Urban Growth Strategies Adoption Package #1

Planning Commission Recommendation

On July 14, 2026, and July 28, 2026, the Eugene Planning Commission deliberated on Urban Growth Strategies Adoption Package #1 following the public hearing held on June 23, 2026. Commissioners discussed the proposed amendments related to middle housing, micro village and single room occupancies, day care centers, residential treatment facilities, expedited land use applications, land use approval extensions, and an increase to the R-1 Low-Density Residential Zone allowed building height.

The Commission recommended a package of code amendments to the Eugene City Council, including staff proposed changes responding to public testimony and Commission discussion, as well as an increase to the building height in R-1. The City Council process will take place in Fall 2026, including a work session, public hearing, and deliberations, with action expected before the end of the year.

Proposed Changes

This summary of proposed citywide land use regulation amendments (pdf) highlights the changes intended to remove barriers and expand access to housing and jobs, including:

Creating new development standards for single room occupancies (SRO) and micro village housing (pdf), two housing types allowing very small units with shared community facilities. Both housing types are proposed to be allowed in all residential and commercial zones, as well as special area zones that allow housing. The proposed standards respond to recent changes in state law to reduce barriers to the development of SROs.
Updates to middle housing development and land division standards (pdf), including changes to reduce the cost and complexity to develop middle housing, improve clarity during plan review, comply with recent changes to state law, and align with state model housing codes.
Increasing the maximum building height in the (R-1) Low-Density Residential Zone from 30 to 35 feet to improve building costs and add flexibility by allowing a full three stories of living area.
Allowing residential treatment facilities, residential treatment homes, and similar uses as allowed uses in more zones in alignment with recent changes in state law.
Allowing adult and child day care centers and day care homes as permitted uses (outright or with certain restrictions) in more zones. The proposed amendments related to child day care respond to recent changes in state law to reduce barriers to child care.
Streamlining some residential land use application processes to comply with state law and make development more efficient, by adding a new expedited application process for zone changes to a higher residential density, residential planned unit developments, and variances from a residential standard.
Allowing three-year extensions of the expiration date for certain land use approvals. The three-year extension is proposed in response to the housing crisis and to remove barriers to housing and job development.

Review the initial draft proposed code amendments:

Staff are proposing three adoption packages in 2026 and 2027 and will ask the Eugene and Lane County Planning Commissions to hold a public hearing for the second adoption package in the fall of 2026. A summary of all housing and jobs actions (including actions proposed for adoption both in 2026 and 2027) is available here (pdf).

Public Meetings and Testimony

As a part of the Urban Growth Strategies Adoption Package #1, both the Eugene Planning Commission and the Eugene City Council will hold work sessions, public hearings, and deliberations. The City Council will be the final local decision-maker. Written and emailed testimony will be provided to decision makers in batches as it is received.

Work Session: Eugene City Council

On September 16, 2026, Eugene City Council will hold a work session to discuss proposed Urban Growth Strategies Adoption Package 1#. More information for options to attend, or watch the work session will be available on the City's public meetings page.

Interested in more detail about the adoption package and process? Learn more in the summary of proposed citywide land use regulation amendments (pdf). The public hearing materials, including the official proposed amendments, are available here.

How to Submit Testimony:

Submit e-mail testimony to  UGS@eugene-or.gov
Submit a written statement to the Planning Commission, c/o Elena Domingo, City of Eugene Planning Division, 99 W. 10th Avenue, Eugene, Oregon 97401

UGS Adoption Package #1 Testimony

Submitted testimony will be posted here in batches after it is forwarded to decision makers:

*An index and information for each batch of testimony is included as the first section of each batch. This is the testimony submitted and included in the record.