Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities

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Project Background

The Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission adopted the Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities (CFEC) rules in mid-2022 to help meet the state’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions while also increasing housing choices and creating more equitable outcomes for all Oregonians.

Eugene and Springfield, among other metropolitan areas across the state, are required to change development standards to encourage more climate-friendly development and reduce emissions from transportation.


Project Goals

Through CFEC implementation, the City of Eugene will accomplish the following goals:

  • Comply with the Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities requirements
  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation and housing
  • Provide more climate-friendly housing and transportation options
  • Center the voices of historically marginalized community groups in decision-making

Luckily, these are projects that residents and Eugene City Council have already supported through other community projects such as the Climate Action Plan 2.0, Envision Eugene, Housing Implementation Pipeline, continued investments in downtown, affordable housing, and active transportation infrastructure, as well as other sustainability, housing, and transportation projects.

CFEC will result in changes to the Eugene Land Use Code, revisions to the Envision Eugene Comprehensive Plan and 2035 Transportation System Plan, as well as revised requirements for development permits.


Engage

Stay tuned for opportunities to provide input and participate in community engagement. In the meantime, use the tool below to “Ask a Question" and check out project updates as they're available.

Project Background

The Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission adopted the Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities (CFEC) rules in mid-2022 to help meet the state’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions while also increasing housing choices and creating more equitable outcomes for all Oregonians.

Eugene and Springfield, among other metropolitan areas across the state, are required to change development standards to encourage more climate-friendly development and reduce emissions from transportation.


Project Goals

Through CFEC implementation, the City of Eugene will accomplish the following goals:

  • Comply with the Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities requirements
  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation and housing
  • Provide more climate-friendly housing and transportation options
  • Center the voices of historically marginalized community groups in decision-making

Luckily, these are projects that residents and Eugene City Council have already supported through other community projects such as the Climate Action Plan 2.0, Envision Eugene, Housing Implementation Pipeline, continued investments in downtown, affordable housing, and active transportation infrastructure, as well as other sustainability, housing, and transportation projects.

CFEC will result in changes to the Eugene Land Use Code, revisions to the Envision Eugene Comprehensive Plan and 2035 Transportation System Plan, as well as revised requirements for development permits.


Engage

Stay tuned for opportunities to provide input and participate in community engagement. In the meantime, use the tool below to “Ask a Question" and check out project updates as they're available.

  • Designating Climate-Friendly Areas: A Look Into the Process

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    Climate-Friendly Areas are higher-density areas of the city where people can live, work, and play without relying on a car. Learn more about Climate-Friendly Areas here.

    Climate-Friendly Areas Designation Process

    Step 1: Study

    In 2023, Eugene will identify potential and study the most promising locations for Climate-Friendly Areas across the city. This study is primarily a technical analysis, considering certain state requirements and where in Eugene can meet those criteria.

    An important part of selecting Climate-Friendly Areas will be engaging historically marginalized communities to identify any areas where people might be at risk of being displaced from increased development and propose strategies to prevent or mitigate displacement.

    Step 2: Select and Adopt

    In 2024, we’ll begin the process to select Eugene’s Climate-Friendly Areas. Selection will include community engagement, a recommendation from Planning Commission, and a decision from Council to adopt the final Climate-Friendly Areas.

    Adoption will require revisions to the Eugene Land Use Code, as well as revisions to the Envision Eugene Comprehensive Plan – which staff expect will include two new chapters for Housing and Compact Development, as well as revisions to the Eugene Transportation System Plan.

    City staff intend to adopt these plan and code amendments alongside Eugene’s next Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) analysis, which is scheduled to be adopted in 2026.

    Step 3: Evaluate and Increase

    Climate-Friendly Area designation will not be static. The City will monitor and potentially increase areas under this designation during future UGB analyses. Climate-Friendly Areas will function as an important land use efficiency measure, which is a strategy for more compact development within the current UGB.

    Stay involved with the Climate-Friendly Areas designation process by signing up for the EUG Planning Newsletter or following the project on Engage Eugene. There will be opportunities for community members to weigh in on the most promising areas when the study is available in Summer 2023.

  • Rethinking How We Plan for Parking

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    The City of Eugene is carefully considering how we use land, now and into the future:

    • How do we plan for parking cars throughout the city, including neighborhoods and commercial areas?

    • Who decides if parking is needed on an individual property? Could areas be used for housing, gardens, or trees instead of cars?

    • What actions are most equitable and effective: who’s impacted and do outcomes slow climate change and promote walking and biking?

    Here are a few ways to engage:

    Weigh in on how we adapt to climate change and plan a community that is flexible, sustainable, and affordable!

  • Electric Vehicle Charging Requirements Effective 4/1/23

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    The State of Oregon has an adopted goal that 90% of new vehicles sold will be electric by 2035. To help meet that goal, the City needs to ensure people can charge their vehicles. The most convenient place to do so is at home.

    The City of Eugene implemented the second phase of state-required parking reforms focused on electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Starting on April 1, 2023, new multi-unit housing (5 or more dwellings) and mixed-use development (with multi-unit housing) must now include electrical conduit (pipes) to 40% of their parking spots, ready for adding wiring and charging stations to support electric vehicles as the market expands.

    To learn more about the City of Eugene's electric vehicle strategy and other projects to make them more accessible, check out the Eugene Climate Action Plan 2.0.

  • Reduced Parking Requirements Effective 12/31/22

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    The City of Eugene has heard through years of engagement efforts that residents want more housing choices, more transportation options, less pollution, and more equitable outcomes. To accomplish this, CFEC will include a change to the City's approach to parking requirements.

    Previously, most new development required a certain number of parking spots be built. Starting January 1, 2023, CFEC eliminates minimum off-street parking requirements in certain situations. There will no longer be required minimum parking for certain types of development, such as smaller housing types, childcare facilities, affordable housing, and shelters. Additionally, there will no longer be minimum off-street parking requirements within one-half mile walking distance of frequent transit corridors (map below).

    These changes don't mean that developers can’t build parking, just that the City doesn’t require it. Most developers will continue to provide some parking, but it will be based on what the market demands.

    This change to the development review process is the first of several changes to parking requirements as a part of CFEC. At a broader scale, Eugene will also select one of three options to reform parking requirements city-wide. Stay tuned for opportunities to share your thoughts on how the City should approach parking reform.

    To submit questions or comments regarding CFEC Parking Reform, please email: CFECParking@eugene-or.gov.

Page last updated: 02 Jun 2023, 03:48 PM