Urban Reserves

Eugene’s UGB is currently projected to have enough land for our population through 2032. Since population and development trends can change, Urban Reserves allows us to plan beyond 2032. Urban Reserves planning identifies enough land for the housing, parks, schools, and jobs needed by Eugene’s population in the long-term future (between 2032 and 2062) while implementing the area’s regional open space vision, including preservation of significant farm and forest land, waterways, and natural resources.

Moving into the Adoption Phase

With the help of many stakeholders, a range of Urban Reserve options were under review since June 2020--by the public, the Envision Eugene Technical Advisory Committee, Eugene Planning Commission, Lane County Planning Commission, Eugene City Council and Lane County Board of Commissioners.

In November 2020, staff received direction to proceed with Option 3, the 27-Year Urban Reserve area, from City and County decision-makers, and are currently working on the formal adoption materials, with the goal of beginning public hearings later this year. To view a map of the proposed Urban Reserve Area click here. To review the work preceding it, see the Urban Reserve Options Story Map.

Direction
Options story map
Suitability Analysis
Technical Analysis
Open Houses

Lane County Board of Commissioners Direction

On November 10, 2020, the Lane County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a motion to support the Eugene City Council’s initiation of a public review and adoption process to consider the establishment of Urban Reserves as described in Option 3, the 27-Year Option. Option 3 includes almost 6,000 acres of land, enough to meet approximately 27 years of growth beyond 2032, and strives to protect our highest value soils by removing from consideration all agricultural properties with predominant Class 1 land and directly adjacent agricultural properties with predominant Class 2 land.

Eugene City Council Direction

On October 21, 2020, the Eugene City Council passed a motion, in a 7 - 1 vote, to support Urban Reserve Option 3, which includes enough land to meet approximately 27 years of growth beyond 2032. The City Council’s direction is consistent with the recommendation made by the Eugene Planning Commission, the Envision Eugene Technical Advisory Committee’s recommendation to staff, the majority of public input, and the City Manager’s recommendation. Prior to passing the motion, the City Council held a work session on October 12, 2020, to allow for additional time to ask questions and receive information. You can watch the work session here.

City Council and County Board of Commissioners Joint Work Session

On September 21, 2020, staff presented four Urban Reserves Options to the Eugene City Council and Lane County Board of Commissioners at a joint work session. Staff also shared recommendations from the Envision Eugene Technical Advisory Committee (EETAC), Eugene Planning Commission, Lane County Planning Commission, and the results of our Virtual Open House survey.

Planning Commission Recommendations

The Eugene and Lane County Planning Commissions each recommended an Urban Reserve option for the City Council and the Lane Board of County Commissioners to consider before making a final decision.

On August 17th the Eugene Planning Commission voted 7-0 to recommend the 27-Year option.
On August 18th the Lane County Planning Commission voted 5-3 to recommend the 30-Year Option with a plan policy requiring the Class 1 and 2 farm land in the Awbrey subarea to be the last of the urban reserve land to be considered for expansion of Eugene’s urban growth boundary.

Envision Eugene Technical Advisory Committee Recommendation

On July 16, 2020, after seventeen meetings over the course of 22 months, the Envision Eugene Technical Advisory Committee (EETAC) provided their final input and recommendation to staff on the Urban Reserve Options under consideration. Two motions were passed. The first supports the urban reserves analysis as technically sound. The second motion supports the recommendation of Option 3, the 27-year option, that preserves Class 1 and adjacent Class 2 land, with the acknowledgement that the year-range is an estimate based on current population forecasts and existing land use code.