Bringing together over five years of community input and discussions, research, analysis, Planning Commission and City Council meetings, public hearings, and revisions, the City of Eugene is preparing to adopt a new urban growth boundary (UGB). The newest pieces of the plan include a Eugene-only UGB boundary line, draft comprehensive plan policies to guide growth in Eugene, and options for accommodating the needed multi-family housing (apartments, duplexes, etc.) over the next 20 years.
The Council will discuss the UGB, the multi-family options and the proposed public engagement plan, on July 20th at their noon work session. Over the next three months, community members will have the opportunity to review and provide feedback on the draft documents, including which multi-family housing options work best for Eugene, before the City Council finalizes them for the formal adoption process in the fall. Feedback opportunities include:
• An Envision Eugene booth at summer events such as Party in the Park and Sunday Streets, starting with Party in the Park, July 14th, 5:30-7:30 pm at Willakenzie Park, 1725 Best Lane, in the Harlow Neighborhood.
• Neighborhood meetings and picnics as requested. A current meeting and event schedule is here: http://www.eugene-or.gov/2990/Get-Involved
• A website, www.envisioneugene.org that includes the draft documents and an online feedback form.
• We can come to you! Request an in person meeting, or have a planner come to your group meeting by emailing envisioneugene@ci.eugene.or.us.
Eugene is a great place to live, and over the next 20 years, Eugene’s population is expected to increase by about 34,000 people and by about 37,000 new jobs. Envision Eugene began in 2010 as a way to understand and define the community’s collective vision for how Eugene will accommodate future growth while preserving what people love about the city.
Based on the community’s goals and the identified land needs for the next 20 years, the plan includes expanding the UGB to bring in land for jobs, a community park and a school in the Clear Lake area of the Bethel neighborhood and a small UGB expansion for a community park in the Santa Clara area. Expanding the UGB for housing is not necessary at this time, based on the results of the detailed technical analysis.
“These decisions affect everyone in our community,” said Terri Harding, Principal Planner. “So we’re really looking forward to having conversations with people all across Eugene this summer.”
More information and background on the Envision Eugene process, technical analysis, and community involvement are available at www.EnvisionEugene.org.