concerns and aspirations were represented in the draft policies and started the transition from
policy development into action planning.
On May 15, 2019, City Council officially approved the draft goals and policies as a platform for moving
into the Action Planning Phase.
Photos from the Corridor Study Workshop #1
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Engagement Summary
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Phase 5: Action Planning (May 2019 – March 2021)
In May 2019, the project transitioned into the Action Planning phase, which focused on drafting,
evaluating and prioritizing actions to implement the draft policies. Refining the action items was a
collaborative process among the CAC, Working Group members, and City, County, and partner agency
staff to incorporate community and technical feedback.
River Road Corridor Study
In June 2019, project staff held a second series of Corridor Study workshops. Participants learned about
corridor concepts and land use and zoning options. The design team and community members discussed
implementation strategies and land use policies that could guide the type and location of growth. As
they reviewed the work of the design team, community members were asked a series of questions to
determine whether the proposed development standards and land use types fit with the vision for the
River Road Corridor area and desired neighborhood character. Community members, staff, and
consultant team members brainstormed draft land use concepts, zoning options and design standards
to further vet with the community using an online survey throughout summer and fall 2019 focusing on
two draft land use concepts.
Project Fair, Pumpkin Pie and Planning, and Community Events
Also in June 2019, project staff highlighted the Neighborhood Plan at a City of Eugene Planning Division
Project Fair at the Downtown Library, connecting with community members and talking to them about
the neighborhood planning efforts. Staff and community volunteers attended several other events
throughout the summer of 2019 to talk with community members about the Neighborhood Plan and
collect input.
In November 2019, community volunteers and project staff hosted the ‘Pumpkin Pie and Planning’
event. Over 150 community members, the CAC and City and County staff discussed and shared thoughts
on draft action items. It was both a celebration with neighbors on all the work that had been done on
the Neighborhood Plan and an opportunity to continue providing input. Highlights of the presentation
and discussion included land use, zoning, better transportation, the development of parks and the
future of housing in Santa Clara and River Road. Given the large number of participants, discussions
were geared towards covering topics with highest priority and expressing support or concern for the
action items. Free pumpkin pie was available for those who attended, as well as harvest art activities,
River Road-Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan
Engagement Summary
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and a chance to win a basket of goodies. The Land Use topic area had the widest range of opinions, with
many participants wanting more information on future land use standards that could address
community concerns.
Online Survey
An online survey was open from August to November 2019, reaching nearly 500 respondents and
collecting input and concerns regarding draft actions. Results from in-person outreach events were
collated with the online survey results to refine policies and actions.
Triple Bottom Line Sounding Board
In February 2020, the planning team convened a second Trible Bottom Line Sounding Board meeting,
and their feedback was collected on the Action Plan highlights.
Neighborhood Conversations
From January to March of 2020 a series of small group discussions, Neighborhood Conversations, took
place in common neighborhood gathering spaces to discuss how the proposed Neighborhood Plan vision
would be implemented. At each of these small group meetings, participants reviewed the proposed land
use concepts and discussed: What land uses will be allowed? How is zoning proposed to change? How
quickly might changes start to happen? These conversations focused on the Land Use topic area of the
Neighborhood Plan and exploring the initial details of the River Road Corridor Study.
An invitation to the Neighborhood Conversations was mailed to 16,000+ addresses including all
residents and property owners in the neighborhood, emailed to the 1,500+ interested parties list, and
shared by the River Road and Santa Clara Community Organizations. Overwhelming interest from
residents and property owners in the neighborhood led to scheduling additional meetings – 13
conversations in total, attended by approximately 200 residents. Another 80+ people did not attend
but learned about the project and received answers from staff or community leaders about their
questions in response to the invitations.
Approximately half of the participants
were new to the project, and the other
half had some previous knowledge or had
participated in a Plan meeting. While most
participants were over 50, the project staff
and community volunteers did engage
younger residents and communities of
color through both the Conversations and
a meeting hosted jointly with El Camino
Del Rio Elementary School in River Road.
The meetings provided the opportunity for
groups of staff, volunteers, and
community members to discuss elements
of the land use changes, sharing support and reservations.
In mid-March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and slowed down the engagement process. However,
after receiving comprehensive feedback from previous engagement, the CAC continued to meet virtually
on Zoom each month and refine the draft actions. Project staff continued to send newsletters through
our interested parties email list and in March 2021 launched the River Road-Santa Clara Neighborhood
Plan Engage Eugene project website, part of the City of Eugene’s online engagement platform.
A Neighborhood Conversation at Camino Del Rio
River Road-Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan
Engagement Summary
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Phase 6: Adoption (March 2021 – xxx 2024)
On May 12, 2021, project staff received direction from the Eugene City Council and Lane County Board
of Commissioners to move into the Adoption Phase and prepare a plan adoption package for community
review. Between spring 2021 and spring 2023, staff and the CAC worked on refining the adoption
package and adapting the plan and implementation tools to evolving state requirements, including
legislation affecting middle housing and more climate-friendly housing development.
In March 2023, the CAC approved bringing the draft Neighborhood Plan, Action Plan, and neighborhood-
specific code amendments out for community feedback, kicking-off the broader engagement process for
the Adoption Phase. Updated drafts of the Neighborhood Plan and Action Plan and an initial draft of the
neighborhood-specific code amendments were published to the project website and the project’s
Engage Eugene site.
Public Information Campaign
Project staff distributed information about neighborhood planning and the adoption process through a
variety of digital media, including updates to the project website, Engage Eugene webpage, social media,
and e-newsletters from the City Planning Division, and both community organizations. Project staff also
developed summary documents that were available online and at in-person events, as well as graphics
depicting the proposed code amendments.
Postcard Mailing
In early May 2023, project staff mailed
a postcard to all owners and residents
of the River Road and Santa Clara
neighborhoods, approximately 16,800
people. The postcard featured ways to
engage during the adoption phase,
including virtual information sessions,
an in-person community event,
meeting toolkit, and online feedback
form. A postcard mailing for ways to engage during the Adoption Phase
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Engagement Summary
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Virtual Information Sessions
Project staff hosted two virtual information sessions to provide an opportunity for community members
to learn about neighborhood planning, the draft adoption package, and ways to engage. A total of 21
people attended the two sessions in May 2023, including CAC members.
Facilitated Discussions with Community Organizations
Project staff participated in the community organization meetings to provide an update on
neighborhood planning and support small group discussions. The RCCO meeting was in-person only,
while the SCCO meeting included an opportunity for virtual participation during the presentation
followed by in-person discussions. Approximately 65+ people participated in the two meetings.
In-Person Community Event
Project staff and the CAC hosted an evening, in-person community event at North Eugene High School
on May 25, 2023. A total of 47 residents participated. Community members were invited to learn about
the draft plan by visiting topic tables and reviewing maps and topic area summaries. Staff presented an
overview of neighborhood planning and then participants joined small group discussions based on topic
area. In addition to CAC members and City and County planning staff, other city departments including
Parks and Open Space, Transportation Planning, and the Office of Equity and Community Engagement
participated in discussions.
Meeting Toolkit
For community members who wanted to dive deeper into the plan, project staff provided a meeting
toolkit. This toolkit offered guidance on hosting a small or medium-size group discussion with neighbors,
family and friends, or existing groups. The same guidance was used by the community organizations for
their meetings.
Community Advisory Committee members at the May
Community Event
Community members learning about
the Draft Neighborhood Plan