Videra Oak Meadow, a small undeveloped property with wetland areas, is the center of a fiery dispute between residents of the Braewood Hills neighborhood in Southeast Eugene and Piculell Properties, an Arizona-based developer.
The company intends to build 38 residential lots on 15 acres of the Videra Oak Meadow. Some members of the local community strongly oppose this development, claiming that the plans would encroach upon and harm the meadow’s ecosystem.
“This is a truly special piece of property, not just a vacant field,” Julie Butler, secretary of the Save Videra Oak Meadow organization, said.
In an email statement to The Daily Emerald, which Butler described as a compilation of responses from members of the organization, Butler shed light on what makes the property worth fighting for and said the plans for wetland mitigation ask for permission to remove 70% of the existing wetlands.
According to SVOM, the land is made up of Oak savanna. It was once the dominant ecosystem within the Willamette Valley, but now takes up 2% of the area it used to cover. Most of the Oaks in the Willamette Valley today are over 100 years old.
Butler’s said that the local ecosystem has a “sponge effect” where the wetlands absorb and slow stormwater flow, insulating a nearby creek from erosion and ensuring consistent flow during the dry summer months.
Another benefit of the area is its presence as a source of clean water for the Amazon Creek, which the Videra Creek flows into. SVOM also cited the property’s utility as a natural fire break due to the nature of the native Oregon white oaks and the area’s geography.
The Eugene City Planning Commission tentatively approved the project in February 2025. The commission determined the approval hinged on the property’s designation as a Goal 5 resource, which means Piculell Properties will not have to follow Eugene’s tree preservation and removal standards.
“(The City of Eugene) has poorly written land use codes with loopholes any developer can dance through,” Butler said. “The city is trying to prove that the area is Goal 5 by using a map from 1978.”
Butler said the city pointed to the map’s claim of the meadow containing “prominent and plentiful vegetation” as its justification for why the area meets the requirements.
Another grievance with the development cited by SVOM is the high cost of the planned housing. The parcel of land is located high in Eugene’s southwest hills with no access to public transportation and there are no shops or restaurants within walking distance.
“This is unlikely to address the middle-income housing shortage nor does it do anything to lessen the issue of homelessness,” Butler said.
SVOM also contends that the city is more interested in helping the development than ensuring the current residents’ well-being.
The statement from SVOM espoused a hope for a better future than what is currently outlined for the area. Their ultimate goal is to purchase and preserve the property.
“Once purchased, we would donate it to the city as an addition to the current park and create a natural scenic space for everyone to enjoy,” Butler said.“Our hope is that the residents and neighbors will all contribute to ensuring the protection of Videra Oak Meadow for everyone to continue to enjoy and appreciate.”
