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Council approves University of Oregon East Campus rezoning 5‑3 after heated neighborhood debate
Summary
After extended debate and a failed motion to deny, the Eugene City Council voted 5‑3 to adopt an ordinance amending the Fairmount University East Campus special area study and rezoning property for proposed University of Oregon housing, prompting neighborhood concerns about building heights and impacts.
The Eugene City Council voted on May 11 to approve a University of Oregon land‑use package that amends the Fairmount University East Campus area plan, code sections and rezones the identified property to align with the university's housing plan.
Councilor Zelenka moved to deny the application, asserting the university had not met the burden of proof under the quasi‑judicial approval criteria and highlighting neighborhood impacts including an increase in allowable building heights from 45 to 85 feet and potentially 800 new dorm beds. "The proposal would double the height, scale, and size, and occupancy in the Fairmont neighborhood from what is allowable today," Zelenka said, and moved to direct the city manager to bring back a written decision supporting denial.
Council debate focused on whether the application met the applicable approval criteria. Councilor Kaczynski said the package met the criteria and noted that the refinement plan's transition language leaves room for interpretation; he expressed concern that either decision could draw a legal appeal and favored a defensible approval. Councilor Leach supported Zelenka's motion to deny, saying the scope of changes (rezoning, refinement plan change, height limits and overlay removal) was unusually broad to consider together.
After the motion to deny failed (council recorded a 3‑5 result), the council vice president moved to approve the ordinance amending the East Campus special area study and rezoning the property as described in the agenda attachment. The motion passed 5‑3.
Assistant City Attorney Lauren Summers reminded the body that because the item was quasi‑judicial, council members should make decisions based solely on the record; Councilor Evans declared an ex parte contact with a University of Oregon representative earlier in the meeting but stated he could decide based on the record. The city manager introduced the application and staff recommended approval in the council packet.
The ordinance text, map attachments, and detailed staff findings were referenced in meeting materials; at the hearing several councilors urged a future collaborative workgroup approach to address neighborhood compatibility if changes were to proceed. The council did not refer specific amendments or implementation dates at the meeting; the ordinance was adopted as moved and recorded.
