Land Use and Transportation Integration in Scenario Planning
The Eugene-Springfield region integrates land use and transportation planning at the local and regional levels through plans. Because the regional partners are in the process of updating local land use plans like Springfield 2030, Envision Eugene and the Coburg comprehensive plan, major land use changes will not be explored in the 2035 alternative scenarios. These plans, while not fully adopted, represent the region’s current policy direction. As part of the development of alternative scenarios, regional partners may consider a different mix of residents in mixed-use neighborhoods.
In addition to scenarios that consider what the region could look like in 2035, regional partners may also look out to 2050. Since current land use plans only establish a 2035 vision, the region may look at different land use scenarios beyond 2035. This could include further changes to the urban growth boundaries, full implementation of existing plans, or changes to land use designations within existing urban growth boundaries. Land use alternatives for 2050 scenarios could include:
- Densification out from the core of each city
- Growth spread evenly across the cities based on comprehensive plan designations and densities
- Focused growth in mixed-use centers
- Expanded 2035 UGBs with new housing in the expansion areas.
Testing these land use scenarios as part of 2050 scenarios would allow the local governments to understand how future land use changes could affect GHG emissions and other outcomes, and how their long range visions would play out past 20 years. While the scenario planning process will not mandate changes in existing land use plans, understanding the implications of various land use patterns could affect future city or regional land use planning or policy.