The University of Oregon team developing a new master site plan for the area formerly known as the Riverfront Research Park will host an open house to seek comments and share progress with interested members of the public and campus community.

The event will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, in the Erb Memorial Union’s Lewis Room.

The UO’s Campus Planning and Facilities Management division, with assistance from Cameron McCarthy Landscape Architecture and Planning, has been facilitating the development of a master site plan that will address future land use needs and opportunities in the 70-acre area of campus north of Franklin Boulevard, primarily between the millrace and Willamette River.

The area requires a new master site plan as part of a land use application process with the City of Eugene. The area encompasses the Riverfront Park Special Area zone and does not have a current conditional use permit. The university plans to submit the land use application to the city in January 2018.

Based on the Campus Physical Framework Vision Project and the Eugene land use code, the North Campus Conditional Use Permit Project consists of three key elements:

• A master site plan for the entire north campus area delineated by the S-RP zone, required for the city’s land use application.
• A conceptual study for the university’s land in the S-RP zone between the railroad tracks and the Willamette River. The conceptual study informs the master site plan, exploring options for physical education athletic fields and support facilities, bike path configurations, ecological restoration and other university uses.
• A land use application package for city review through the conditional use permit process and concurrent applications.

“The overall goal is to develop a plan that will help the university meet its mission,” said Emily Eng, senior planner and project manager. “It should be a flexible plan that will allow the university to take advantage of opportunities when they arise, such as those related to research, academics or the improvement of open space.”

Beginning this past summer, UO and community stakeholders have been participating in focused discussions on key project elements, including river access, pedestrian and bicycle connectivity, ecological restoration, safety, active uses and university uses.

The city is expected to hold a public hearing next summer.

For more information about the project: https://cpfm.uoregon.edu/north-campus-conditional-use-permit. For more information about the Campus Plan amendment: https://cpfm.uoregon.edu/campus-plan-amendment-north-campus