11/18/1987 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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providing vehicular access include extending Broadway and 8th Avenue. Also being considered is an extension of Agate Street, which would have the added e benefit of providing a natural gateway to the main University campus. He said the master plan reflects concerns about open spaces such as the Mill Race, soccer field, and the Silva Orchard. In addition, the plan incorporates local residents' interests in individual recreation activities such as picnic areas and bike and walking trails. Mr. Elbasani estimated there could be up to 4,000 people working on the site. He said one particular concern of the community is preserving the open space until the market potential of the project is guaranteed. He said the public does not want to risk spoiling the area with one or two buildings if the entire project is not viable. He said the community favors the idea of a quad construction system which accommodates both large open spaces and small intimate building sites. This format would model the existing structures of the University. Mr. Elbasani said the architects have set aside three large areas, including a relocated soccer field, to satisfy public desires for meaningful open space. He said Agate Street had been chosen as the main access to the park because of its relationship to the University and its versatility to accommodate cars and bikes. Forty to 50 percent of the development will occur north of the railroad tracks, while about 60 percent will occur south of the tracks, according to Mr. Elbasani. BUildings will range from one to five stories in height, for an average of 2.2 floors. Parking structures are generally two decks or a e maximum of eight feet high. Parking decks also provide the possibility of constructing a sports facility such as a tennis court on top of them. In response to a question from Mayor Obie, Mr. Elbasani said the other major entrance to the park outside of Agate Street is the extension of Broadway. where a landscaped gateway could be built to inform people they are entering a separate park. Replying to a question from Ms. Ehrman about pedestrian crossings on Franklin Boulevard, Ms. McAvey said the developer is not pursuing the option of an overpass because of the high cost involved and the experience that such overpasses are not generally used by walkers. She estimated the price tag of such an overpass would be close to $1 million because of the complexities in having it ascend gradually from both sides of Franklin. Mr. Gleason pointed out the possibility of constructing a pedestrian crossing near the Mill Race that would not require a large-scale overpass. Mayor Obie expressed his concern over the increased foot traffic that is bound to develop between the research park and the University. He noted there are already several accidents a year along Franklin Boulevard. He said it was his assumption the new University science complex was built with the idea of a future connection across Franklin Boulevard. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 18, 1987 Page 4