Due to persistent problems with long-term car camping (particularly RV and bus conversion “travelers” during summer months) and the resulting trash and problematic activity, abandoned and long-term “remote” stored vehicles, and parking violations that pose safety risks, neighbors in the Monroe Park area are considering a Residential Parking Permit (RPP) zone.

If you are interested in volunteering for this process to set proposed rules, gather signatures, or have feedback, contact us at jwneugene@gmail.com.

If you live in an area not included below, but want to institute an RPP, please let us know. It is all based on demand.

Monroe Park Residential Parking Permit Zone

Fact Sheet

The permits pay for the patrols and signage. Citations comprise less that 20% of revenue.

Why Consider a Permit Zone?

• Parking control officers do not ordinarily patrol areas without a permit zone because the zone pays for the officer’s time. So, parking rules are more evenly enforced, which improves street safety.
• Permits eliminate multi-day car camping, but do allow for “one-and-done” overnight sleeping in vehicles because there is no overnight enforcement. This mitigates problematic car camping behavior while not burdening respectful campers.
• Permits eliminate “remote storage” of vehicles.
• Permits expedite the removal of abandoned vehicles.
• Permits create a cost for what might be an extra vehicle, thus encouraging people to donate or sell it.
• Permits encourage people to use available off-street parking, thus freeing up on-street parking for guests and those with no other options.
• Residential on-street parking is a benefit that is paid by all but used by just some.

Issues with Permit Parking

• Costs: Even a minimal cost is still an extra expenditure, which can be an added burden for low-income residents.
• Hassle: Having to take the time to get a permit and renew it.
• Equity: If you have no off-street parking where you live, you are forced into buying a permit whereas those with off-street parking do not.

Proposed Zone Area

This is the currently proposed zone, but may expand or contract based on neighbor opt-in/outs.

Border on the north up to but not including W. 8^th Ave

Bordered on the south up to but not including W. 11^th

Bordered on the west up to but not including Jefferson

Bordered on the east up to  Van Buren

Proposed/rules based on city standards

• Days per week: Monday through Sunday
• Hours per day 24: enforced 8-6 (approximately) Monday-Saturday (may expand). You can park over-night and as long as you are gone by 9 you are okay.
• Free parking no permit: 2 hours

What does it cost?

• $40 per permit per year (currently)*.
• That comes to: .11 cents per day, .77 cents a week, or $3.33 a month

Who can get a permit?

• You must be able to prove residency (same requirements as a library card)
• Residences and permits are determined by tax lot
• The process is 100% online (no stickers/based on license plates).

How does it work?

• Maximum of 5 yearly permits (can get two year permits on request for homeowners or long-term renters [4+ years]) per tax lot.
• *You can assign up unlimited vehicles per permit, but only one can use it at a time
• Up to 30 single day use permits per month (free) per tax lot. You can assign as many single-day permits at a time (so a guest that stays for a week would use up 7 single day permits)
• More than a single day guest permit or over the 30 permits may be obtained by calling. For example, a free service permit for contractors or home healthcare staff based on the contract.

 How does the process work?

• Tentative boundaries are submitted to Parking who calculates if the zone is financially viable (pays for itself via permits).
• Basic rules are proposed.
• All residences are notified via postcard within the proposed zone + 2 blocks in every direction.
• Volunteers canvas to ask questions and get votes.
• Lease holders (on contract) get half a vote (if 5 people, they get ½ vote)
• All Lease holders (on contract) in multifamily dwellings + get half a vote.
• Dwelling owners get half a vote.
• Owner occupiers get a full vote.
• Half vote if house on corner for each street.
• The vote is simple majority but technically advisory, the traffic engineer has the final say based on set criteria if the vote is close.

What if I don’t want to be in the permit zone?

• Before the zone is established you can file a request to be exempted. However, this means the street in front of your property will be clearly excluded from the zone by signage so if likely to attract a lot of vehicles. No recommended.
• Area directly outside a permit zone tend to get bigger parking impacts.

 

 

Please join us for a discussion on Livability in the JWN @ our March 10 General Meeting at the UMC on Olive near 13th.

Below are some resources and some excerpted information and graphics on aspects of livability.

JWN Resources

• JWN Report on Negative Infill Impacts
• JWN Report on Neighborhood Character

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From Livability Indicators CH2M-Hill

Envision Eugene “Neighborhood Livability” theme: Protecting, repairing and enhancing neighborhood livability is a central pillar of the community’s vision for Eugene.

How are “Livability” and “Quality of Life” defined?

“Livability” and “quality of life” are terms which, though in widespread use, do not have single agreed upon definitions. The following section briefly describes the common usage of each term and finishes with a proposed working definition for the Oregon Least Cost Planning tool.

Livability: Derived from the word “livable,” “livability” is defined broadly as “suitability for human living.” …factors such as political stability, safety, healthcare, education, public services, transportation, recreation, housing, and environmental quality.

Additionally, recent research conducted on five mature metropolitan livability programs3 throughout the United States resulted in a diverse array of livability objectives (Fabish & Haas, 2010). The types of livability objectives included in these programs include:

• environmental goals (such as air quality, open space, and greenhouse gas emissions);
• economic goals (such as economic revitalization and development);
• land use goals (such as compact, mixed use development);
• transportation goals (such as walkability, accessibility, and transportation choices);
• equity goals (such as affordable housing and mixed-income communities); and
• community development goals (such as sense of place, safety, and public health).

Broadly, quality of life refers to the general well-being of individuals and societies.

[…]When urban planners talk about enhancing quality of life, they are generally talking about the external conditions that contribute to quality of life (such as level of income or access to services and resources); rather than the internal experience of quality of life that is based more on subjective judgment and life satisfaction as a whole (Pichardo-Muñiz, 2010).

[…]For example community quality of life indicators refer to the benefits derived from increased physical activity; breathing clean air; having access to transportation choices, jobs, housing, education, open space, and healthy food; having adequate opportunities for recreation and leisure time; living in a pleasant, safe, and cohesive community; and having a sense of social belonging, among others (Forkenbrock & Weisbrod, 2001).

[…]While these are all very similar to the aspects of livability described above, (and indeed the two terms are often used interchangably in the urban planning field), the distinction lies in the difference between the presence and quality of the amenities of the built and natural environments (livability) and the user experience of those amenities and any associated health benefits (quality of life).

 

Perceptions_of_Livability_in_Oregon-Parker_and_Lewis-DRAFT_10_09_17_

From this process, several thematic categories emerged including (1) housing, (2) community features or attributes, (3) infrastructure, (4) natural environment, and (5) transportation.

[…]Community features such as lighted bike paths along a river, a covered bus stop shelter along a street, or drinking fountains in a downtown neighborhood are becoming the norm for livable places. In fact, livable places are often judged by the amount and diversity of community features (amenities) they have (Balas, 2004).

[…] Accordingly, communities need to consider the features they employ: “adopt a narrative that resonates by leveraging historic, cultural or other unique attributes of your community that tend to unite people” (Guzman and Douglas, 2015).

[…] Transportation is frequently associated with livability; either through mention of traffic congestion, safer streets, transportation alternatives and modal choices, or even the impact new technology could have on transportation systems into the future.

Eugene Neighborhood Livability Working Group Report September 2011

*Mostly focused on students housing impacts

We take as fundamental rights already protected by law, that all residents of the city and the city’s neighborhoods shall be entitled to the safe and peaceful enjoyment of their residences and that their property shall be respected; that public behavior shall be consistent with these rights.

Behaviors with negative impacts addressed in this paper:

Property, Personal & Behavior Crimes & Issues

1. Noise-related
2. Related to Personal Safety (violent crimes, fighting, intimidation, sexual assault, robbery)
3. Related to Property (theft, vandalism, trespass, graffiti, removal of public signs)
4. Traffic (illegal parking, DUII, speeding)

Zoning/Land Use Issues

1. Property Upkeep (incl. not limited to: garbage removal, lawn care, home maintenance, litter)
2. Parking
3. Zoning Violations
4. Exodus of Long-Term Neighbors

JWN Report on Negative Infill Impacts

Reduced privacy impacts

• Views into adjacent dwelling
• Views into adjacent backyard

Crowding and reduced view impacts

• Excessive wall adjacent to existing dwelling
• Excessive wall adjacent to existing backyard
• Insufficient setback between structures.

Obstruction of sunlight or air circulation impacts

• Sunlight obstruction
• Air circulation obstruction

Excessive light and noise intrusions

• Excessive exterior area lighting.
• Excessive noise from building-related equipment.
• Excessive noise, exhaust smell, or unhealthy fumes from parking and/or driveway traffic adjacent to existing dwelling or backyard.
• Excessive noise, dust, exhaust smell, or unhealthy fumes from alley traffic adjacent to existing dwelling or backyard.

Other

• Excessive, poorly located, and/or poorly screened on-site parking

Traffic, parking, and pedestrian safety impacts

• Parking or excessive driveway surface in front of structure (i.e., between structure and street), or excessive curb cut.
• Diminished pedestrian and bicyclist safety; reduced appeal of walking and bicycle riding.

Neighborhood impacts

1. Loss of permeable surfaces.
2. Loss of arable surfaces, large- and small-scale vegetation, habitat, and wildlife.
3. Increased load on infrastructure, including streets, alleys, sidewalks, water system, sanitary sewer, storm sewers.

Livability is a factor in Land Use Law: Case from the Land Use Board of Appeals

LUBA Benjamin v Ashland min impact on livability

LUBA Eckis v Linn County — Livability and Traffic