Planning: Urban Reserves Update, Sept. 2020

Dear Urban Reserves Interested Parties,

Thank you to the 1,300+ people that attended our month-long Virtual Open House! Two hundred and ten community members completed the survey. Out of the four Urban Reserves options, the 27-Year Option that removes from consideration Class 1 soils and adjacent Class 2 soils was the most supported. The full survey results can be viewed here. To learn more about the four urban reserve options, check out our Urban Reserves Options Story Map.

Kudos to the hard-working EETAC

Since October 2018, the Engage Eugene Technical Advisory Committee (EETAC) has met 17 times to review and provide input to staff on Urban Reserves planning work. At their July 16th meeting, they used consensus-based decision making to recommend the 27-Year Option to staff.

Planning Commission Recommendations

Earlier this month, the Eugene and Lane County Planning Commissions both met twice on Urban Reserves options. The role of both Commissions is to recommend an Urban Reserve option for the City Council and the Lane Board of County Commissioners to consider before making a final decision.

The Eugene Planning Commission voted 7-0 to recommend the 27-Year option

The Lane County Planning Commission voted 5-3 to recommend the 30-Year Option with a plan policy requiring the Class 1 and 2 farm land in the Awbrey subarea to be the last of the urban reserve land to be considered for expansion of Eugene’s urban growth boundary.

Watch the August 3^rd full staff presentation to Eugene Planning Commission here.
Watch the August 17^th Eugene Planning Commission recommendation here.
Watch the August 18^th Lane County Planning Commission recommendation here.

Next Steps—Stay Involved!

Staff is preparing for a joint work session with the Eugene City Council and Lane County Board of Commissioners on September 21st. Then, in October, the City Council and Board of Commissioners will be asked to provide direction to staff on their preferred Urban Reserve option, so we can begin preparing an adoption package to bring back to them.

If you wish to provide public input on Urban Reserves, please do so by sharing your thoughts via public comment. If you wish to provide public comment, please do so by submitting written public comment tothe Eugene City Council or  Lane County Board of Commissioners.

When available, meeting links and agendas will be posted on the Urban Reserves webpage and Engage Eugene page. For more information, sign-up for our monthly Planning Newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. If you have questions about the Urban Reserves options or how to provide input, please contact myself or Project Manager Rebecca Gershow at 541-682-8816

Thank you,

Sophie McGinley
Assistant Planner
City of Eugene | Planning Division
Smcginley@eugene-or.gov
541.682.5476