2026 03 17 Joint Planning Commission Meeting

The City of Springfield and Lane County Planning Commissions held a joint meeting on March 17, 2026, to discuss amendments to the Glenwood Refinement Plan and Springfield Development Code, focusing on climate friendly areas and the proposed Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB) Wamtt River water treatment plant project. The meeting included a work session and a public hearing where staff presented the draft plan and code amendments aimed at designating Glenwood as a primary climate friendly area with high-density mixed-use zoning to meet housing needs and state greenhouse gas reduction targets. A significant portion of the discussion centered on permitting high impact public utility facilities, specifically to enable the construction of the new water treatment plant by EWEB. The amendments would allow this facility as a permitted use in the Glenwood employment mixed-use zone, with environmental and design standards to minimize impacts. Commissioners asked questions about density requirements, parking standards, and the project's environmental and community benefits. Public testimony supported the project, emphasizing its importance for regional water resiliency. The commissions were set to consider recommendations for approval, with the amendments facilitating future detailed land use and environmental reviews for the treatment plant project.