The Middle Housing formal adoption process kicked off in September with publication of draft land use code and plan amendments for middle housing in Eugene. To help the community navigate and understand this information, we scheduled three information sessions and produced a Guide to the Adoption Process, which includes a summary of the draft code and ways to get involved. Recordings of all of the info sessions will be available on the project website.
The Planning Commission will hold the first public hearing on the project on November 16. After the hearing, Planning Commission deliberation sessions are scheduled for November and December. Once the Commission completes its recommendations, the Council will hold its own work sessions and public hearing, anticipated for February 2022.
The project team worked from a Planning Commission approved Public Involvement Plan to reach out to the general public, boards and commissions and local partners, an Equity RoundTable, and the Healthy Democracy panel to inform the draft code recommendations. In addition, we recently created this Middle Housing Affordability FAQ to answer frequently asked questions about what the city can and can’t do with respect to affordability strategies. Spoiler alert: we can do a lot to encourage and incentivize affordability, both in and outside of the code.
Highlights of the Planning Commission’s guidance on the draft land use code include:
- Focus on equity and inclusion as code choices are made.
- Encourage and incentivize middle housing across the community.
- Near transit routes, encourage compact development by reducing parking requirements.
- Pursue incentives and programs beyond the code as part of our ongoing housing work.
In the upcoming public hearings process, we want to hear from everyone! The project team has set up an email address for public comments about the middle housing project: middlehousingtestimony@eugene-or.gov. Community members can send their comments there, and staff will compile the testimony for sharing with the Planning Commission and City Council at their respective points in the process.
For more information, visit the project webpage, Facebook, and Instagram. If you have any questions about the project, contact Public Engagement Lead Sophie McGinley.