JWN 4-plexes

JWN votes to oppose development of sixteen apartments plus 21 parking spaces on
the W. 11th Alley

At the September 11, 2007 General Meeting, JWN members adopted the following motion:

The Jefferson Westside Neighbors (JWN) opposes the permit applications

by True North Investments, LLC to develop two lots (17-04-36-41-00200 and

17-04-36-41-00300) with four fourplexes, an accessory building, and approx-

imately twenty parking spaces all taking access from W. 11th Alley.

This development would be grossly incompatible with the neighborhood

character; conflicts with adopted policies of the Westside Refinement Plan;

would diminish the stability and quality of the established, older residential

neighborhood in conflict with Metro Plan policy A.25; and would degrade the

character and livability of the neighborhood, in conflict with Eugene’s adopted

Growth Management Policies 6 and 9.

The JWN Executive Board is directed to take all action they deem appropr-

iate to oppose approval of these permits.

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The development described below is an example of the type of grossly incompatible infill
that current R-2 zoning allows in much of the Westside and Jefferson neighborhoods.

If you live in the R-2 zone -- Similar types of development could occur next to you!

You can help prevent this type of destructive infill by becoming involved in the
neighborhood effort to get sensible infill standards adopted to protect our homes and
community. Learn how more about the Infill Compatibility Standards project.

A developer has filed building permit applications for a complex consisting of four two-story
4-plexes on two lots in the middle of the 1000 block of W. 11th Ave. (On the south side
between Jackson and Van Buren.)

A preliminary review of the application indicates each 4-plex will be approximately 50' x 56'
plain boxes that are separated from each other by only 10 feet.

The structures are approximately 28' high and have 19-foot walls only 5 feet from the
adjacent property lines and only 15 feet from the sidewalk on W. 11th Ave.

No open space is provided. Under the City's multi-unit standards, a developer gets an
exemption from the open space requirement if they jam enough apartments onto a lot.
(No, this doesn't make any sense -- it's just one more example of how flawed and
destructive the City's current zoning code is.)

There are 21 parking spaces. All traffic will use W. 11th Alley and will dump an estimated
160 or more car trips each day onto this narrow, unimproved, dirt alley. Each of these trips
will take a car across the sidewalk on either Jackson or Van Buren, increasing the risks to
pedestrians and bicyclists. (The City isn't requiring the developer to make any
improvements to the alley -- another example of Eugene's "planning" at work.)

The developer intends to remove the classic 1935 duplex at 1066/1078 W. 11th Ave. that is
a great example of a harmonious multi-family development in our neighborhood.

A request has been sent to City Planning Division staff for clarification on a couple of
elements of the application that do not appear to comply with code requirements:

One of the lots is only large enough to allow seven units, whereas the developer has
proposed eight units.

The structures cover more than the maximum of 50 percent of the lot surfaces.

For more information, contact the JWN Chair.