Planning Commission

SUMMARY MINUTES Regular Meeting Eugene Planning Commission Atrium Building, Sloat Room 99 West 10th Avenue September 24, 2007 11:30 a.m. PRESENT: Rick Duncan, President; Randy Hledik, Vice President; Jon Belcher, Phillip Carroll, Ann Kneeland, Anthony McCown, members; Lisa Gardner, Terri Harding, Patricia Thomas, Neil Björklund, Steve Nystrom, Ken Guzowski, Planning and Development Department; Gary McNeel, Philip Richardson, Public Works Department; Jeff Krueger, Lane Council of Governments. ABSENT: John Lawless, member; Mike Sullivan, ex officio. PUBLIC COMMENT I. PROJECT UPDATE: OPPORTUNITY SITING/INFILL COMPATIBILITY Staff: Terri Harding, 682-5635 II. RIDGELINE OPEN SPACE VISION AND ACTION PLAN Staff: Jeff Krueger, 682-4122 Mr. Belcher, seconded by Mr. Hledik, moved that the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council endorse the project. The motion passed unanimously 6:0. III. PREPARATION FOR JOINT MEETING WITH CITY COUNCIL: PLANNING DIVISION WORK PROGRAM Staff: Lisa Gardner, 682-5208 IV. ITEMS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF A. Other Items from Staff B. Other Items from Commission MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission September 24, 2007 Page 1  MINUTES Regular Meeting Eugene Planning Commission Atrium Building, Sloat Room 99 West 10th Avenue September 24, 2007 11:30 a.m. PRESENT: Rick Duncan, President; Randy Hledik, Vice President; Jon Belcher, Phillip Carroll, Ann Kneeland, Anthony McCown, members; Lisa Gardner, Terri Harding, Patricia Thomas, Neil Björklund, Steve Nystrom, Ken Guzowski, Planning and Development Department; Gary McNeel, Philip Richardson, Public Works Department; Jeff Krueger, Lane Council of Governments. ABSENT: John Lawless, member; Mike Sullivan, ex officio. PUBLIC COMMENT Mr. Duncan convened the meeting. There was no one wishing to offer public comment. I. PROJECT UPDATE: OPPORTUNITY SITING/INFILL COMPATIBILITY Ms. Harding provided the staff report. The Planning Commission had been meeting in sub- committee on the Infill Compatibility Standards (ICS) and Opportunity Siting (OS) projects since January 2007. The goal of the ICS project was to result in the adoption of compatibility standards for new development in established areas, while the goal of OS project was to establish a process for siting dense housing in ways that were more compatible with the surrounding neighborhoods. Staff and Planning Commissioners participated in a number of outreach activities including: • Attending neighborhood association meetings. • Completing neighborhood tours. • Compilation of a photo library of thirteen neighborhoods. • Sending letters to interested parties to solicit interest in active participation in one or both of the projects. • Contacting some of the people who responded to the outreach letters. Ms. Harding said a public workshop was scheduled for October 8, 2007, and invited commissioners to attend. Ms. Harding reviewed the activities for both of the projects as listed in the Agenda Item Summary (AIS). Responding to a question from Mr. Duncan, Ms. Harding expressed a concern for ensuring MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission September 24, 2007 Page 2 that the process was fair across all of the neighborhoods by having sufficient resources to help all of the neighborhoods. Ms. Gardner added the City of Eugene needed to reinforce consistency in the data used for the project, to ensure that it met all of the City’s protocols. Mr. Duncan stated there was a perception that the Neighborhood Leaders’ Council (NLC) was getting priority for this project and was serving as a consultant on the project. It was important to ensure that information provided by private citizens was accurate and to provide a mechanism for everyone to participate equally. Ms. Harding said the project was not directed only to the NLC or the neighborhood associations. It was important to have a task team that reflected a broad range of perspectives that followed a common methodology in their research. Information already collected would be reviewed to ensure accuracy. Responding to a question from Mr. Hledik, Ms. Gardner concurred that it was important to establish a realistic timeline for the process. Ms. Harding noted there was urgency by the public to get standards adopted and included in the City code. Responding to a question from Ms. Kneeland, Ms. Gardner explained the City Council would discuss the nexus between the Buildable Land Study and the ICS/OS at the joint City Council/Planning Commission meeting on October 24, 2007. II. RIDGELINE OPEN SPACE VISION AND ACTION PLAN Mr. Krueger reviewed the process for the project and offered a PowerPoint presentation entitled Ridgeline Area Open Space Vision and Action Plan Draft June 2007, copies of which had been provided to commissioners with their agenda packets. He asked that the Planning Commission provide a recommendation to the City Council. The City Council would be asked to provide a resolution of support for the vision in fall 2007 along with the Lane County Board of Commissioners, the Willamalane Parks and Recreation District Board, and other interest groups. Responding to a question from Mr. Hledik, Mr. Björklund the Ridgeline Area Open Space Vision and Action Plan was not a land use decision and not adopted as policy, but was a guiding vision. It was not binding, but provided the context for bringing funding into the local area by demonstrating to funders that how a larger project fit into the vision. Mr. Belcher, seconded by Mr. Hledik, moved that the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council endorse the project. The motion passed unanimously 6:0. III. PREPARATION FOR JOINT MEETING WITH CITY COUNCIL: PLANNING DIVISION WORK PROGRAM Mr. Guzowski introduced Planning staff Bill Almquist and Doug Terra, who would be MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission September 24, 2007 Page 3 working on the project. Planning Commissioners introduced themselves. Mr. Guzowski distributed revised copies of the FY 07 Planning Division’s Work Plan spreadsheet. Mr. Almquist explained the online survey form. He said information had been included in a variety of public notices and would be included the City Council newsletter. Planning Commissioners reviewed the draft work plan and offered comments which were recorded by staff. IV. ITEMS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF A. Other Items from Staff There were no other items from staff. B. Other Items from Commission There were no other items from commissioners. Mr. Duncan adjourned the meeting at 1:45 p.m. (Recorded by Linda Henry) m:\2007\planning and development department\planning division\planning commission\pc070924.doc MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission September 24, 2007 Page 4