[NLC] "Needed Housing" criteria

[healeyd at onid.orst.edu]

One of the developers in West University, Dean Hansen, is using a  
less-common approach to site review called "needed housing." This is a  
heads up for the group about a method of creating an apparent end run  
around neighborhood refinement plans that could be used in any  
neighborhood. I've attached a document that addresses specific  
differences between site review using the "needed housing" approach  
and the standard site review. As you can see, the former has fewer  
restrictions. If you would like a document that includes every  
reference to needed housing from the Eugene code, let me know. It  
affects PUDs, conditional use permits, partitions, and subdivisions.  
I've also attached what I found in the Eugene Springfield Metro Area  
General Plan regarding needed housing.

According to City of Eugene planner Heather O'Donnell, there is no  
need to demonstrate that the type of housing in needed in a specific  
neighborhood. The "need" is relative to the Metro/Eugene land use  
plan. I couldn't find a housing needs analysis other than  
EcoNorthwest's 1996 one. If anyone knows of something more recent, I'd  
appreciate hearing about it.

The proposed development site is on E. 12th and Mill Alley, amid  
2-story homes and a number of historic Victorians. Because of the  
hospital-related office building at 12th and Patterson, the area is  
zoned R-4 but with a neighborhood refinement plan to provide  
protection. Using the needed housing approach, the refinement plan  
does not apply, and anything that fits the R-4 designation can go in.

The canary is singing, folks...

--Deborah

Deborah Healey
Chair, West University Neighbors
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