Neighborhood Action Plans http://www.eugene-or.gov/nap We want your feedback on a recently proposed neighborhood planning tool, Neighborhood Action Plans. Please read this information about the proposed program and tell us what you think with the enclosed comment card. Q: What is a Neighborhood Action Plan? A:  A neighborhood planning tool that catalogs and prioritizes neighborhood needs and puts them in an action-oriented format. This tool can address a wide variety of neighborhood issues and needs including, but not limited to: traffic management, housing, natural resources, community building, land use, historic preservation, parks, public safety, and economic development. Q:  How can my neighborhood initiate a Neighborhood Action Plan? A:  Neighborhood groups are empowered to initiate the planning process themselves and to progress at their own rate, with staff acting as a facilitator. Based on a framework of collaborative problem-solving, City assistance is provided through the development of templates, toolkits, trainings, and technical assistance. Neighborhoods that have fewer resources to contribute to the process will be given additional assistance.   Q: What are the benefits of a Neighborhood Action Plan? A:  Neighborhood Action Plans benefit both the neighborhoods and the City organization. They can be used to: Identify and prioritize neighborhood needs; Provide a consistent frame of reference for neighborhood leaders; Inform City budget decisions on a neighborhood basis; Inform the work program for City services to be more responsive to neighborhood issues; Set a foundation for potential grant funding; Catalog land use issues and identify the most efficient and effective course of action for resolution. Q: How do Neighborhood Action Plans address land-use issues? A:  Neighborhood Action Plans are not regulatory in nature, but can lead to regulatory documents if necessary. For those neighorhoods where land-use is a priority issue, the Neighborhood Action Plan process can be used to clearly identify specific land-use concerns. Once identified, these concerns may be addressed by one of several tools, including: Plugging into existing processes such as Infill Compatibility Standards, Opportunity Siting or Mixed Use Centers; Land Use Code amendments; Metro Plan amendments; Specific neighborhood or area refinement plans; Incentives, and other tools yet to be defined. If a neighborhood thinks they need a refinement plan, the NAP process would be the first step. Through this process a "catalog" of land use issues by neighborhood would be developed. With this catalog, issues shared by neighborhoods would be identified and a common strategy for addressing those shared issues could be developed. Issues that are truly unique to a specific neighborhood may be addressed in a neighborhood refinement plan. Q:  Where can I find out more about Neighborhood Action Plans? A:  The project scope is still being formulated and will continue to be refined as it is shared more broadly with neighborhood representatives and leaders, the Planning Commission, and cross departmental City staff.