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Testify in Support of Public Health Standards Version 3 in Eugene
There is an upcoming city council decision for Public Health Standards, proposed updates to Eugene's land use codes that will create protective buffer zones between industrial and residential zones, shift the burden of proof onto industries to prove their projects won't pollute, and require more review and community input.
There are two versions being considered by Eugene City Council: Version 3 and Version 4. Public Health Standards Version 3 has an additional requirement that applicants must document and attest to the air, land, and water quality permits they need. Version 4 foes not require this documentation.
We are urging City Council to adopt version 3.
Meeting Date: June 8 at 7:30 p.m. Click here to learn how you can join.
Testimony: Start drafting your testimony now with the sample testimony and talking points below! When you're ready, you can email your comments to [email protected].
Be sure to include your ward number or address in your email; City Council will not accept anonymous emails.
We need to center the voices of community members and their lived experiences in public health and land use planning. Version 3 strikes a balance between the needs of the community without creating undue burden on businesses.
Responsible business applicants should be doing their due diligence to know in advance what permits will be required for their development.
Version 3 allows for better transparency and accountability, and can build trust between the community and all involved parties.
Version 4 weakens public health standards by shifting responsibility from the applicant to the City which lessens the applicants accountability.
Dear Mayor Knudson and Members of the Council,
My name is [Name], and I am a [resident/community member/business owner] in [neighborhood or area]. I’m writing in support of Version 3 of the proposed public health standards.
Version 3 is a simple, common-sense step. It asks developers to identify which environmental permits their projects will require before moving forward. This creates transparency and helps ensure everyone is on the same page from the start.
As someone who [lives/works/has family] in [west Eugene or relevant area], I believe it’s important that community concerns about environmental health are taken seriously. Version 3 reflects what residents have been asking for—stronger protections and clearer accountability.
This approach shouldn’t create an unnecessary burden on developers. It can prevent delays by making sure developers do their due diligence early, which can ultimately save time and money.
In contrast, Version 4 shifts this responsibility away from developers and onto the City, which weakens accountability and makes the process less effective.
Please support Version 3 to protect public health and ensure a more transparent and responsible development process.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Name]
