Introduction
In 2017, the City of Eugene and Lane County cooperatively established a new urban growth boundary (UGB) for the City of Eugene to identify the land needed to meet the City's needs for employment, park, school, and residential land through 2032. When the City and County adopted the 2032 UGB, they committed to continuing their planning for Eugene's growth, including the possible establishment of urban reserves that would provide more ease and certainty when additional UGB expansions are needed. Eugene chose to adopt an urban reserve that accommodates a 27-year need for additional land beyond the 20-year urban growth boundary designed to accommodate growth until 2032. Thus, the urban reserve will accommodate city growth until 2059.
The city determined that it would need approximately 5,900 acres of urban land to meet its urbanization needs to 2059. The city analyzed a large study area around its current UGB boundaries and, through a process consistent with the requirements in state law and administrative rules, selected parcels totaling 11,200 acres of land, 5,900 of which is developable, to place into the urban reserve designation. The city coordinated with Lane County, which also adopted the urban reserves, and with service providers within the urban reserve area, entering into urban reserve intergovernmental agreements with each of these districts.
Map: Eugene Urban Reserves
Council Ordinance N. 20686
Director's Review of the Eugene Urban Reserve
The Department held a 21-day comment period consistent with state law, during which any objections to the proposal could be submitted, and then had 120 days to either approve the submittal, remand the submittal, or refer the submittal to the Land Conservation and Development Commission. The Director issued an order approving the amendment on August 17th, 2023.
Director's Decision Approving the City of Eugene Urban Reserve Submittal