HomeMy WebLinkAbout24_03_12_1500_Batch6 TestimonyRiver Road-Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan
City File: MA 23-5, CA 23-3
County File: 509-PA23 -05532
Testimony Batch 6
Batch Information Date Range
Batch Number Page Count Start End Submissions
6 27 3/4/2024
at 17:01
3/12/2024
at 15:00 18
From To Date Time Attachments
Louisa de Heer Testimony 3/12/2024 14:59
Julie Hulme Testimony 3/12/2024 14:20
Jeff Parker Testimony 3/12/2024 14:40
David Kayfes Testimony 3/11/2024 17:07
Janet Morrison Testimony 3/11/2024 16:13
Jim Neu Testimony 3/11/2024 15:46
Peggy Coffman Testimony 3/11/2024 15:03
Jolene Siemsen Testimony 3/11/2024 12:13
Charlotte Hennessy Testimony 3/11/2024 11:35
Joel Robe Testimony 3/11/2024 9:23
Joshua Kielas Testimony 3/11/2024 8:47
Nora Morgan Testimony 3/10/2024 22:58
Kathryn Perle Testimony 3/10/2024 22:18 1
Deborah Bernard Testimony 3/7/2024 9:11
Steve Norris Testimony 3/6/2024 9:24 1
Jolene Siemsen Testimony 3/5/2024 14:06
Kathryn Perle Testimony 3/5/2024 11:19 1
Beverly Barr Testimony 3/4/2024 19:18
Notes:
For reference, submissions are organized in reverse chronological order by the date they were included
in the record. If viewing the digital PDF file, please note that bookmarks are included for navigating
between each submission.
From:Louisa de Heer
To:Eugene RR-SC Plan
Subject:CAC member Testimony - River Road Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan
Date:Tuesday, March 12, 2024 2:59:32 PM
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[EXTERNAL ]
This testimony is provided in relation to the public hearing on 3.12.2024
I have dedicated many, many hundreds of hours of my time to volunteer for the River Road
Santa Clara neighborhood plan. Hundreds of hours gathering input from our neighbors,
walking door to door, standing in front of grocery stores and housing complexes, hosting
events in my home, and reviewing surveys. Hundreds of hours listening to the value that my
neighbors place on our unique neighborhood, walking the business corridor inviting them to
planning meetings in the fire station, the local Mexican restaurant, and the pub. I have met
with planners, councilors, and county commissioners for years as we baby stepped towards a
plan everyone could agree to that had lasting benefit for our community. In each of those
conversations, I promised my neighbors that the work we were doing was valuable and would
lead to clear revisions to the city and county code to better reflect our 21st century lives,
prepare for the future, and protect what we love most about our neighborhood's character.
I said that hundreds of times because I had trust in the City to follow through on their
commitments to us as volunteers that our collected wishes would be codified, that the plan we
worked so hard on would not be a feel-good wish list to sit on a shelf. We were told we could
make the plan whatever we wanted and the city and county would work with us to ensure it
was agreed to. The plan and the code amendments are the result of input from thousands of
people and countless hours of discussion, review, and revision.
After sticking with the city's promises through four city planners, a global pandemic, a failed
corridor study, and state laws erasing opportunity after opportunity, the few code changes that
we have left from the original still reflect the original wishes of our neighbors to hold our
viewsheds and access to the river dearly, to support our urban farmers, and to prevent
development of high rises along the river from negatively impacting our accessible, connected,
pedestrian experience and our ecosystem.
If council chooses to erase all of our work and leave only the 'action plan' which is neither
adopted nor code, it will violate a trust that the city staff have tried to build with volunteers. I
believe that will have an extremely negative impact on other neighborhoods' willingness to
engage with city projects like this; what has been the value of my time that I was so repeatedly
praised for donating since 2017? What is the value of the city's word to volunteers when in the
end it can be swept away and we are left with nothing?
We did our best, now please do yours.
Louisa de Heer
Eugene Sustainability Commissioner 2019-2023
RRSC Community Advisory Council 2017-2023.
1
From:Julie Hulme
To:Eugene RR-SC Plan
Subject:RR/SC Neighborhood Plan
Date:Tuesday, March 12, 2024 2:20:32 PM
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[EXTERNAL ]
March 12, 2024
Dear Mayor Vinis, City Manager, City Councilors, and County Commissioners,
I am writing to express my views on the proposed, revised RR/SC Neighborhood Plan. As
a 40-year resident of the River Road neighborhood, I have been actively involved as a
volunteer with our community organization, local committees & land use issues, and
community events as well as attending many, many meetings in the 6+ year process of the
Neighborhood Plan. To say that it has been an arduous process complicated with staffing
changes, the global pandemic, & state mandates would be a gross understatement. However,
we do know that neighborhoods can be enhanced or destroyed by planning decisions and that
planning decisions made into policy can incentivize or penalize change.
Our intent with the Neighborhood Plan was clearly articulated and shared via economic
development, transportation, parks & natural resources, land use, and community vision
statements. These values can be implemented into action via 2 vehicles: government-based
and resident-based. As a neighborhood, we can continue to encourage and support home-based
projects that increase resilience & offset climate change while building community. However,
we need help with government-based actions- specifically, we need you to approve the RR/SC
Neighborhood Plan while addressing the following:
1. Resolve the outstanding parking issues that are unique to our neighborhood.
2. Protect the commercial potential, which supports walkable neighborhoods, by requiring
multi-dwelling residential developments to have businesses on the ground floor with
residences on additional floors.
3. Reduce allowable maximum building height from 120 feet to 65 feet, while adding design
standards and prohibiting new auto-oriented uses.
As the River & Garden District, we hope to maintain the unique charm, livability, and vital
natural resources in our care while accommodating needed housing. These goals do not need
to be mutually exclusive. Help us to implement the vision that has driven years of hard work.
Thank you for your consideration,
Julie Hulme
455 1/2 River Rd.
Eugene, OR 97404
2
From:Jeff Parker
To:Eugene RR-SC Plan
Subject:River Road Santa Clara Plan
Date:Tuesday, March 12, 2024 1:40:08 PM
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[EXTERNAL ]
Good Afternoon, Mayor Vinis, City Council, City Manager, and County Commissioners;
My name is Jeff Parker. My family and I have been residents of North Eugene for over 20
years. During those years we have seen our neighborhood evolve in both positive and
negative ways relative to public investment and attention. We are so grateful for a brand-new
High School and the emergence of the Santa Clara Community Park – assets that support the
vision that my neighbors and I share for a livable, vibrant community.
I am writing to request that you act to adopt the neighborhood plan, the action plan, and the
code amendments in total recommended by the River Road/Santa Clara neighborhood plan
CAC. These recommendations were built from six years of good faith engagement with the
planning commission by a smart, willing, and engaged team of neighbors. They have
volunteered hundreds of hours to make our community a vibrant place that is human-scale
and pedestrian friendly. They have provided updates to their work and supported a robust
public engagement process. We ask that you honor this thoughtful public process with the
approval of the CAC recommendations. Your approval will help ensure that our community
can develop lots for future housing needs as opposed to more car lots and storage facilities.
My wife and I chose North Eugene as the place to raise our family and build a community. It is
a wonderful place to live. We need your help for it to retain these qualities into the future.
Thank you for your support and consideration.
Jeff Parker
3
From:Dave Kayfes
To:Eugene RR-SC Plan
Cc:PERLE Kate (SMTP)
Subject:In support of River Road Santa Clara neighborhood Plan
Date:Monday, March 11, 2024 5:07:20 PM
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[EXTERNAL ]
To: Eugene City Council
Lane County Commissioners
I strongly support the code recommendations of the River Road/Santa Clara neighborhood plan. My wife
and I moved after 39 years in the southeast hills of Eugene to a block north of Irvington in August, 2013. I
was struck by the building sprawl, the removal of green spaces close to us and stifling traffic on River Road.
I attended meetings of the neighborhood group in its infant stages and can vouch for the earnestness and
intentions of the citizens involved on both sides of the Beltline.
The plan was a great compromise for a changing and growing part of Eugene. Community building in a
time of demographic shifts, pandemic and pressures of special interest groups.
No. 1 was always: What do we want? I think the code, with its building height limit of 65 feet,
accommodates the goal of population density increase, but at the same time allows for development of a
healthy pedestrian-business friendly hub to our emerging community corridor.
There is the heart and grassroots hope of neighbors behind this, not special interests or money.
For the people of this 'hood, by the people of this ‘hood.
Thank you for reading.
Dave and Anneke Kayfes
1088 Tyson Ln,
Eugene, Or. 97404
4
From:Janet Morrison
To:*Eugene Mayor, City Council, and City Manager
Subject:River Road vision
Date:Monday, March 11, 2024 4:13:08 PM
[EXTERNAL ]
Dear City Council, Manager and Mayor,
Thank you for your hard work and leadership in our fair city.
My name is Janet Morrison and I live with my spouse in the River Road neighborhood. We
have lived in River Road residences since we moved here in 1987. We both love our part of
town and feel honored to have such easy access to bike paths and Rasor Park.
We support the Neighborhood Plan proposal and urge the City Council to approve the
recommended code changes.
For many reasons, it is appropriate to reduce maximum building heights from 120 feet to 65
feet for C-2 properties that are within the Willamette Greenway and adjacent to R-1
residences. I recommend adding code changes to C-2 properties that include ground level
commercial development with mixed use type property development.In addition, I support
restrictions on further auto related businesses. We need other types of services in River
Road, not more used car lots and auto repair facilities.
River Road is no longer the highway it was of yesteryear. These code changes will help to
support redevelopment that creates a thriving, more climate friendly community with
increased pedestrian friendly walkable environments and access to necessary services.
Sincerely,
Janet Morrison
203 Hawthorne Ave, Eugene, OR 97404
"It never hurts to see the good in someone they often act the better because of it."
Nelson Mandela
5
From:JJNeu
To:*Eugene Mayor, City Council, and City Manager; lcbcccom@co.lane.or.us
Cc:James Neu
Subject:River Rd./ Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan
Date:Monday, March 11, 2024 3:45:48 PM
[EXTERNAL ]
Mayor, City Councilors, and County Commissioners,
For more than twenty years, the residents of the River Rd. and Santa Clara Community neighborhoods have
volunteered their time and efforts to devise a livable plan that the City of Eugene could adopt for the future. For a
short period, I was one of many who attended meetings at North Eugene HS to offer my ideas of what I envisioned
for the Santa Clara and River Rd. community.
With direction from a dedicated city staff, these citizens have submitted their ideas and visions for a growing area of
the city that would provide for a pedestrian friendly corridor with access to public transit and bike paths , and
affordable housing while serving needs through an expanding commercial business district.
The final community supported plan reflects zoning and code amendments that align with a pedestrian friendly
Envision Eugene Plan with more dense housing campuses on public corridor routes. Ground floor commercial in
Zones C-2 where multi-story housing is being constructed is advantageous to existing and future residents.
I urge the Eugene City Council and the Lane County Commissioners to adopt the River Rd./ Santa Clara
Neighborhood Action Plan in its entirety with code amendments. Thank you for your consideration.
Jim Neu
3072 Webster St.
Ward 7
Sent from my iPad
6
From:Peggy Coffman
To:Eugene RR-SC Plan
Subject:Citizen Comment on RRSCPlan
Date:Monday, March 11, 2024 3:02:40 PM
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[EXTERNAL ]
March 11, 2024
Mayor Vinis, City Council, City Manager and County Commissioners:
As a 37 years-long resident of the River Road neighborhood and as a daily
bicycle commuter for 27 years to my downtown work before retirement and
as an early participant in meetings making suggestions for the neighborhood
plan, I stand in strong support for the neighborhood plan recommendations
and requests made by the Citizen Advisory Committee for River Road/Santa
Clara Neighborhoods. I want to live in a neighborhood that is pedestrian
friendly and one that accommodates commercial and residential mixed-use.
Although I am far from understanding the details of running City and
County government, I do trust the very hard working Citizen Advisory
Committee and, as they have done and do, I urge you to “adopt the
neighborhood plan, the action plan and the code amendments in total.”
Sincerely,
Peggy Coffman
1445 Elkay Drive
7
From:Jolene Siemsen
To:Eugene RR-SC Plan
Subject:River Road Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan
Date:Monday, March 11, 2024 12:13:36 PM
Attachments:90.png
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[EXTERNAL ]
Hello,
I am writing regarding upcoming decisions to be made on the River Road Santa
Clara Neighborhood Plan.
I have lived in River Road for almost 4 decades. Over the years I have served my
community in many capacities, on City led advisory committees, on the RRCO
board, and as a co-chair for the RRCO organization.
I urge you to approve recommendations made by the Planning Commission,
Eugene Planning staff and the Community Advisory Committee for code changes
which would reduce allowable building height in C-2 zoned parcels, and would
prevent new and expanded auto related businesses along the corridor.
For many reasons it is appropriate to reduce maximum building heights from 120
feet to 65 feet for C-2 properties, especially those that are within the Willamette
Greenway and adjacent to R-1 residences.
Further, I support restrictions on new and expanded auto related businesses. We
need other types of services in River Road, not more used car lots and auto repair
facilities.
In addition, I support adding additional code changes that would require ground
floor retail/ commercial development for C-2 properties, creating additional
housing and mixed use type development. This is a smart planning move,
supported by my neighbors, and one that should have been made years ago!
Please see the article attached referencing The Montgomery, coming soon to the
downtown area. This is the sort of mixed use housing development we would love
to see along River Road!
And finally, please consider and address the parking problems that are certain to
develop as higher density Middle Housing is built in our neighborhoods. Ecco
Apartments and subsequent parking issues illustrate just how much of a problem
this will likely be. A near future development called Howard Meadows will
almost certainly create the same sorts of parking issues, creating unsafe streets
and neighbor conflict.
River Road is no longer the highway it was of yesteryear. These code changes
8
will help to support redevelopment that increases housing density, allows for easy
nearby access to goods and services for residents, and creates a thriving
community, in line with Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities guidelines.
Let’s put some teeth in this document and not delay, yet again, any common sense
solutions to problems of growth and redevelopment.
Eugene downtown housing project gets tax
breaks and funding from city
klcc.org
Sincerely,
Jolene Siemsen
190 Hawthorne Ave
541-520-2737
Eugene, Oregon 97404
9
Jolene Siemsen
10
From:Charlotte Hennessy
To:Eugene RR-SC Plan
Subject:RR, SC Neighborhood Plan
Date:Monday, March 11, 2024 11:35:40 AM
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[EXTERNAL ]
Please consider this input for deciding the plan:
1) In C-2 zones restrict building ht. to 65 ft. (We don't want to live in tunnels)
2) In C-2 zoned, with multistory housing, include ground floor
commercial business.
3) Require careful transit planning. Consider local resident needs and make all
forms of transit easy to the desired destinations and available to all age groups and
abilities.
Generally, we want a vibrant area that encompasses housing, outdoor spaces with a
generous amount of trees, and easy access to local shopping.
Thank you,
Charlotte Hennessy
3344 Admiral St, Eugene
541-378-2308
charhenn02@gmail.com
11
From:Joel Robe
To:Eugene RR-SC Plan
Subject:Respect neighborhood plan goals
Date:Monday, March 11, 2024 9:23:16 AM
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[EXTERNAL ]
Please pass the River Rd/Santa Clara neighborhood plan including the code adjustments
specific to the plan. To do so will respect the time of the city staff and River Road and Santa
Clara residents who filled the North Eugene High School multiple times over the last 6 plus
years.
The plan for the future of the River Road and Santa Clara neighborhoods is the result of
thousands of resident hours of work. The goal is to create more attractive place for residents to
live, businesses to thrive, and tourists to visit. It will provide a vibrant corridor leading into the
city. With the code changes, developed with city staff assistance, the city will incentivize
development of combined business and residential buildings to replace the current
hodgepodge of strip malls. Without the code changes the goal of the plan will not be met, the
corridor will likely denigrate further into more unattractive strip malls, land use density will
not increase, and the thousand of hours of work to develop the neighborhood plan will not be
respected.
Thank you.
Joel and Carol Robe
Santa Clara residents
12
From:Joshua Kielas
To:Eugene RR-SC Plan
Subject:Neighborhood Plan Adoption Comment
Date:Monday, March 11, 2024 8:46:30 AM
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[EXTERNAL ]
Mayor Vinis, City Council, City Manager, and County Commissioners:
I am a previous RRCO board member, and I spent a few years deeply involved in the
neighborhood planning process. I was excited that the City seemed to be truly including
neighbors so we could come up with a plan that wouldn't just serve the biggest business
interests, and might allow River Road and Santa Clara to become neighborhoods that
really support people. Along with my neighbors I was truly excited about the
environmental and livability benefits of the 20 minute neighborhoods concept. I attended
the meetings, participated in focus groups, canvassed along the corridor, and did direct
outreach to the public as a volunteer.
Then there came a point when I left the process because I started to feel we were being
used to check boxes on some citizen participation list rather than being genuinely
engaged in good faith.
After reading the recent letter from the CAC, a group that has given incredibly
generously to this process so it can end up being something we all feel good about, I felt
the need to send this one last message in the hope that Councilors and Commissioners
will take a stand with the many hundreds of people who gave freely of their time and
effort to do something new and great here.
I've visited neighborhoods where the main commercial areas are lined with three or four
story buildings that have commercial spaces on the ground floor and people living and
working above, and they are some of the most enjoyable neighborhoods I have ever
experienced, with the density to support numerous small businesses, and businesses that
cater to that dense population. We need to enforce ground floor commercial in our
commercially zoned areas to help realize that vision. And almost nowhere but in big
cities and major downtown areas does anyone want to see 10 story buildings blocking out
the sky.
Please don't allow vocal special interests to make it seem like this process wasn't robust.
Please keep faith with the people who took you at your word and delivered on this task.
So much has already been compromised from the original vision. It makes me sick to
think it might be completely gutted before it gets put into force.
Sincerely,
Joshua Kielas
River Road Neighborhood Resident
13
From:nora morgan
To:Eugene RR-SC Plan
Subject:River Road/Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan
Date:Sunday, March 10, 2024 10:57:53 PM
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[EXTERNAL ]
Mayor Vinis, City Council, City Manager and County Commissioners:
Why would we commit hours, months, years of planning and listening to form a plan for our
community and submit it to you for approval and not have the code changes that support the
community vision?
Please do not disregard the desires of the residents of this community who have devoted so
much to this plan.
I would direct you to the letters from the Citizen Advisory Committee for the River
Road/Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan and the board of the Santa Clara Community
Organization.
Please do not act against the desires of the residents of these communities and give these plans
the power needed to make them a reality.
Sincerely,
Nora Morgan
River Road Community Resident
14
From:Kathryn Perle
To:Eugene RR-SC Plan
Subject:Testimony for hearing on 3/12
Date:Sunday, March 10, 2024 10:17:56 PM
Attachments:SCCO to electeds np.docx
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[EXTERNAL ]
Please submit attached testimony from SCCO for the hearing.
15
March 8, 2024
Mayor Vinis, City Council, County Commission:
We are the board of the Santa Clara Community Organization (SCCO). Many of you know we
have been actively engaging our neighbors on their hopes and vision for Santa Clara for the last
20 years. Starting in 2002 we have a litany of projects that have clearly articulated the
challenges we face and the opportunities we see without actually creating any of the needed
change.
RR/SC Urban Facilities Report 2002
Fiscal Analysis of Urban Facilities in RR/SC 2004
RR/SC Transition Report 2006
SC Blueprint Project 2008
SC/RR Outreach and Learning Project 2012
Joint Urban Services Team 2013
SC/RR Implementation Planning Team 2015
All these planning and information gathering efforts have been completed with countless
hours from our resident volunteers. When we began the River Road/Santa Clara
Neighborhood Plan process we knew, without doubt, that enforceable change was what we
were after. Code amendments, possible zone changes, legally binding language that began
to move the needle on the physical aspects of our environment to create the vision
expressed by our neighbors. We made certain it was a condition of our engaging in the
process. City of Eugene staff and Lane County staff agreed and we created a charter for the
project outlining the roles and responsibilities of each party, and the deliverables at the
culmination of the project.
The final portion of the neighborhood plan scope are zone changes and code
amendments that support the community vision. While some code amendments
and zone changes in the Action Plan will take place after plan adoption, other
zone changes and code amendments (i.e., new development standards) will be
adopted concurrently with the neighborhood plan, including (1) priority
amendments that could affect the broad geographic area of both communities that
will be identified by the CAC and project staff and vetted with the community and
decision-makers and (2) a more detailed approach along the River Road corridor,
as informed by the related Federal Transit Authority’s Transit Oriented Design
grant-funded project.
Without these assurances, we were unwilling to bring our resources to the table. To
attempt a project of this scope we needed collaboration and trust between residents and
jurisdictions, between volunteers and paid staff, and between our neighborhoods and the
residents working on the project. The volunteers’ biggest assets were their relationships
with their neighborhoods and that is where the seeds of trust got planted. A resident led
planning project that involved the neighbors every step of the way-the only way the
neighbors would participate to the level we witnessed.
16
Over the 6.5 years of this project, the resident volunteers delivered-
• monthly (and more) Community Advisory Committee meetings
• bi-weekly project management team meetings
• forum planning and staffing
• outreach material generation
• presentations to neighbors, planning commissions, electeds
• listening sessions
• door to door business outreach for the entire corridor.
This plan has taken far longer than anticipated and has had to adjust to staffing changes, a
global pandemic, evolving state mandates, and competition for resources. These realities have
changed the scope of our work from far more comprehensive changes along our corridor to the
few most impactful code changes necessary to help us move in the direction articulated in the
plan. These code changes are the work of deep compromise between the CAC and City of
Eugene staff. They were not considered lightly and they are the framework from which we can
begin to build the future imagined by the residents-the reason for undertaking this project.
All the work from staff, volunteers and consultants is unanimous that ground floor commercial
in C-2 zones where multi story housing is being constructed is advantageous to both the
existing and new residents. It helps to create the nexus for vibrant walkable corridors that
accommodate much greater density without the need for space and resource committed to
vehicular accommodations. These goals are shared by the neighborhood plan and Envision
Eugene. We would encourage you to add this language to the code amendments.
Throughout the last 6.5 years we have continued to honor our agreement to collaborate, carry
our portion of the weight of the project, and to continually reflect the spirit of the collaboration
out to our neighbors. We need you to adopt the plan in its entirety to help the City of Eugene
honor their agreement to provide the deliverables crafted in that spirit of collaboration.
Sincerely,
The board of SCCO-Jerry Finigan, Tim Foelker, Dawn Lesley, Jerry Mohr, Kate Perle, Terri Reed,
Louie Vidmar, Matt Vohs
17
From:deborah bernhard
To:*Eugene Mayor, City Council, and City Manager
Subject:Recommendations
Date:Thursday, March 7, 2024 9:11:18 AM
[EXTERNAL ]
To The City Council:
I live in the River Road neighborhood known as the Garden District. My husband and I bought a lovely 1950’s style
ranch in 2016. We moved into it in 2017 after living on rural farm property in Pleasant Hill. I am a retired teacher
and he is a retired contractor. We love this community.
We support the Neighborhood Plan Proposal and urge the City Council to approve the recommended code changes.
We appreciate the opportunity to contribute feedback regarding maximum building heights along the Greenway.
The recommended change to 65 feet height for the C-2 properties and those close to the R-1 homes in this area will
enhance livability and allow appropriate business development.
There are many reasons to support the code changes’recommendations. We and our neighbors worked very hard to
give everyone a chance to be heard and to get information out regarding land use and development statutes. We ate a
lot of pizza and pinwheels, took a lot of notes, and experienced a connection with neighbors that made our
community thrive. We are looking toward a future with the River Road areas being less “highway” and more
community and environmentally friendly walking and biking neighborhoods.
Sincerely,
Deborah Bernhard
Kerry Leek
Sent from my iPad
18
From:steve norris
To:Eugene RR-SC Plan
Subject:RRSC Plan Comment re: Parking
Date:Wednesday, March 6, 2024 9:23:39 AM
Attachments:RRSCPlanComment-Parking.pdf
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[EXTERNAL ]
Mayor, City Councilors and County Commissioners,
Please consider the attached comment, re: RRSC Plan and parking, in your deliberations. Thank you for the
opportunity - and all the good work you do for the community!
Steve
19
Mayor, Councilors, Commissioners; 3-6-24
Regarding your ongoing discussion of the proposed ‘River Road/Santa Clara
Neighborhood Plan’ – specifically in regards to establishing a cross-jurisdictional parking
enforcement program: That is a tough one – and I agree with those I’ve talked to about
it; it is complicated. It’s also an issue that raises equity questions and is deserving of
your review, discussion, and collaborative action-taking. I raise the following example for
your consideration.
‘Howard Meadows’ is a new ‘City’ development in the River Road neighborhood (at the
intersection of Lake Dr. and Howard Ave.). In the illustration below, ‘Howard Meadows’
is heavily outlined in the middle of the page (red, for those who can see it). The newly
created lots at ‘Howard Meadows’ are not the only ‘City’ (incorporated) parcels on the
page - there’s Howard Elementary School and I’ve cross-hatched the incorporated
residential lots. Please consider:
• How many on-site parking spaces will be available for the 40+ new households in
‘Howard Meadows’ upon completion (neighbors have heard numbers from 12 to
20)?
• The new ‘City’ section of Lake Dr. – running down the middle of ‘Howard
Meadows’ (off-yellow on the map) is the only City-owned street section on the
page. All other streets on the map are ‘County’ – most considered unimproved.
• The northern half of the new ‘City’ section of Lake Dr. is posted “No Parking” on
both sides of the street – probably due to the emergency turnaround
configuration.
• Those “No Parking” signs are the only “No Parking” signs on any street in the
illustration – except for the “No Parking Anytime” signs on the West side of Grove
St. (between Howard and Maxwell) to ensure safe bus passage .
• Any overflow parking from ‘Howard Meadows’ will spread outward and negatively
impact only ‘County’ streets and, mostly, County residents.
Establishing a collaborative parking enforcement program that deters off-site parking
from new developments would support the goal of encouraging more walking, biking,
and use of public transportation. One of the messages such a program would send to
both developers and future residents is: yes, on-site parking for every unit is not
required but should there be any overflow, the nearest parking will be (however many)
blocks away – and we have a mechanism in place to enforce that. One of the messages
such a program would send to established residents is: we are looking out for you too.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
Steve Norris, River Road
20
21
From:Jolene Siemsen
To:*Eugene Mayor, City Council, and City Manager
Subject:River Road Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan
Date:Tuesday, March 5, 2024 2:06:40 PM
[EXTERNAL ]
Dear Mayor and City Council,
I am writing as a River Road neighbor and participant in the neighborhood planning process. I have
lived in the River Road neighborhood for over 35 years. My children attended neighborhood
schools, we walk, drive, and bike regularly along the River Road corridor, including along the West
Bank river path, we shop and utilize services in the neighborhood, and enjoy our neighbors and all
that this beautiful area has to offer.
I am a past co chair of the River Road Community Organization, I was a member of the Advisory
Committee for the Lower River Road Concept plan, and more recently, as part of the neighborhood
planning process, I sat on a Working Group responsible for development of the planning details and
proposals for the River Road Transit corridor
Over the years, including during the robust public outreach for this neighborhood plan, I have had
many opportunities to listen to my neighbors and this is what they say:
We want a thriving and safe community. A place where our kids can walk to school or ride a bike, a
place that connects us to the rich environment of the Willamette River and adjacent Greenway, a
place where we can walk, bike, or easily drive to obtain nearby goods and services, a place with
good schools and inviting streetscapes, a place that develops sustainably over time, for the benefit of
our children and future generations.
At a recent City Council work session there were concerns raised about the proposed code
amendments included in the RR SC Neighborhood Plan document. Amendments addressing
revisions to building height and allowable uses would support the vision and goals of many of my
neighbors in creating a thriving neighborhood that improves the quality of life of those who live and
work here.
And yes, we are a Garden District, and we want to remake River Road as it becomes so much more
than the highway it was in the last century. As more housing is built and uses intensify along the
busy corridor, attention to these details is urgently necessary.
Delaying discussion and implementation of code amendments only leaves my neighborhood
vulnerable to development or redevelopment that could seriously negatively impact the area and
would negate the years and hours of work that has gone into this plan.
Proposed code amendments are in line with Climate Friendly development goals, and the current
Special Overlay Zone that was applied to the Lower River Road area.
I am in favor of these proposed code amendments and urge you to honor the work of my neighbors.
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Delays and diversion to further planning efforts weakens the plan and leaves us with yet another
dusty document full of good ideas in this journey that has already taken several decades.
Please approve the code amendments, especially for C-2 areas adjacent to or encompassed within the
Greenway. Further refinement can be accomplished as time passes, but let’s not lose this opportunity
to create a beautiful template for the future.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Jolene Siemsen
190 Hawthorne Ave
Eugene, Oregon 97404
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From:Kathryn Perle
To:Eugene RR-SC Plan
Subject:testimony for RRSC nhood plan
Date:Tuesday, March 5, 2024 11:19:31 AM
Attachments:CAC to council on np.docx
You don't often get email from fccf@efn.org. Learn why this is important
[EXTERNAL ]
Please see attached letter from RRSC CAC for hearing on March 12th.
Thanks, Kate Perle
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March 5, 2024
Mayor Vinis, City Council, City Manager, and County Commissioners:
We are the Citizen Advisory Committee for the River Road/Santa Clara neighborhood plan
(CAC). The CAC is made up of 11 residents from our two neighborhoods, 6 from each plus one
person who represents neighbors residing outside Eugene’s UGB but within our neighborhood
boundaries. Since the fall of 2017 we, along with Lane County planning and City of Eugene
planning, have been collaboratively engaging our neighbors about their vision for the future of
our area and working with them to create a plan that implements that vision.
We would like to thank you for directing staff to work with us on this undertaking-a plan more
comprehensive than any to date, a robust public outreach process, and a collaboration unlike
any other in our two neighborhoods. We listened to your work session on our plan and have
concerns about your reticence to adopt the recommended code changes.
Leading up to the beginning of the planning process we knew code changes would be a
necessary part of the package and City of Eugene planning staff agreed. Our plan would need
to have “teeth”, be enforceable and move us toward the vision of our future. Code changes
concurrent with plan adoption were a condition of our participation. We would not invest all
our social capital and years of effort in a process that resulted in a lovely vision with no way to
achieve it. To that end, we executed a project charter that laid out the responsibilities of all
participants (Lane County, City of Eugene, RRCO and SCCO) and the agreed upon deliverables.
Code amendments related to new development standards and a detailed approach along River
Road were specifically called out to be adopted concurrently with the plan.
The final portion of the neighborhood plan scope are zone changes and code
amendments that support the community vision. While some code amendments
and zone changes in the Action Plan will take place after plan adoption, other
zone changes and code amendments (i.e., new development standards) will be
adopted concurrently with the neighborhood plan, including (1) priority
amendments that could affect the broad geographic area of both communities that
will be identified by the CAC and project staff and vetted with the community and
decision-makers and (2) a more detailed approach along the River Road corridor,
as informed by the related Federal Transit Authority’s Transit Oriented Design
grantfunded project.
The slate of recommended code amendments is less comprehensive than our original work
which had far more detailed (lot specific) work on increased density, improved commercial
business locations, transitions between intensity of uses, and incorporated planning for future
transit along the corridor and major arterials. Our work has been whittled down to the few
most impactful amendments and is necessary to lay the basic framework for development
along our corridor. These code amendments are stoutly supported by neighborhood feedback
throughout the planning process and are aligned with The Envision Eugene plan for vibrant
pedestrian friendly corridors that accommodate greatly increased housing density.
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We have heard opposition to reducing maximum building height in C-2 zones based on the
need for more housing. We support increasing housing density while creating a reduction in
maximum building height to a level that doesn’t dwarf the pedestrian experience. Creating a
future where people can access their daily needs within walking distance requires that we
design at a pedestrian scale. This theme has been central to neighbors’ concerns from the
beginning. Sixty five foot tall buildings will provide thousands of units of housing on one of 5
corridors with some of the most far-flung C-2 zoned property.
We have some of the last undeveloped C-2 zoned property along a major corridor. Without the
proposed code amendments we will likely end up with the cheapest development options-
storage units or used car lots. Nothing could be further from the vision expressed by our
neighbors. Instead of a vibrant pedestrian commercial corridor we become the place where
residents from other neighborhoods store their excess possessions and we have to wait years-
maybe decades to redevelop those sites to accommodate any housing at all.
We have worked diligently and in good faith for over six years to bring this plan to you for
adoption. Along the way we brought you and the planning commission updates on our content
progress and our public engagement. You were consistently impressed by both the breadth
and depth of our content and engagement. We have done all we can to bring the vision
expressed by many hundreds of neighbors to you for approval. We implore you to do your part
in this collaboration and adopt the neighborhood plan, the action plan, and the code
amendments in total.
Sincerely,
The River Road/Santa Clara neighborhood plan CAC
Jon Belcher, Rick Duncan, Cameron Ewing, Jerry Finigan, Beth Gerot, Louisa de Heer, Susan
Kittleson, Mary Leontovich, Ed McMahon, Kate Perle, Louie Vidmar, Hans Wittig
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From:bkb@epud.net
To:Eugene RR-SC Plan
Subject:Adopting the Santa Clara River Road Neighborhood Plan
Date:Monday, March 4, 2024 7:17:42 PM
You don't often get email from bkb@epud.net. Learn why this is important
[EXTERNAL ]
Mayor Lucy Vinis, Eugene City Council, Lane County Board of Commissioners:
I am very excited that final adoption of the Neighborhood Plan is nearly here. I and many many of my
neighbors have worked on the NP process for more years than I’d like to remember.
BUT, I am absolutely dumbfounded to learn that the Council and Board of Commissioners are
considering approving the NP without including the necessary code amendments! What we have
worked on for so hard for so long is a workable plan to shape and govern the future of our
neighborhoods for many years to come. For the plan to work, to mean anything, to accomplish our
goals, it MUST include applicable, enforceable code.
Otherwise, it gets put on a shelf and ignored. Would you acquire a new vehicle and not put gas in it?
Just put it up on blocks and never use it? Do you want to dismiss our work and our wisdom in
developing the Plan? Would you dash the hopes and aspirations of those of us who have spent
uncountable hours in our endeavor to ensure our neighborhoods are a livable and viable part of
Eugene for the next many years?
The Neighborhood Plan can be a governing and enhancing factor in developing the future of the
historic neighborhoods of Santa Clara and River Road, but it MUST be enforceable!
Thank you for listening,
Beverly Barr
1275 Betty Lane
Eugene, OR 97404
bkb@epud.net
541-461-0688 land
541-543-9513 mobile
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