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Ms. Siegenthaler noted that the Eugene Code required the council to make a decision on the application <br />within 30 days of the hearing. She noted that the criteria for the Metro Plan Diagram Amendment could be <br />found in EC 9.7730(3)(a-b) and the criteria for the zone change were included in EC 9.8865(1-5). <br /> <br />Ms. Siegenthaler called the council’s attention to the findings prepared for the application, included as <br />Exhibit A to the proposed ordinance. <br /> <br />Ms. Siegenthaler said the Planning Commission found the existing policies in the Metro Plan and Downtown <br />Plan, the applicable refinement plan, supported the change from high-density residential to commercial use. <br />A key policy question discussed by the commission regarded the appropriateness of retaining the existing <br />designation for the site. There were policies supportive of retaining that designation, but staff and the <br />commission found stronger evidence, particularly in the Downtown Plan, in support of a commercial <br />designation. She called attention to Policy 3 in the Downtown Plan, which called for facilitation of <br />downtown redevelopment by redesignating and rezoning underused properties, such as surface parking lots, <br />to commercial land use designations and commercial zones, such as C-2 or C-3. Other policies in the <br />Downtown Plan supported the change to a commercial designation. <br /> <br />Ms. Siegenthaler noted that council action on the item was scheduled for December 11. The City Manager <br />recommended the City Council adopt the Planning Commission recommendation to approve the proposed <br />Metro Plan designation and zone change. <br /> <br />Mayor Piercy opened the public hearing. <br /> <br />James Spickerman <br />, 975 Oak Street, said he was asked by the State of Oregon to evaluate the parcel in July <br />2002, which was currently vacant and being used for parking. Planning documents in existence at that time <br />appeared to support a Metro Plan change and zone change, but he was advised by staff of the work being <br />done on the Downtown Plan and had followed that process to its conclusion. The Downtown Plan addressed <br />the parking lots in the train depot area and the parcel in question and that was the source of Policy 3. He <br />urged the council to follow the recommendation of the Planning Commission and offered to respond to <br />questions. <br /> <br />Mayor Piercy closed the public hearing. She asked for a staff response to testimony. There was none. She <br />asked Mr. Spickerman for rebuttal; Mr. Spickerman had nothing further to offer. Mayor Piercy indicated <br />that the record was closed. <br /> <br />Mayor Piercy solicited council comments and questions. <br /> <br />Ms. Bettman asked about the public notice for the public hearing. Ms. Siegenthaler indicated that notice of <br />the council’s hearing as well as the text of the ordinance was published in The Register-Guard a month prior <br />to the hearing. There was also a notice process used with the Planning Commission’s review of the <br />application. Ms. Bettman asked if the adjacent neighbors were notified. Ms. Siegenthaler indicated she <br />would provide more information about the extent of the public notice on December 11. She noted that a <br />group of interested parties was informed, which included the downtown neighborhood association, the <br />Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce. <br /> <br />Ms. Bettman pointed out that there was a stable neighborhood just north of the site in question and she <br />believed that if those residents were aware of the proposed changes they would probably be present at the <br />hearing. <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Eugene City Council November 20, 2006 Page 5 <br /> Public Hearing <br /> <br />