Land Use Code Amendments

Willamette River Greenway Code Amendments (City File: CA 22-1)


The proposed Willamette River Greenway Code Amendments are intended to provide a clear and objective set of regulations for the review of proposed housing development within the boundary of the Willamette River Greenway, consistent with the requirements of state law and Statewide Planning Goal 15. The proposed land use code amendments include:

  • Greenway setbacks that require new housing to be setback from the river
  • Limits on maximum length of buildings within 100 feet of the setbacks
  • Limitations on walls and fencing
  • Pedestrian access requirements for multi-unit developments
  • Native landscape requirements to create additional buffering
  • Greenway specific tree preservation and removal standards

If the proposed amendments are adopted, an applicant proposing to develop housing within the boundary of the Willamette River Greenway will be able to choose to proceed under a set of new clear and objective standards, or choose to proceed using the existing discretionary criteria under sections 9.8800-9.8825 of the Eugene Code. The proposed code amendments will not change the adopted Willamette Greenway boundary.

 

Project Updates & New Information

At the March 14, 2023 Planning Commission deliberations, the Planning Commission voted to recommend the City Council to approve Version 3 of the draft code (with minor corrections to a few numbering issues). Those corrections have been compiled into Version 4 of the draft code, which will be brought before the City Council for a public hearing, which is scheduled for June 20, 2023. Leading up to the public hearing, the City Council held a Work Session on May 10, 2023  to learn more about the Greenway Code Amendments project. To view or access to City Council Meetings and Materials, click HERE.     


More information can be found in the updated Frequently Asked Questions or this One-Page Summary of the project. 


Testimony & More Information 

At this point, any testimony received  will be provided to the City Council for their consideration. 

To provide written testimony, send an email to greenwaytestimony@eugene-or.gov or mail comments to: c/o Jeff Gepper, Senior Planner, 99 W. 10th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97401.  

For background, and more information about the potential draft code revisions, please see the meeting materials and recordings linked below. 

Meeting Recordings & Materials

Important Documents & Tools 

Version 4 Draft Code for Review:  This updated draft code incorporates changes based on the Eugene Planning Commissions recommendation for approval on March 14, 2022. 

Version 3 Draft Code for Review:  This updated draft code incorporates changes discussed in the project updates above and was recommended for approval by the Eugene Planning Commission. 

Version 2 Draft Code for Review:  This updated draft code incorporates changes discussed in the project updates above. 

Version 1 Draft Code for Review: This draft code was developed prior to information shared during more recent Planning Commission work sessions. 

Testimony

Staff Contact

If you have comments, questions, or would like more information about the Willamette Greenway process, please contact: Jeff Gepper, Senior Planner, JGepper@eugene-or.gov or Gabe Flock, Principal Planner, GFlock@eugene-or.gov.

Middle Housing Code Changes

On May 24, 2022, the City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 20667 to implement the Middle Housing Code Amendments.


The Middle Housing Code Amendments implement House Bill 2001, legislation that requires large cities in Oregon, including Eugene, to allow middle housing (duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, rowhouses, and cottage clusters) to be built in all neighborhoods. This legislation is intended to increase our housing supply and allow for more housing types of all shapes and sizes in more places.


To learn more about the project, Please visit the official Middle Housing Code Changes webpage.

 Accessory Dwelling Units: Finalizing Compliance with ORS 197.312(5) 

(City File CA 18-1)


Project Status

At the September 15, 2021 work session, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 20659  to finalize compliance with state law for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). These code are in effect and reflected in Eugene's online code. 

Commercial Setbacks Code Amendment (City File CA 20-5)

Project Status

At the July 26, 2021 work session, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 20657 to establish a minimum building setback for development on commercially zoned property with the goal to create vibrant walkable streetscapes in Eugene's commercial areas. For context, the Eugene Zoning Map show the location of commercially zoned properties in Eugene. 


The Commercial Setbacks Code Amendment: 

  • Applies only to new buildings and linear expansion of existing buildings on commercially zoned property.
  • Requires a minimum setback of 3 feet for property zoned C-3 Major Commercial, and 5 feet for property zoned C-2 Community Commercial. 
  • Adds landscaping, and hardscaping or pedestrian amenity requirements for minimum setback areas of all commercially zoned properties.
  • Allows exceptions to the minimum setback for ground floor commercial uses when windows and taller ceilings are provided. Dimensions and window percentages are context specific, with more stringent requirements in the downtown area. 
  • Allows exceptions to the minimum setback for ground floor residential uses when residences are vertically separated, and enhanced pedestrian space is provided. Setback reduction allowance is context specific and differs between downtown and other areas. 
  • Allows for an adjustment review process when a proposal responds to the intent of the code and creatively meets or exceeds the development standards.

Digital Sign Code Amendments (City File CA 20-2)

On October 12, 2020, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 20642 amending the Eugene sign code regulations pertaining to digital signs. The goal of the land use code amendments was to modify existing sign code standards to allow and regulate digital billboards and digital readerboards. The  amendments focused on how best to allow conversion of existing billboards to new digital technology with specific standards for maximum size, message change intervals, brightness, location and separation. The amendments also include digital allowances for institutional uses and gas stations and minor changes to the existing sign code suggested by staff to add clarity. 


For more information, contact the land use team at landuseinfo@eugene-or.gov. 




Expiration Extension for Approved Land Use Applications (City File CA 20-3)

On October 26th, 2020, the City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 20643 to extend the expiration of Type II and Type III land use approvals for three years as an economic recovery tool in response to the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This applies to any Type II or Type III land use application that was effective before November 28th, 2020. Visit here for a full list of Type II and Type III applications.

 

For more information, please contact: Jeff Gepper, Senior Planner, JGepper@eugene-or.gov 

Bicycle Parking

The City of Eugene is looking at updating the current bicycle parking standards. The revisions focus on simplifying and improving clarity of standards identified in Eugene’s land use code. For more information, contact Reed Dunbar at 541-682-5727 or RDunbar@eugene-or.gov.



Recently Adopted Land Use Code Amendments

The online version of Eugene Code Chapter 9 is available at this link. See "Amended" flag for recent code updates.

Contact Us

  1. Planning Division

    Alissa Hansen

    Planning Director

    99 W. 10th Avenue

    Eugene, OR 97401

    Ph: 541-682-5508


    Email