Public Health Standards

Refining Eugene’s land use code for industrial development

The City of Eugene is committed to supporting a healthy built environment for all community members, as well as an economic climate where businesses can grow and thrive. Land use planning is one way the City can encourage development where residents have access to clean air and water and opportunity for economic prosperity.

This project will identify possible changes to Eugene’s land use regulations to address the concerns of residents living near industrial areas within the City of Eugene. Through this project, the City will:

• Engage residents, businesses, and community organizations on possible changes.
• Identify gaps in local, state, and federal regulation of industrial development.
• Consider enhanced land use regulations for new or expanded industrial developments located near residential zones, parks, schools, and other sensitive areas in order to mitigate community health risks.
• Gather additional recommendations for future changes to City policy, zoning of properties, programs and investments, or other ways to make changes through land use planning.

The City’s land use code already regulates industrial development in many ways, and under some circumstances, land use regulations can fill gaps and/or prevent future impacts on people living nearby. However, Eugene’s land use code is not always the most appropriate and effective tool for regulating pollution, noise, odors, light, or other environmental impacts. This project will consider enhancements to industrial development standards citywide, including, but not limited to:

• Requiring more distance between new industrial developments and residential or other sensitive areas, through tools such as setbacks, buffer areas, and landscaping.
• Increasing coordination between land use application processes and other approvals (such as traffic impact studies, clean air permitting, or other requirements)
• Other tools identified through research and community engagement

Project Timeline

Staff anticipate the following milestones for this project:

• January 2025: Community Engagement Plan & Initial Conversations
• Winter – Spring 2025: Community Engagement, Research on Best Practices, Identify Possible Paths Forward
• Summer 2025: City Council Direction on Next Steps

Community Engagement

Read the project Community Engagement Strategy here. This project will include a variety of opportunities for the community to engage and contribute to the proposed changes. City staff will reach out to a broad spectrum of community members, including affected neighborhood groups, businesses, and environmental and community groups.

Take the survey, participate in an upcoming event, or use the Q&A function below to ask questions for staff.