City Council Selects Future Climate-Friendly Areas
On November 13, 2024, City Council provided direction on where to designate Climate-Friendly Areas. Councilors unanimously selected “Option 1” which includes parts of greater downtown Eugene and the commercial area on Lower Coburg Road. Draft maps of Option 1 with current zoning are available here.
Climate-Friendly Areas (CFA) are a type of urban, mixed-use center, directed by state administrative rules. They are intended to be areas where most people can meet their daily needs without relying on a car. Staff proposed three options for CFA designation, based on the results of the 2023 Climate-Friendly Areas Study, 2024 redevelopment analysis, and community engagement.
Staff will spend 2025 preparing to implement the designation, including:
- Determining parcel-specific boundaries
- Completing a multi-modal transportation gap analysis within the selected areas
- Identifying housing displacement mitigation strategies
- Developing land use code and plan amendments
The package is anticipated for adoption by the City Council in 2026. CFA designation is not intended to be static. The City will monitor and may need to designate additional areas during future urban growth planning.
Eugene is integrating Climate-Friendly Areas designation within Urban Growth Strategies for a more cohesive approach to housing and growth management planning. As a part of this work, Eugene is advancing policies to focus future growth, particularly higher density housing, in and near mixed-use centers and along key corridors to increase access to essential goods and services for all residents. Mixed-use centers in Eugene will range in size and activity level, from downtown Eugene to smaller neighborhood centers. Climate-Friendly Areas are just one type of center that fit the state’s requirements. Centers will play a crucial role in reducing dependence on cars, lowering household transportation costs, and decreasing pollution by keeping goods and services close together and near housing.
