Overview
This project identifies and evaluates natural resources in Springfield’s urban growth boundary (UGB) expansion areas so the community and agency partners can determine which resources offer significant benefits and should be locally protected in compliance with Statewide Planning Goal 5. Future development within the 2019 UGB expansion areas relies on an understanding of the land’s existing characteristics—including its wetlands, riparian corridors, and wildlife habitat—to make informed decisions on where to locate.
Goals
- Promote a healthy, safe, and clean community by making wise use of natural resources.
- Provide better understanding and certainty for property owners and developers by making development decisions streamlined and predictable.
- Enable urbanization of Springfield’s designated employment areas by meeting State-mandated planning requirements based on Oregon Statewide Planning Goal 5 (Natural Resources, Scenic and Historic Areas, and Open Spaces).
- Identify ways to enhance Springfield’s work by addressing other Statewide Planning Goals: air, water, and land resources quality (Goal 6), natural hazards (Goal 7), recreation (Goal 8), and economic development (Goal 9).
- Further Springfield’s conformance with the Springfield Comprehensive Plan.
Updates
April 2026:
With the last of our three inventories drafted, we are nearing completion of a major phase of this project and are looking forward to what’s ahead.
- Inventory phase
Click here for a draft of our wildlife habitat inventory, which includes a discussion of our research process, analysis of outcomes, and a map that documents our findings of non-locally significant upland sites. - The rest
We are eager to dive deeper into research on the benefits that each locally significant resource provides and how other nearby uses can affect these resource sites. This work will include discussions with community partners and leadership to right-size protections for each resource. As we continue working toward adopting protections for our locally significant wetlands and riparian areas, we will draft corresponding updates to our Springfield Natural Resources Study and Development Code.
Previous Progress
Interested in viewing project information that led us to this point? Earlier updates with links to old draft reports, materials for community outreach, and more are available here.
Meetings & Events
We aim to provide several opportunities to engage with this project based on our Community Engagement Plan. See below for what we are up to lately and click here to review past activities.
- April 7, 2026: The Planning Commission met to get a status update from staff and to discuss a draft of the wildlife habitat inventory. You can review the packet materials and access the recorded meeting on Springfield Oregon Speaks.
Timeline
Based on the results of the inventory and assessment work performed by our environmental consultants, City staff and the Lane Council of Governments (LCOG) will identify options for protection measures for consideration by the community, appointed officials, and elected officials. A set of recommended updates to the Springfield Natural Resources Study will follow, which will involve the City and Lane County co-adopting these changes.
The timeline below depicts the estimated schedule for the project as of April 2026.
Documents & Resources
Stay Informed & Involved
Contact Information
Molly Markarian
Senior Planner
541.726.4611
mmarkarian@springfield-or.gov
