[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6511108,"mediaKeyId","5335885-442eece61fb3fb73ca3d31702e007eb2","parentId",5335885,"title","South University neighborhood speaker warns planners of shift from owner-occupied to rentals","audioSeconds",402,"startMs",894000,"endMs",1296000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5335885-442eece61fb3fb73ca3d31702e007eb2&start=894&end=1296","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5335885-442eece61fb3fb73ca3d31702e007eb2/thumbnail_894000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6511108/Eugene/Lane-County/Oregon/South-University-neighborhood-speaker-warns-planners-of-shift-from-owner-occupied-to-rentals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6511108-082fbe1ea1985d60cc29f7bb7a03e721/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195202&Signature=gK~EvvfAiYj6xSWkLz4AX4D-ZV8IbUHtf~Ha~~d~txEII-NoqE-kWxvX4nef41xIed45jtg2ePm7IBiMUkXYQNwvbwUUh6m~IN4I7O1TyZpo39f7cr3MkzzW3Qaic3FPrNA97xVa-R~JFsuimIe55dTUH5BU5rzWQgELDlrOZtIPemkdMDI2tQ~JwENZTMlsh5EnTDUciZFn1LfZqgoTl5vWv5eS6Qkomq3ruOkiwnXmqxK9FJh4k63mR-y3LvhikkSedjwwd4eOwnssxSefIL2B-nmdMpzY22TziNBDiKSizH9X52sI6Cdf5twBfQmZRmRCsGvtC9F4LuswX-7eJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Eugene, OR","date","2025-07-03T19:47:36Z","article","A resident of the South University neighborhood told the Eugene Planning Commission during public comment on July 8 that the neighborhood is losing owner-occupancy and that investor-owned rental housing is contributing to affordability problems.

\"Our general concern ... is that we will in the future not be a owner occupied neighborhood anymore,\" Greg Bryant said, identifying himself as from the South University neighborhood. He said his neighborhood remains largely owner-occupied except along some higher-density edges. Bryant described a pattern he said leads from owner-occupancy to investor purchases and conversion to rentals and argued the practice can harm affordability.

Bryant also referenced state-level legislative activity and market analytics. He said House Bill 2698 seeks to improve owner-occupancy and that other measures have encouraged rental conversions; he added that, in his review of RealPage data during the school year, he saw what he characterized as a scarcity strategy in which owners and firms withheld units to raise rents. The Planning Commission did not debate those claims; staff and commissioners acknowledged the public comment and invited Bryant to follow up with staff for additional information.

The commission closed public comment after Bryant\u0000s remarks; no formal action resulted from the comment period.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Eugene Planning Commission Meeting: July 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A South University neighborhood member told the Planning Commission that growing investor-owned and rental housing threatens owner-occupancy and said market concentration is keeping rents high; the commission acknowledged the comment and suggested contacting staff for follow-up.","taxTitle","Eugene , Lane County, Oregon","taxId",2848,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6511113,"Planning Commission reviews Eugene-specific land use designation map and draft land use policies",0,3896000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5335885-442eece61fb3fb73ca3d31702e007eb2&start=3896&end=3896","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5335885-442eece61fb3fb73ca3d31702e007eb2/thumbnail_3896000.jpg","/articles/6511113/Eugene/Lane-County/Oregon/Planning-Commission-reviews-Eugene-specific-land-use-designation-map-and-draft-land-use-policies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6511113-c4202bf78b5d7e6b8782c0fd067936f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195202&Signature=Z~KA1Y2rHCSQb8QIOSp3bVkxQ5fMeVbk3NSZmYhLDJRu69ZDOHjNzKIvgQFJhATT0pFKzHHjcFCDCw~zpx8xEjJWt6gwQbGwDDzYvmZh-SDve5Qzy0jXLpMElXT5l6VGcvUnD~~B8bEeVlnLPmtcvuTCLaSdKolCdRilZ50H6ZXNJzMBgjuAlmRd84689ipqYg-NjWGf3nMv-fps3EVum5UKCE6~qwdoxkMJoJBzDTU7wauvhrLRcdO2fRKxjQLsd-daPPFpHKNroPbbhzDPwzZdGBlzMSfoqiNSf1rGlbHoxLpVBe2wUK2rWr1j1b8K4J4mXDW0OXnqfXwI5mfl5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City planning staff on July 8 presented a parcel-level, Eugene-specific land use designation map and draft Chapter 11 of the city's comprehensive plan, explaining how the city translated the older Metro Plan diagram into a zoomable, lot-level map and highlighting draft policies about density, designation/zoning alignment and a new climate-friendly overlay.

\"This chapter is a little bit more technical,\" Heather O'Donnell, planner, told the commission. Staff said the work replaces the older Metro Plan \"blob\" diagram with a modern lot-level designation map and carries forward many of the existing designations while removing some obsolete categories and adding a new climate-friendly overlay to meet state requirements for areas with high housing, jobs and multimodal infrastructure.

Staff explained a few policy points that drew commissioner questions. A residential density policy carries over a Metro Plan standard but expresses ranges in net density (dwelling units per net acre, excluding streets) rather than gross density. Staff said they made that change to align with zoning code practice. They also described Policy 11.7 (an interim approach allowing some properties to develop under their zoning even if the new map shows a different designation) and Policy 11.8 (a future program to align designations and zoning through targeted rezones, code changes or map amendments).

Staff told the commission the climate-friendly overlay is being considered for areas such as downtown and Lower Coburg and would implement a state requirement that overlay areas provide high-quality infrastructure for walking, biking and transit and a minimum density requirement (state law requires a minimum of 25 housing units per acre where applied). The draft also collapses or renames some employment designations (for example, campus employment) and removes some designation labels that were referenced but not shown on the Metro Plan diagram.

Commissioners asked how and when designations change. Staff said the parcel-level map is a baseline modernization: designation changes of properties (for example after an urban growth boundary expansion) would come through formal plan amendment processes adopted by city council and (for land outside city limits) coordinated with Lane County. Commissioners also raised how the map treats protected wetlands and other non-developable areas; staff said locally protected wetlands were not counted as developable in prior buildable land work and that parcel-specific wetland evaluations would be part of any urban growth boundary expansion.

Commissioners asked whether centers and neighborhood commercial areas will require rezones. Staff said the centers map (included in the compact development chapter) identifies existing and potential neighborhood and community centers: the centers shown generally sit on parcels already zoned for commercial uses and do not automatically rezone property but will inform future code and incentive work. Staff said future targeted rezones or code amendments could follow if the city seeks to better align zoning with the new designation map.

On the question of how specific commercial labels appear on the public map (for example, downtown listed as \"major commercial/major retail center\"), staff acknowledged some nomenclature cleanup remains and said future map-cleanup work would include adjustments such as including Oakway Center among larger regional commercial areas if appropriate. Staff said the parcel-level map was Phase 1: the baseline modernization followed by staff\u0000led research, public engagement and targeted amendments to align zoning and designations where necessary.

The discussion was technical and did not include formal votes. Staff said the modernization supports future housing and land-supply work and will be part of the adoption package process for the comprehensive plan.","Staff presented a modernized, parcel-level Eugene land use designation map and draft Chapter 11 policies on density ranges, urban growth boundary and urban reserves; commissioners probed density calculations, climate-friendly overlay, zone-map alignment and wetlands protections.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6511118,"Eugene planners seek measurable goals in draft community health chapter of comprehensive plan",1606,1694000,3300000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5335885-442eece61fb3fb73ca3d31702e007eb2&start=1694&end=3300","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5335885-442eece61fb3fb73ca3d31702e007eb2/thumbnail_1694000.jpg","/articles/6511118/Eugene/Lane-County/Oregon/Eugene-planners-seek-measurable-goals-in-draft-community-health-chapter-of-comprehensive-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6511118-5f5ceb3c691ceeb3a73be9fa1be81d43/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195202&Signature=cB2doxYcpf6vwvBtW3z7zbxoAJOu5yqsEAJtuwbAHvTfX1B6psesgGyXeD643MdCPn3kEbmsn5M4cCKUuqbrcFdUka4asqRYHBjo4q2GCg5GUrWW5-grsH5-hO~i2-Nk8ClKSfqK7OdzdXc0MaHivwjYqy3OnsHaNn1y6Uu9wYb1qIp5njr1SRLjeVmjwWM7sdAeMbrmrnlBPk8HxxdAHqyvMueR77ggWsLg1r2f-xtT4oppd1BLjO-fOvNdaUPPdaOanRNjI9i-ymLED1oxUZ8CwOe7HjKlgfmNc4mOrHUjc8-EAt~JjLfKzUGG5RJqvsWnKTOOEvdwVfd9IAxHAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Eugene planning staff presented a draft community health chapter for the city\u0000comprehensive plan at the July 8 Planning Commission meeting, describing three draft goals and 22 draft policies intended to guide how the city addresses environmental and social health as Eugene grows.

The draft chapter, Stuart Warren, associate planner, told commissioners, \"The community health chapter ... has 3 draft goal goals and 22 policies.\" The chapter groups those policies under goals titled (1) a healthy natural and built environment, (2) equitable access and opportunity, and (3) community safety and belonging. Staff said the chapter is being developed to inform the city\u0000s broader urban growth and land use work and will be refined this summer and returned to the commission and city council as part of an adoption package for 2026.

City planners highlighted several policies commissioners asked about. The section on a healthy natural and built environment includes Policy 5.1 on environmental justice and Policy 5.2, described by staff as a directive to \"avoid future land uses so that industrial and residential designations are not adjacent to each other,\" a provision staff emphasized would not change existing land uses but would aim to prevent future harmful adjacencies. Policy 5.3, \"local regulatory tools,\" directs staff to consider potential adverse environmental impacts of new industrial and major transportation facilities on nearby residences and businesses. Under equitable access, staff called out Policy 5.11 (accessible built environment), Policy 5.12 (childcare and early childhood learning) and Policy 5.13 (access to social services and health care). The safety and belonging goal includes policies promoting welcoming gathering places (5.20 series), removing barriers to siting emergency shelters (5.21) and design practices intended to support safer neighborhoods (5.22).

Commissioners repeatedly asked for clearer, measurable metrics tied to outcomes. Commissioner Isaacson and others urged staff to say what problem each policy is intended to solve and then identify metrics that would show whether an action is effective. Commissioner Isaacson said she would \"love to see that [a public health] lens attached\" and noted Lane County public health had expressed interest in linking health impacts to land use planning. Staff said the city is coordinating with Lane County\u0000s community health plan and other partners and acknowledged that many policies currently lack specific markers and that identifying metrics is a subsequent step.

Other questions from commissioners addressed prioritization of benefits to underserved neighborhoods such as Bethel and Santa Clara, how to define and remove barriers to access (regulatory, fees, process), and whether the city could explicitly track outcomes such as park access, childcare availability, or health-care access after the recent closure of Eugene\u0000s hospital. Staff replied that some implementation measures would come from related work (parks and recreation planning, housing actions, urban growth strategies) and from a future step that refines policies and identifies actions and metrics.

Several commissioners also suggested greater clarity in wording to avoid ambiguity. Examples included distinguishing different types of equitable access (shade vs. arts), framing transportation and electric-vehicle charging within a full range of mobility options, and ensuring policies do not conflate land-use authority with programmatic social services. Staff said related topics (for example, colocation of housing and supportive services) are addressed in other chapters, including the housing chapter, and committed to returning with the fuller chapter context and recommended actions in the fall.

Staff told commissioners the community health policies were drafted from multiple sources: the Envision Eugene community vision, input from a community advisory panel representing underserved groups, the youth advisory council, working groups of housing providers and architects, and Lane County\u0000s community health plan. Staff said they will refine the draft policies this summer and bring an adoption package to the commission and then to council in 2026.

The presentation and commissioners\u0000discussion did not include formal council or commission votes; staff characterized the work as a draft to be revised based on feedback.","City planning staff presented the draft community health chapter—three goals and 22 policies—stressing environmental justice, separation of incompatible uses and access to health and social services; commissioners pressed for measurable metrics and clearer priorities for underserved neighborhoods.","actionData","errors"]

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South University neighborhood speaker warns planners of shift from owner-occupied to rentals

Planning Commission reviews Eugene-specific land use designation map and draft land use policies

Eugene planners seek measurable goals in draft community health chapter of comprehensive plan