Eugene is beginning a multi-year effort to advance City climate action, housing production, and transportation goals through a state-directed program called Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities, or CFEC.
In March of 2020, Governor Kate Brown issued an executive order directing state agencies to take actions to reduce and regulate greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change while also centering the needs of Oregon’s most vulnerable communities. In response, the Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission developed new requirements for cities to help meet these goals through changes to local transportation and land use systems.
Through CFEC, Eugene and Springfield, among other metro areas across the state, will make changes to provide more climate-friendly housing choices and transportation options, reduce pollution, and center the voices of underserved populations.
One of the first elements of CFEC implementation is parking reform. Eugene will follow a state-required approach to reduce or remove minimum parking requirements for desired types of development, such as smaller housing types, small businesses, childcare facilities, multi-family housing, and historic buildings. The City must completely remove minimum parking requirements within one-half mile walking distance of frequent transit access, including River Road, and certain areas where parking demand is lower. Eugene will also select one of three options to reform parking requirements city-wide.
As of December 31, 2022, the City can not require minimum on-site parking requirements within ½ mile walking distance of frequent transit corridors, including River Road. That doesn’t mean that developers can’t build parking, just that the City doesn’t require them to. Most developers will continue to provide some parking, but it will be based on what the market demands.
Additional parking changes will be part of upcoming Eugene City Council discussions and citywide code changes that will go through a formal adoption process with opportunities for public input. While most of the parking changes must be adopted locally by December 31, 2023, depending on the path selected, a few requirements are due after this date and a few become effective earlier. Some of the parking changes also apply Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) wide and will require Lane County participation.
Outside of parking reform, there are several other CFEC projects that will be implemented through 2026. The City will update Eugene’s long-range plans and land use code so we can invest in more climate-friendly housing and transportation options for current and future residents and reduce pollution. This project will also work to center the voices of underserved populations or those who have been historically harmed through past land use and transportation decisions.