The Development Threat:
Deerbrook PUD
A development application for
81 residential building lots on 26.5 acres in the core of the Amazon Headwaters has
been filed as the ÒDeerbrook PUDÓ (planned unit development). We are seeking to
have this application denied, so that the land can be purchased by the city for
parkland. We expect the city to hold a Public Hearing in January of 2007 and we
will need the strong support of the community to defeat it.
The PUD site has many
constraints, including steep terrain, unstable soils, wetlands and three
streams (requiring 40-foot setbacks), three utility easements (BPA, EWEB and
City Stormwater), and other issues. It's a very difficult site for development
and has high natural resource values. In other words, development is a poor
choice for this land.
The Deerbrook PUD development
plan shows average lot sizes of about 5,000 square feet (very small) and
single-family homesites are crammed cheek-to-jowl in every possible location.
Trees will be removed on all lots. Four new roads will be constructed on steep
terrain, including a connection of West Amazon Drive with Fox Hollow. Three of
these roads will cross into the BPA powerline easement that is widely used as a
public recreation corridor.
Acquisition Options
The Òhighest and best useÓ of
this land is as natural open space, generating a perpetual stream of benefits
to the entire community. But can this land really be acquired for city park and
open space? You bet! We have identified numerous possible funding sources and
are preparing to launch a major fundraising campaign. In addition to private
donors
and foundations, here are
some of the public resources that we may be able to use:
á
State Parks matching
funds for local parks
á
USFS Forest Legacy
Grants
á
City Park Land
Acquisition Bond Measure just approved by voters!
á
City Stormwater Fee
Funds
á
City parks and
stormwater impact fees (SDCs)
To help with, or contribute to, the acquisition campaign, contact Deborah Noble at 344-9933.
See
why we want to protect this land L
Benefits of ProtectionÉ
High-Quality Natural Resource Area
The Amazon Creek Headwaters
Area is one of the highest-quality unprotected natural resource sites in
Eugene. ItÕs mostly forested land in relatively undisturbed condition. The land
is contiguous with the City's Amazon Headwaters Open Space and the Ridgeline
Trail System on the south end, making it a high-quality site for supporting
native flora and fauna, including rare species known to exist in the area.
The Amazon
Headwaters Area has a wide range of natural resource values, some of which are
reflected in the Eugene Natural Resources Inventory. The area has the highest
Wildlife Habitat Assessment ranking in the city (66-68 points) and contains
many waterways and wetlands.
Until these private lands are
acquired as public open space, they will continually face development pressure.
Regional Park and Recreation
Opportunity
This area is an ideal link
between the regional Amazon Park and the Ridgeline Park Trail System. The corridor provides a direct,
off-road trail access to the Ridgeline Park and Spencer Butte Park for hikers,
joggers, bikers, bird watchers and nature enthusiasts. This important linkage will enhance the
regional park system, benefiting all city park users.
Connectivity for Wildlife
The Headwaters Keystone area serves as
an important wildlife corridor that ties together the entire Amazon Creek
drainage from Spencer Butte to Fern Ridge Reservoir. Connectivity of habitat and access to water are critical for
wildlife survival.
Habitat for Rare Plants and
Animals
The mixed forest, wetlands, and riparian areas on this land
provide unique and critical habitat for native plants, birds, reptiles and
other animals. Threatened and rare
species are known to exist here, including wayside aster (aster vialis), tall
bugbane (cimicifuga elata), red-legged frogs, and pileated woodpeckers. The
city has not completed inventories of rare and threatened species in this area
and they are not currently protected.
Flood Control and Water Quality
As part of the Amazon Creek
Headwaters, this area provides stormwater management and flood control benefits
by absorbing and storing rainwater.
Water quality is protected by preventing erosion, filtering sediments,
and naturally treating pollutants.
Ironically, the city will be spending millions of dollars in Federal
grants to restore the Amazon Channel below Martin St., but has no plans to
protect the most important headwaters area.