05/09/1988 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e citizens had seemed to understand the need for actions by the City. Mr. Vanlandingham also reported on housing issues. He said the commission had heard from a number of speakers, including representatives of developers, bankers, landlords, and the regional office of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). He said five tasks had been identified, and two priority items then had been chosen. Top concerns included mobile home displacement and the low-income housing supply, and a third item was multi-family rental housing, he said. He added that development of a housing code (lacking since 1983) and new mobile home spaces had been the fourth and fifth items that were dropped. Mr. Vanlandingham said a housing group met monthly. He said the 1987 legislature had required a survey on mobile home displacement to identify parks at-risk and inappropriate zoning. He said FEMA regulations were unclear about mobile home parks in floodplains, such as those in the Ferry Street Bridge, Delta, and Valley River Center floodplain areas. Inappropriate zoning could mean displacement of mobile home residents. Mr. Vanlandingham said studies had identified 18 mobile home parks at-risk in Eugene, usually involving older parks and homes that were difficult to move. He said a report had been sent to residents and owners of parks and suggested possible solutions. A public hearing would be held on Wednesday, with a proposal identified as the next step, he added. Terry Smith of the Public Works Department reported on the Sign Code update. He said minor changes had been made to the Sign Code in 1986, and discussion had mentioned additional changes to be required as a result of expected court rulings. Mr. Smith said those court cases had been settled out-of-court, and the guidance from those rulings would not be available. He said staff recommended proceeding with revision of the Sign Code to ensure that it met the highest standards of legality, and that revision was expected take six to nine months. In the interim, he said staff would recommend adoption of an interim sign code, to be based on the existing code and attempting to retain all of its intent and policies. Mr. Smith said policies could be addressed when the final code was adopted. Ms. Anderson expressed concern about cutting funds for long-range implementation items. She noted a lack of Federal funds and impacts on local responsibilities and said her concern was that economizing and short-range "crisis managementll approaches not overlook the need for a long-range view. Ms. Anderson also reported that Ms. Nathanson and she had attended the American Planning Association Conference in San Antonio, and had heard from others who had been impressed with the Eugene Planning Program's long-range po 1 icy ma king. Mayor Obie asked about property tax exemptions to encourage redevelopment and greater density and more low-income housing in the west side of the city. Mr. Vanlandingham said Development Department staff now was exploring that and it would have to be approved by School District 4J. He also said the 1985 legislature had adopted a property tax exemption for low-income housing in Portland, and the housing group could examine that. Ms. Brody said MINUTES--Joint City Council/Planning Commission Work Session May 9, 1988 Page 2