1996 Local Street Tree Plan - Laserfiche WebLink

New Search

INTRODUCTION The Eugene - Springfield region is expected to grow by more than 100,000 residents over the next twenty five years. That growth will result in the creation of thousands of new homes in areas that are currently undeveloped within the Urban Growth Boundary. Access to those homes'will be provided through the construction of new streets. The City of Eugene currently lacks a plan to guide the construction of the future local street system in undeveloped areas. The Eugene Local Street Plan is an attempt to define the location, pattern, and design of those as-yet unbuilt streets. Local streets include all streets that are not specifically designated as collectors or arterials. For the most part, these streets are residential streets, although streets serving industrial and commercial developments are sometimes also considered local streets. The Eugene Local Street Plan focuses on residential street layout and design. Residential streets are the framework around which communities are built. To a great extent, streets determine the form and character of cities and neighborhoods. The pattern and design of streets helps shape neighborhood image and identity, and can influence whether or not an area feels safe, the degree of communication neighbors have with one another, the degree to which residents of an area use alternative modes for personal travel, and the population's general feelings of well -being and comfort related to their immediate environment.. In recent years, residential streets have been designed to fulfill two basic functions; providing access to property and moving traffic. Other functions of residential streets have been largely ignored. A great deal of attention has been paid to efficient traffic movement at the expense of street character and environment. The Eugene Local Street Plan recommends a number of changes to residential street planning and development practices that recognize the residential street as a multi -use corridor. * *INSERT PHOTO ** Currently, thecity has only three types of local streets; they vary in design only in paving and right- of- wayridth requirements. Application of these standards results in subdivisions that tend to all look the same due, in part, to a highly repetitive street layout. Changes recommended in the Eugene Local Street Plan are intended to provide flexibility and variety in residential subdivision planning with the intent of stimulating creativity and innovation in subdivision design. The recommended changes are also intended to result in * safer, lower speed residential streets; * lower site development and street construction costs; 1