River Road - Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan

Cover Capture small

January 2023 Update

Launched in fall 2017, the neighborhood planning process has been a collaborative effort among community members, River Road Community Organization (RRCO), Santa Clara Community Organization (SCCO), City of Eugene, Lane County, and other stakeholders throughout both neighborhoods.

The process has included six phases and the development of:

Given a myriad of challenges and changes over the last few years, including a global pandemic, state mandates, staff changes, and resource constraints, City staff recently developed a proposal to adjust the path for landing the project which:

  • Builds on broad agreement in the community and the extensive engagement, collaboration, and community volunteer hours dedicated to this planning effort over five years
  • Shifts the approach and timing of the corridor code component to recognize current project and neighborhood realities, including statewide climate, housing, and equity mandates
  • Offers a responsive and responsible path to advance the neighborhood vision given limited City resources

City staff presented the proposed path forward at a recent community meeting with Community Advisory Committee members and RCCO and SCCO board leadership. Project staff are using feedback from that gathering to refine and clarify the proposed path, as well as help guide public participation in the adoption phase of the project. More details about a refined proposed path forward will be available soon. 

Neighborhood Planning

The River Road and Santa Clara Community Organizations, City and County staff, consultants and neighborhood volunteers have been working together since the spring of 2017 to create a neighborhood plan for the River Road and Santa Clara neighborhoods. The earlier phases of the neighborhood planning process focused on outreach and engagement, asking community members what they value in their neighborhoods now and about their hopes and visions for the future. The community input was used by the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) and Topic Area Working Groups to draft goals and policies in the Neighborhood Plan that reflect the neighborhood priorities under five Topic Areas - Land Use, Economic Development, Transportation, Parks and Natural Resources, and Community. 

Read the Draft River Road-Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan. 

Neighborhood Plan Cover Capture

Action Planning

The CAC and staff have been preparing an Action Plan to support implementation of the Neighborhood Plan. The Action Plan consists of community identified actions that are possible strategies to implement the policies of the Neighborhood Plan and will help focus the community work towards the vision for how the  River Road and Santa Clara neighborhoods will look, feel and function over the next 20 years and beyond. 

Read the Draft River Road-Santa Clara Action Plan.

Action Plan - Cover Capture

Adoption 

The neighborhood planning process is now in the Adoption Phase - working towards the final adoption of the River Road-Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan. The Adoption Phase will include community outreach and opportunities for input as the Community Advisory Committee, River Road and Santa Clara Community Organizations, and staff prepare and recommend a Neighborhood Plan adoption package to the Eugene and Lane County Planning Commissions to begin the formal adoption process.  The Planning Commissions will deliberate and form a recommendation to City Council and the Lane County Board of Commissioners as final decisionmakers on the plan adoption package.

RRSC Adoption Phase Timeline


Implementation

Adoption of the Neighborhood Plan is a key step in implementing the community vision and sets the policy direction for ongoing collaboration. The River Road and Santa Clara communities will continue to represent the Neighborhood Plan and collaborate with City and County staff as on-going implementation and advocacy occurs. Neighborhood Plan representatives from the River Road and Santa Clara community organizations will meet with key City and County staff during an annual coordination and information sharing meeting.

Though being in the Action Plan doesn’t guarantee that these actions occur, it does help agency staff apply for funding and prioritize and recommend projects when considering city-wide needs. The actions will also help guide the community when advocating for implementation and identifying community priorities as they change.

View All

Contact Us

  1. Planning Division

    Terri Harding
    Principal Planner
    99 W. 10th Avenue
    Eugene, OR 97401
    Ph: 541-682-5635
    Fx: 541-682-5572

    Email