07/08/1985 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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work of the Eugene Planning Commission. The committee is considering restric- e tions to be included in the ground lease. Mr. Wright said the University has just as much at stake in the Riverfront Park as the City. The University will do its best to make it a success. Richard Miller, 2460 Malabar Drive, represented the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce Subcommittee for Land Use. He said Dave Pedersen, Chamber of Com- merce President, was on the Riverfront Park Study Committee. Mr. Miller sup- ported the study and the modifications recommended by the Planning Commission. He recommended quick adoption by the council which, he said, will be a signif- icant step toward implementing the Eugene Agenda. Mr. Miller said environmental concerns have been sensitively treated in the study. Most of the Chamber of Commerce concerns were resolved by the Planning Commission recommendations. Chamber of Commerce representatives were con- vinced that unresolved concerns will be reconciled later. Stephen Adey, 1375 Ba il ey Avenue, di d not want to "throw the baby out wi th the bath water," but he was concerned about the placement of buildings. He was on the Eugene Parks Department Willamette Greenway Study Committee. The commi t- tee report indicated the river should be honored and not exploited, he said, and the construction of buildings 30 feet from the river would be exploiting the river. It would mean that part of the park-like atmosphere will be lost, and most people regard all of the river bank as part of the park system. He suggested the staff measure the setback of existing buildings near the river bank. e Paul Ferguson, 2920 County Farm Road, is secretary of the Lane Unemployment Project. He submitted written notes of his testimony. Mr. Ferguson said something is wrong with the way people earn their livings and the Riverfront Park is one answer to the economic problem. He said the project has short- comings concerning the environment, ethics, and the shape it gives the econom- i c future. He said the process is of questionable legal ity and doubtful moral i ty. Mr. Ferguson said the City does not know what benefits will result from the expensive Riverfront Park. He said the model for such projects is the North Carolina Research Triangle which took 15 to 20 years to develop. He suggested the process to develop the Riverfront Park should be slowed down. He thought the Willamette River will be a victim of economic development if buildings are buil t 30 feet from it. He wondered what guarantee the City can give that there will be no toxic spills in the Willamette River. He also wondered what proof there is that the park cannot succeed without permitting classified research and whether Eugeneans are willing to accept the benefits of jobs created by the defense establishment. Mr. Ferguson said allowing a small group of wealthy individuals to control so many public funds and resources is an unprecedented transfer of power and a miscarriage of the democratic process. The choices involved in the develop- ment of the Riverfront Park will affect the environment, ethics, and economic character of the community and shoul d not be made "behind closed doors. II He wondered who will benefit from the economic development of the Riverfront Park. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 8, 1985 Page 3