Planning Commission applicants emphasize housing, infrastructure and climate resilience in Q&A

Nine applicants for seats on the Planning Commission spoke and several answered follow-up questions from councilors on April 14, highlighting housing production, transportation and climate resilience as top priorities.

Chloe Chapman, a commercial lender specializing in affordable housing and a board member of Homes for Good, described housing as her top issue and said the commission should address the whole housing spectrum from transitional to market-rate housing. "We just need to build more," Chapman said. She also named infrastructure to support business growth and climate resiliency as priorities.

Roger Hamilton described decades of public-service experience, including prior county-level planning roles and state appointments, and said he would prioritize walkability, transportation and housing affordability.

Brooke Standefer, an electrical engineer with experience in sustainability strategy and recent real-estate work, listed affordable housing, transportation and climate adaptation among her key issues and said she brings technical and collaborative skills.

Kathleen Yang, a gynecologic oncologist and longtime Eugene resident, said she would focus on increasing residential density, implementing urban-growth strategies identified in the comprehensive plan, and promoting mixed-use, low-carbon neighborhoods. Yang emphasized public engagement, data-driven assessment and that planning decisions ultimately affect "people."

During a question-and-answer segment, councilors asked applicants to name priority issues, describe collaborative skills for lengthy processes, and explain how they would balance complex factors in land-use decisions. Applicants repeatedly cited housing production, multimodal transportation infrastructure, climate resilience, transparency and respectful public engagement.

Councilors did not make appointments at the work session; appointments are scheduled for June 9, 2025.