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The purpose of the land use code is to protect and promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the public and to preserve and enhance the economic, social, and environmental qualities of the community.

(1) The land use code is intended to effectively and efficiently implement applicable state and federal laws, the Envision Eugene Comprehensive Plan, the Metro Plan, and the following policies from the Growth Management Study:

(a) Support the existing Eugene Urban Growth Boundary by taking actions to increase density and use existing vacant land and under-used land within the boundary more efficiently. (Policy 1)

(b) Encourage in-fill, mixed-use, redevelopment, and higher density development. (Policy 2)

(c) Encourage a mix of businesses and residential uses downtown using incentives and zoning. (Policy 3)

(d) Improve the appearance of buildings and landscapes. (Policy 4)

(e) Work cooperatively with Metro area partners (Springfield and Lane County) and other nearby cities to avoid urban sprawl and preserve the rural character in areas outside the urban growth boundaries. (Policy 5)

(f) Increase density of new housing development while maintaining the character and livability of individual neighborhoods. (Policy 6)

(g) Provide for a greater variety of housing types. (Policy 7)

(h) Promote construction of affordable housing. (Policy 8)

(i) Mitigate the impacts of new and/or higher density housing, in-fill, and redevelopment on neighborhoods through design standards, open space and housing maintenance programs, and continuing historic preservation and neighborhood planning programs. (Policy 9)

(j) Encourage the creation of transportation-efficient land use patterns and implementation of nodal development concepts. (Policy 10)

(k) Increase the use of alternative modes of transportation by improving the capacity, design, safety, and convenience of the transit, bicycle, and pedestrian transportation systems. (Policy 11)

(l) Encourage alternatives to the use of single-occupant vehicles through demand management techniques. (Policy 12)

(m) Focus future street improvements on relieving pressure on the city’s most congested roadways and intersections to maintain an acceptable level of mobility for all modes of transportation. (Policy 13)

(n) Development shall be required to pay the full cost of extending infrastructure and services, except that the city will examine ways to subsidize the costs of providing infrastructure or offer other incentives that support higher-density, in-fill, mixed uses, and nodal development. (Policy 14)

(o) Target publicly-financed infrastructure extensions to support development for higher densities, in-fill, mixed uses, and nodal development. (Policy 15)

(p) Focus efforts to diversify the local economy and provide family-wage jobs principally by supporting local, and environmentally-sensitive businesses. Direct available financial and regulatory incentives to support these efforts. (Policy 16)

(q) Protect and improve air and water quality and protect natural areas of good habitat value through a variety of means such as better enforcement of existing regulations, new or revised regulations, or other practices. (Policy 17)

(r) Increase the amount and variety of parks and open spaces. (Policy 18)

(s) Expand city efforts to achieve community-based policing. (Policy 19)

These policies shall serve as guidance as the city considers proposed changes to this land use code.

(2) The land use code is designed to help:

(a) Attain community goals and policies.

(b) Allow amendments to local plans and regulatory measures to address changes in circumstances and public values.

(c) Ensure an appropriate mix of land uses that provide the economic and social advantages which result from an orderly, planned use of land.

(d) Provide adequate public facilities and services; allow for adequate light, air, and open space; and protect from fire, flood, and other risks and dangers.

(e) Preserve and restore significant historic resources and increase public awareness of the community’s historic and cultural heritage.

(f) Preserve and enhance environmental resources, the natural scenic beauty of the area, and aesthetic qualities of the community.

(Section 9.0020, see chart at front of Chapter 9 for legislative history from 2/26/01 through 6/1/02; amended by Ordinance No. 20417, enacted August 11, 2008, effective July 7, 2009; and Ordinance No. 20584, enacted July 17, 2017, effective August 24, 2017.)