07/13/1987 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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-- of chi ldren wi 11 increase as the neighborhood is developed. He said pedestrians and cars should be separated but children have to walk very close e to fast cars on Willakenzie now. He recommended approva 1 of the road improvements and construction of sidewalks. He said they will reduce the likelihood of injuries. Gene Hoover, 3011 Will akenzi e Road, said he and his wife oppose the improvement project. Harold Olson, 25550 Lawrence Road, Junction City, said he owns a vacant lot on Wi11akenzie that is for sale. He said he will sell the lot for the cost of the assessment for the street improvements. Martha Sauntry, 235 Palomino, said she is president of the Harlow Neighborhood Association. She said the association has been recommending the improvement of Willakenzie Road for five years because people who use the road want it improved. She said children need the sidewalks. She said Willakenzie will be continued to 1-5 and the assessments for improvements probably will be less now than when Wi11akenzie is extended. Tom Drew, 320 Walnut Lane, said he owns the lot at 301 Willakenzie Road. He distributed copies of a map on which the properties of people who signed the remonstrance were indicated. He said representatives of a church on Tax Lots 4200 and 4100 did not sign this remonstrance but they signed a previous one. He said he was not notified about the proposed improvements unt~l March 1987 when a tenant notified him. He then learned this is the third remonstrance against the project. e Mr. Drew said the improvement is no bargain to people who do not want it and cannot afford it. He wondered why the project was proposed and why it is pushed. He said working-class people live in the neighborhood and they may be intimidated by City Council meetings. He said there is a bike path on the north side of the street although utility company workers have dug it up now. He said there are 19 privately owned lots adjacent to the project and 17 owners signed the remonstrance. Mr. Drew said widening Willakenzie will not make it safer but will increase the speed of traffic. He said better enforcement of traffic laws would make the street safer. He said speed bumps would slow traffic and cost less than the proposed improvements. He said property owners along Wi11akenzie have been told the improvement is a "done dealll but, in his opinion, the project should be abandoned or reconsidered. Ms. Ehrman closed the public hearing. Responding to the testimony, Mr. Lyle said the residential property owners will be assessed only for a 20-foot wide street to mitigate their costs. He said church representatives did not sign this remonstrance because they favor the project. He said traffic speed will not increase very much when the road is improved. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 3