City Re-Zoning Proposals
A City Council vote in May to increase residential housing density beyond what is required by legislation will dramatically impact Eugene’s older neighborhoods.
In 2019, the Oregon Legislature passed HB2001 for cities larger than 25,000. This eliminated single-family zoning so duplexes and a diversity of housing types would be encouraged. HB2001 will allow for the doubling of residential density in Eugene.
The City is required to pass rules that comply with HB2001 by June. However, City deregulations for developers go well beyond the requirements of HB2001, with no affordability requirements to support or retain lower-cost ownership opportunity housing.
As shown in the graph, a 4,500 square foot lot is currently a single-family residence. HB2001 allows two units on the same size lot. City proposals would allow four units on the same lot size.
Additionally, City proposals beyond HB2001 would:
- allow three-story structures 5’ from property lines
- increase lot coverage by buildings from 50% to 75% (reducing green space) and reduce lot sizes
- allow development with no on-site parking near transit lines, including much of SUN.
The impact of these proposals would reduce privacy, solar energy access, tree canopy, available parking, neighborhood compatibility, and livability. Further, in University-proximate housing markets like SUN, the code changes are likely to incentivize more market rate student rental housing, not lower cost ownership-opportunity housing.
The SUNA Board recommends to the City Council:
- Comply with HB2001 state minimum standards without more developer deregulations
- Publicize specifics and impacts of the City’s proposals on neighborhoods
- Include affordability and homeownership-opportunity requirements
- Evaluate inequities resulting from the exemption of neighborhoods with Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs)
Learn more about the specifics of the City proposals and HB2001:
- To view City re-zoning proposals: https://wwwhttps://www.eugene-or.gov/4244/Middle-Housing.eugene-or.gov/4244/Middle-Housing
- To increase density in line with HB2001: https://Housing-facts.org
If you wish to submit a public comment regarding this proposal to City Council, you may send a message to middlehousingtestimony@eugene-or.gov or attend the public hearing scheduled for April 18 at 7:30PM.
You may also share concerns/ask questions of the City Council: mayorcouncilcitymanager@eugene-org.gov