02/11/1985 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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The 6th/7th Avenue Design Review Committee was appointed and met four times to review the impact of various alignments on trees and property. The Design Review Committe developed an alternative alignment which was presented this ~ evening for public comment and council review. ~ During preparation of the various alignments, letters were delivered to each property owner on the project route prior to the staff public meeting and prior to this public hearing. The staff had met with each property owner whose property would be impacted by right-of-way acquisition in the alignment recommended by the Design Review Committee. Discussing the alignment recommended by the Design Review Committee, Ms. Andersen said the project would widen and reconstruct 6th and 7th avenues to four lanes from Washington to Garfield streets. A preliminary review of the ramps to 1-105 at Washington and Jefferson streets is included in the project. The review indicates that the proposed modifications will improve the air pollution and congestion problems. The modifications have been reviewed by the state and will be probably will be constructed when 6th and 7th avenues are widened. Councilor Hansen, chair of the Design Review Committee, said all members of the committee, as well as State and Federal representatives, attended all meetings. The committee felt its charge was to save as many of the historic trees as possible. The committee addressed the issue as logically as possible although different interests were represented on the committee. Compromises were made, but the committee felt good about its efforts. He asked Tom Hoyt to describe the decision-making process of the committee. Tom Hoyt, 460 Palomino Drive, said the committee met four times. The debate ~ was spirited and the effort was sincere. It was obvious that the loss of even ~ one foot of property would impact businesses. The committee had to balance the needs of the residents, businesses, property owners, traffic flow, and the cost with the longevity, size, shape, aesthetics, and the beauty of the trees. Committee members probably would not say they did a perfect job, but they did their best. Using slides, Mr. Hoyt and Bert Teitzel, City Engineer, illustrated and discussed the proposed alignment. They described the trees that would be saved, those that would be cut down, and the effect of the alignment on businesses and residences. Mr. Hoyt said the decision to save five trees on the south side of 6th Avenue and impact the parking lot at Gray's Feed and Seed, 46-year-old business, was very difficult. The City staff indicated that Gray's parking lot could be redesigned so it would contain the same number of parking spaces. The committee thought about the canopy effect as trees hang over the street throughout the deliberations. The decision to save the large beautiful tree on the north side of 6th Avenue at Van Buren was extremely difficult. The sign at the Skin Diving Shop owned by Don Hollingshead will have to be moved and the business will lose two parking spaces. The business has been there 18 years. - MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 11, 1985 Page 2