The community vision for Economic Development:

The River Road and Santa Clara communities support sustainable economic development, a variety of employment opportunities for all residents, and local entrepreneurship. Economic activity, especially that of local businesses, contributes to a shared neighborhood identity, while providing places to gather and build community. Natural assets, such as the river and fertile soils, benefit local residents and support thriving businesses. Residents can safely access essential goods and services within a short distance from home.

The Neighborhood Plan policies (statements adopted to provide a consistent course of action and move the community toward attainment of its goals) for Economic Development focus on:

• incentives for local businesses
• supporting redevelopment that fosters active mixed-use centers
• encouraging neighborhood-scale businesses in residentially zoned areas

The proposed draft code:

• encourages walkable mixed-use development and requires commercial development in certain nodes along the River Road corridor
• will allow urban farmers to collectively sell produce on-site

River Road-Santa Clara Special Area Zone - Commercial Frontage Overlay Highlight

The proposed zoning focuses on neighborhood centers, which are key commercial areas near future transportation improvements along the River Road corridor. Explore the proposed zoning map to see where the proposed zoning will apply and where current zoning will remain. The proposed zoning will only apply to properties currently within the city limits or as property owners choose to annex.

One of the new proposed zones is the Corridor Mixed-Use Zone, which:

• applies to current C-1 Neighborhood Commercial and key GO General Office zoned properties in neighborhood centers on the River Road corridor (as well as C-2 Community Commercial zoned properties and key large church properties in River Road-Santa Clara) to support potential future redevelopment
• encourages new buildings with appropriate height and relationship to the street that enable a long-term transition to a highly walkable, safe, and active streetscape
• combines engaging street side character with gradual building scale transitions between uses of greater and lesser intensity

The Commercial Frontage Overlay:

• applies to certain properties with proposed Corridor Mixed-Use zoning that are at key intersections near potential transportation improvements while considering potential development opportunities (e.g. vacant/partially vacant properties)
• establishes areas where ground floor commercial uses are required (e.g. retail, personal services, and restaurants)
• uses development standards to support an active street environment

Visit the code summary for an overview of other key code topics and to see an overview of the proposed zoning and development standards compared to existing zoning and development standards.

The community vision for Parks and Natural Resources:

River Road and Santa Clara celebrate a rich diversity of private and shared green spaces, including parks for recreation, natural areas that support native plants and wildlife, and farmland for food production. All residents have a clean, safe, accessible, and well-maintained park or recreation facility close to their home. Residents have access to the Willamette River, which is celebrated as a natural asset, a defining characteristic of both neighborhoods, and a statewide resource. Natural assets, such as the tree canopy, soils, and the watershed are protected for future generations and are highly valued and cared for as natural infrastructure that enhances ecosystem health, provides opportunities for recreation, and supports the working landscape.

The Neighborhood Plan policies (statements adopted to provide a consistent course of action and move the community toward attainment of its goals) for Parks and Natural Resources focus on:

• providing access and connectivity to parks
• greater availability of recreational opportunities
• balancing preservation and access to the Willamette River
• promotion of agricultural enterprises

The proposed draft code aims to:

• Enhance public access and connections to the river
• Recognize the significance of the Greenway and protect, maintain, preserve, and enhance its natural, scenic, historic, and recreational qualities.
• Use development standards to provide a buffer between the Willamette River Greenway Setback and new development and to limit the mass of building

Santa Clara Community Park Update The Santa Clara community remains a high priority for development of much needed park services and work continues on the development of the Santa Clara Community Park. Santa Clara Community Park is a future community park site currently comprised of two open fields with informal walking paths on the north and east sides of Madison Middle School, off Wilkes Drive. City Council recently approved the annexation application for the park, which will allow for the City-owned property to be developed as the Santa Clara Community Park.

Phase 1 of the development of the new 35-acre park will include a playground, restroom, and park shelter as well as trees, lawn, lighting, parking, hard and soft surface paths, and a pedestrian bridge. The north and south halves of the site will be connected with a pedestrian bridge to span the remnant oxbow of the Willamette River and the banks will include some planting enhancements as a part of the bridge work. To see the most current plans for the park, click here.

The City has applied for a local grant that would also provide funding for path connections between the north and south properties and perimeter walking trails. These potential paths are shown on the plans as “grant funded improvements,” development will depend on if the City is a successful grant recipient. Additionally, the Eugene Parks Foundation is in the fundraising stage for a spray play feature for the park.

To stay up to date on this project, visit the Santa Clara Community Park Engage Eugene page.

The community vision for Transportation:

The integrated transportation system in River Road and Santa Clara is safe, efficient, and accessible for people of all ages, abilities, and socio-economic levels who choose to bike, walk, drive, or use public transit. This system supports redevelopment, economic opportunity, and affordable, convenient access to daily needs. The design of the transportation system enhances the sense of place and responds to the evolving needs of the community. Our transportation system is environmentally responsible and supports low carbon transportation options.

The Neighborhood Plan policies (statements adopted to provide a consistent course of action and move the community toward attainment of its goals) for Transportation focus on:

• expanding active transportation networks
• prioritizing infrastructure improvements
• educating youth about transportation options
• creating a transportation system that responds to long-term needs

The proposed draft code:

• supports coordinated land use and transportation planning by focusing on neighborhood centers near future transportation improvements along the corridor
• also includes design objectives to support innovative, active transportation options such as walking, bicycling, and public transit while promoting human scale design

Transportation Project Updates

Click the video below to watch City staff discussing some upcoming transportation projects in River Road and Santa Clara.

More project updates:

Beaver/Hunsaker Corridor Improvements and River Road/Hunsaker Intersection Improvements

• Lane County completed construction of the Beaver Street shared use path as part of the Beaver/Hunsaker safety project. This project will also include a stutter-flash crossing at Taito Lane and tubular delineators installed along the fog line of the south side of Hunsaker Lane to demark the wider shoulder created for people to walk more comfortably.
• The City of Eugene will start construction of complete street improvements (sidewalks, bike lanes, stormwater) on Hunsaker Lane From Daffodil Court east towards Taito Lane in late fall or early winter, aiming to complete construction in mid-summer 2023.
• See the Beaver/Hunsaker Corridor Plan for background on the project.

Beltline Interchange Improvements

• Both the Beltline Facility Plan and Eugene’s Transportation System Plan include safety and mobility improvements along the Beltline, including the Delta Highway and River Road interchanges. ODOT (Oregon Department of Transportation) completed NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) documentation in March for the entire Beltline project, which allows a project to use federal money for construction. This puts ODOT and/or the City/County in a good position to pursue funding opportunities and move forward with additional design or construction efforts.
• Learn more about the project here.

Neighborhood Connector Bridge at Division

• The project plans include constructing a multimodal local arterial bridge over the Willamette River to the north of the Beltline Highway, connecting Division Avenue to Green Acres Road; constructing operational improvements to existing Randy Papé Beltline Highway/ Delta Highway ramps consistent with the Beltline Highway Facility Plan. This project will address some of the concerns about connectivity and congestion identified through the neighborhood planning process.
• See the recent presentation about this project at the Santa Clara Community Organization meeting here.

Safe Routes to School – Howard Avenue

• As part of a Safe Routes to School project, the City will connect River Road with Howard Elementary and Kelly Middle School with a protected walking and bicycling space, while enabling the curbless street to retain rural character.
• Learn more about the project here.

The River Road-Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan is in the final stage of the project. After years of gathering community input for the visions, goals, and policies in the Neighborhood Plan, the project team is excited to share the draft Neighborhood Plan back out to the community.

For the month of August, the project newsletters will be highlighting the five topic areas in the River Road-Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan each week – Community, Transportation, Parks and Natural Resources, Economic Development, and Land Use. This week’s focus is on the Community topic area.

The Community Vision:

The River Road and Santa Clara Neighborhoods exude a strong sense of place. They are welcoming and inclusive neighborhoods for people of all backgrounds. River Road and Santa Clara celebrate and nurture community unity and diverse cultures and honor the rich history of farming in the neighborhoods. The community recognizes the value of natural assets, such as the River and thriving shared spaces, such as parks, schools, and local businesses. Our neighborhoods are safe, resilient, and engaged, with strong social networks and reliable public services.

The Neighborhood Plan policies (statements adopted to provide a consistent course of action and move the community toward attainment of its goals) for Community focus on:

• Supporting and advocating for neighborhood services and opportunities, such as:
  1. affordable housing
  2. public art
  3. library and cultural services
  4. emergency preparedness

Implementation of the vision for Community will rely on:

• building community support and participation
• collaborating with the City, County, and other local service providers
• supporting current work being done by the River Road Community Organization (RRCO) and the Santa Clara Community Organization (SCCO) and their related committees

Do you want to be a part of this change working towards the Community vision?

• building community and resiliency
• developing and fostering relationships
• welcoming new neighbors
• collaborating on community projects

Check out some of the projects RRCO and SCCO already have underway!

River Road Community Organization:

RRCO committees: https://riverroadco.org/committees/

RRCO volunteer opportunities: https://riverroadco.org/volunteer/

Santa Clara Community Organization:

SCCO active projects: https://santaclaracommunity.org/scco/community-organization/

One of the five Topic Areas to be addressed in the River Road-Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan is Parks and Natural Resources. The River Road and Santa Clara neighborhoods contain a bounty of natural beauty, including access to the Willamette River and to over 227 acres of parks, recreation and open space. From Awbrey Park to Rasor Park, wildlife in River Road-Santa Clara flourishes in and around the neighborhoods. A key component to ensuring the protection of both wildlife and habitat is comprehensive and coordinated stormwater management.

Eugene receives 47 inches of rain per year on average. In a natural environment, the rich, pervious soils in the River Road-Santa Clara neighborhoods would absorb most of this water. However, where buildings, parking lots, and roads cover the ground, water cannot infiltrate. As water washes over these impervious surfaces it becomes stormwater, picking up dirt, debris, and pollutants along the way. Stormwater includes anything that flows into the storm drain. Stormwater management helps to ensure that our waterways and aquifers are kept clean of debris and significant pollutants. The City and the County work together in the mixed jurisdictional River Road-Santa Clara area to ensure that requirements set by the federal Clean Water Act are met. City and County staff also work towards advancing best practices through pilot projects, community education and awareness, and problem solving.

For information on current and upcoming stormwater and natural resource projects in River Road - Santa Clara check out the Stormwater and Natural Resources Handout and the Parks and Natural Resources Map.

This spring, the project team will be presenting to the Eugene and Lane County Planning Commissions, Eugene City Council, and Lane County Board of Commissioners on the status of the project. We will be asking for a recommendation on land use code amendments that require City and/or County approval to include in the adoption package and approval to move into the Adoption Phase.

See Upcoming Project Updates for details on the upcoming meetings as they become available.