Frequently Asked Questions • Eugene, OR • CivicEngage

What is the Infill Compatibility Standards Project?: Infill Compatibility Standards (ICS) is a project aimed at addressing the impacts of residential infill development. The City’s neighborhoods differ in such characteristics as development pattern, street pattern, block and lot layout, topography, natural environment, distance from the urban core, access to transportation options, surrounding land uses, and predominant architectural style.

However, with a few exceptions in Special Area zones, infill in most neighborhoods is regulated by base zone standards (setbacks, height limits, lot coverage limits, etc.) that may not fully address the neighborhood’s defining characteristics. As a result, some infill projects have been built that have significant negative impacts on nearby residents.

The ICS project includes describing, categorizing and addressing those impacts in the most effective way possible and demonstrating positive infill examples, while considering the impacts on the City’s growth pattern as a whole.

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PDD - Planning - Current Projects - Infill Compatibility Standards

1. What is infill development?: Infill development is new residential construction in established areas of the City. Infill can be accomplished by developing a remnant vacant lot or redevelopable lot by dividing an existing lot into smaller pieces, such as flag lots or alley access lots, or by developing additional housing units on an existing developed lot. Infill compatibility standards are tools that can regulate the amount, form and appearance of new residential development in established areas. Regulations will codify clear and objective infill standards based on public involvement, technical analysis and policy direction.

2. What is the Infill Compatibility Standards Project?: Infill Compatibility Standards (ICS) is a project aimed at addressing the impacts of residential infill development. The City’s neighborhoods differ in such characteristics as development pattern, street pattern, block and lot layout, topography, natural environment, distance from the urban core, access to transportation options, surrounding land uses, and predominant architectural style.

However, with a few exceptions in Special Area zones, infill in most neighborhoods is regulated by base zone standards (setbacks, height limits, lot coverage limits, etc.) that may not fully address the neighborhood’s defining characteristics. As a result, some infill projects have been built that have significant negative impacts on nearby residents.

The ICS project includes describing, categorizing and addressing those impacts in the most effective way possible and demonstrating positive infill examples, while considering the impacts on the City’s growth pattern as a whole.

3. What are the City's Growth Managment Policies?: The adopted Growth Management Policies (GMPs) direct the City to encourage infill development and increase housing density while maintaining the character and livability of individual neighborhoods. This project seeks to implement the policy directives in the GMPs.