We are contacting you to inform you of a neighborhood-applicant meeting to discuss a land use proposal within your neighborhood. The applicant, Cascade Manor, is proposing to change the zoning of several properties adjacent to W. 30th Avenue and Portland Street from R-1 Low Density Residential (LDR) to R-2 Medium Density Residential (MDR) to allow for future redevelopment as senior housing and support services in the Southwest Hills Neighborhood.
Cascade Manor, Eugene’s only not-for-profit continuing care retirement community, is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of those they serve in a stimulating, secure environment. The proposed zone change will include five tax lots which are designated M Medium Density Residential by the Metro Plan and zoned R-1 Low Density Residential. The proposed zone changes to R-2 Medium Density Residential for all tax lots is consistent with the plan designation.
Prior to formally submitting a land use application to the City of Eugene, Cascade Manor requests a meeting with neighboring residents. The purpose of the meeting is to share information, describe the proposed project, and gather any feedback regarding the proposal. Please join us for a Zoom meeting on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. The meeting can be accessed at: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82686459249.
If you have any questions about the meeting or the project, please contact Colin McArthur, Principal Planner with Cameron McCarthy Landscape Architecture & Planning, at 541-485-7385 or colin@cameronmccarthy.com.
Cameron McCarthy, Landscape Architecture & Planning – 160 East Broadway, Eugene, OR 97401
Less Expensive and Faster Service providing more options besides Comcast.
Are you interested in a reliable alternative to Comcast for your internet services? So are we, did you know the city of Eugene has fiber optic cable already installed in most streets but not hooked up to certain neighborhoods? The South West Hills neighborhood is one of them. If enough resident request service we can expand access to higher speed internet to the area. Providing better service for lower prices.
Why Fiber?
Studies show homes connected to publicly owned fiber increase 3.1% in value. Fiber Internet enables every cutting-edge technology from streaming TV services, to working from home, to things we haven’t even dreamed of yet. We provide the fastest fiber service available, at one of the lowest prices in the country.
The internet provider (OnlineNW & XS Media) has a survey to gauge neighborhood interest around Eugene. Please fill it out here and support the expansion effort to provide options to more neighborhoods: https://onwxsm.servicezones.net/CityofEugene
We want to expand broadband opportunities to your community. But with many areas to choose from, our next move depends on your response. By doing our survey, you show us where demand for our services is greatest. Where we see great demand, we will do an in-depth assessment of the potential network area. If viable, we will build first to those who want it most. So encourage your neighbors to take our survey or sign up for services. Each response increases the chance of network expansion to your area.
The Best of The Best
Fiber speeds are symmetric, meaning that they operate at the same speed when downloading or uploading—an unrestricted network to support all of your remote work, gaming, video conferencing and emailing needs. One single strand of fiber delivers data at speeds up to 1 Gbps (1000Mbps), roughly 100 times faster than the average home in the US today. Our wireless network is also strong and reliable, providing speeds up to 50 Mbps and offering the flexibility to provide internet connectivity in many underserved areas that are difficult to reach with hardwired services.
With our reliable fiber or wireless service, you can work from home hassle-free—no more long waits to upload or send messages, or to join video conferencing meetings. Chat online, stream movies and shows, send and receive family photos, and video chat with friends and loved ones, all at lightning-fast speed.
*Disclaimer: This is not sponsored by the provider just based on general interest in improving the internet connectivity options in our neighborhoods.
Our speaker for the meeting will be talking about Map Your Neighborhoodand Emergency Preparedness. In a disaster, our need for first responders will be greater than Eugene, Lane County, and Oregon can supply. The people most likely to help in a disaster are your nearby neighbors. The Map Your Neighborhood program encourages us to get to know our nearby neighbors — about any special needs and available resources — before our next disaster.
The probability of a home surviving a wildfire greatly increases with two fire-wise home improvements: fire-retardant building materials and, in the yard, the creation of defensible space. Learn how to design an effective and beautiful fire-safe landscape that could save your home.
In the wake of the relief effort after California’s recent wildfire devastation, a major component in fire-safe home rebuilding is “defensible space”—a specially planned and designed area around your home that provides maneuvering space for firefighters, serves as a barrier to impede raging wildfires from getting to your doorstep, and prevents house fires from spreading to the wild. In contrast to the traditionally lush American yard, a defensible space uses the judicious selection and placement of plantings as a strategy to decrease the spread of fires.
Since many homeowners neglect to incorporate defensible space into their landscaping—fire-safe designs have a reputation of diminishing curb appeal—California has initiated the Why 100 feet? campaign, complete with billboards lining the interstate. Effective January 2005, a 100-foot defensible space around homes, following a two-zone model, was required by California state law. Defensible space doesn’t have to be unsightly, though. In fact, a working knowledge of how defensible space can save your home, as well as an understanding of the right plants to use, may sway even the most fastidious of gardeners.
Zones
While California only requires a mandatory 100-foot defensible space in two zones, models can include up to four zones. Zone 1—the area closest to your home and any other structure on your property, like garages and guest houses—is the immediate perimeter, extending 30 feet out from the edge of the structure. Applying defensible design in this space, along with clear street signs and house numbers, will make it easy for fire-safety workers to get to you in an emergency. Zone 2 extends 70 feet past the end of Zone 1, completing the mandated defensible space area for California residents. However, if your property line lies beyond the 100-foot defensible space, you should also maintain any forested areas in Zones 3 and 4 of your property by trimming trees to keep them clear of each other and removing litter.
Zones 1 and 2 make up the area immediately surrounding structures on your property. These areas must be well irrigated and consideration must be given to the types of plants used, and the clearance between them Photo by Courtesy CAL FIRE
Defensible Design Principles
A common misconception is that defensible landscape design calls for the stripping of visually appealing trees and plants, leaving a barren wasteland of a yard. But, plants—even severely burned ones—can provide stability to the land by way of their root systems, reducing the risk of erosion after a fire. Instead, you’ll want to pay attention to:
Reduction of Plant Fuels
The excess and/or dead plants surrounding your home act as fuels when fire strikes. Remove them from your defensible space, replacing more flammable varieties with fire-resistant ones recommended by your local nursery.
Use native plants in your defensible space. “Native species—a good southwestern Colorado example is buffalo grass—are fire-adapted, which means that their tops may burn off in a fire, but the roots develop to such an extent that they are the first to regenerate after a fire,” says Jeff Burns, a forester with the Colorado State Forest Service’s Alamosa District. These plants offer the fire-wise trait of being easy to maintain, and strong root systems will reduce property damage from erosion. The fire-adaptive traits of native plants ensure the preservation of native species and allow for a landscape that is more likely to survive exposure to extreme heat.
Trees and shrubs can be used in all defensible space zones, including Zone 1, provided they are a safe distance from other plants and any structures (more on that below). The trees you select for your landscape should be low in resin and sap content, with no rough bark. Consider replacing shrubs with a less flammable groundcover.
Consider the litter that plants create in the off-season. Try to select plants that shed minimal amounts of needles, leaves, and other waste. Any area where the ground is thickly covered with pine needles is at high risk, since the presence of very aromatic, dry litter increases flammability in fire-prone locations.
Visit a local nursery and talk to a grower about which plants will work for your defensible space. You can also call your local fire authority or contact a Firewise Community/USA representative.
Incorporate fuel breaks like gravel and stone into your landscape. In the first 3 to 5 feet of Zone 1, replace all of the plants closest to the perimeter of your home with a bed of gravel. Replace mulch with flame-resistant landscaping materials by weaving gravel and stone pathways into your design. The use of these accents will provide visitors with safe passage to view your living collection and impede approaching flame in the event of a wildfire.
Distance between trees for defensible-space landscaping Courtesy of CAL FIRE
Size and Placement of Plants
Now that you’ve picked flame-resistant plant varieties for your defensible space, you should follow a few guidelines when planting them.
Break up continuity of growth and eliminate ladder fuels. Depending on the slope of your land, trees and plant clusters should be vertically and horizontally clear of one another, since groupings of short and tall plants create an opportunity for easy flame transfer. Make sure trees are trimmed clear 6 to 10 feet off the ground. Keep in mind that fire travels faster up slopes, so the space between plants must be greater than it would be on level ground. For example, a 0 to 20 percent slope requires 10 feet of distance between tree crowns, while a 20 to 40 percent slope requires a 20-foot clearance between tree crowns. Depending on the slope of your property, you may need to clear tree branches 20 to 40 feet from the ground. It’s essential to determine the slope of your property before planning your design. Refer to slides 3 to 5 at left for some basic guidelines.
Make sure that any Zone 1 trees are clear of your home, with branches making no contact with roofing or siding.
Maintenance and Cleanup The key to an effective defensible space is eliminating fuels, so make sure you get rid of dead trees and plant debris promptly.
Zones 1 and 2 must be well irrigated. You might even consider installing drip irrigation.
Mow, prune, and trim all zones regularly to maintain defensible spacing between trees and plant clusters. Then, dispose of litter promptly and appropriately. Consider mowing with a manual mower or string trimmer, to avoid sparks and oil leaks that can start and fuel fires.
Check and clean gutters regularly, making sure they are free of plant and tree litter.
Place woodpiles outside of Zone 1, or 30 feet away from your home.
Thin out and space trees in areas maintaining forestry—typically Zones 3 and 4. Follow the spacing guidelines above and remember to be mindful of slope.
Distance between plantings for defensible-space landscaping Courtesy of CAL FIRE
For more on landscaping your defensible space and native plants in your region, contact your local state forester. You can find contact information in the National Association of State Foresters directory
If you would like to review previous presentation, a recorded copy of a rEV Up! Workshop can be found on the “Events” and “rEV Up!” pages of the Emerald Valley Electric Vehicle Association, EVEVA website at www.eveva.org. Also there are links to useful resources for those curious about or shopping for electric cars to aid in their exploration of electric vehicles.
EVEVA also has program where you can talk to local car owners about the particular vehicle you are looking at to ask questions about their experience, write to AskAnOwner@eveva.org.
EWEB, EPUD and Forth are cooperating to offer Electrifyze, a program which will provide an EV coach to answer questions and provide information as you shop for your own electric vehicle. https://www.electrifyze.com/lane_county
Here are links to resources mentioned during the worshop:
Bonus Link: There’s a fun and informative tool developed by MIT that lets you look at total vehicle ownership costs graphed against carbon emissions. https://www.carboncounter.com/
Concerned about fire resilience and tree health? Wondering about the city’s initiatives to meet the goal of 30% tree canopy? Scott Altenhoff is the City of Eugene’s Urban Forest Analyst and Lead Arborist who has been working in the Parks and Open Spaces Division for over 16 years. Prior to that he worked as a commercial arborist. Scott will be our main speaker at the SHiNA General Meeting on Sunday, September 12th at 6:30pm.
The Urban Forestry Division strives to promote a healthier and more sustainable urban forest, foster community tree awareness and stewardship, and develop tree projects including increasing citywide canopy.
It will be nice when we can meet again at the historic Wayne Morse Family Farm, but until that time, we continue to hold our General Meetings (free and open to all regardless of where you live) via ZOOM.
SHiNA 