Climate-Friendly Areas Evaluation Report

Medford Climate Friendly Area Study – Evalua Ɵon of Candidate Loca Ɵons Revised December 2023 4 Introduction The Medford Planning Department has conduc ted a preliminary evaluation of potential Climate Friendly Areas (CFA) in accordance with the Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities (CFEC) rulemaking (OAR 660-012-0310). Executive Order 20-04 tasked 16 state agencies to develop policies and programs to reduce state greenhouse gas emissions to 45% of re corded 1990 levels. In response, the Land Conservation and Development Commission (L CDC) adopted the Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities (CFEC) administrative rules in July 2022 which amended Statewide Goal 12 (Transportation) to align local land us e practices and transporta tion with regulations to assist in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The rules cover several di fferent topics and set deadlines that communities must work toward including the designation of Climate Friendly Areas and corresponding impl ementation regulations, parking reform, and Transportation System Plan (TSP) updates. Under the CFEC rulemaking, Medford is responsib le for evaluating potent ial Climate Friendly Areas within the city. Climate Friendly Areas (C FA) are neighborhoods that provide an urban, mixed-use environment (housing, jobs, servic es, recreation) creating opportunities for people to meet their daily needs without needing the use of a vehicle. Alternative transportation options exist in these identi fied locations with enhanced sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and transit routes. In many cases, thes e areas resemble existing downtowns or transit- oriented districts. The study area analysis (Phase 1) was co nducted in-house by Medford Planning sta ff with funding provided by the Department of Land Conservation and Devel opment. Planning sta ff worked with 3J Consulting on community outr each and engagement, in partnership with the cities of Ashland and Talent. A preliminary report on the Climate Friendly Area locations studied was submitted in June 2023 and this final updated report was submitted in December 2023. Phase II of the requirements will include identi fication and formal adoption a CFA location or location(s) by amending the Medford Land Development Code (MLDC) and Comprehensive Plan to designate CFA geography; the Medfor d Land Development Code may need to be amended in order to achieve consistency be tween the MLDC and OAR 660-012-0320. This next phase of work must be completed by December 2024 unless an alternative date is approved in accordance with OAR 660-012-0012(4)(c).