CC Minutes - 10/30/02 Work Session

Home Browse Search

Mr. Farr reiterated Mr. Pap~ in stressing the importance of encouraging businesses to locate downtown. He raised concern that too many regulations would discourage businesses from coming to the area. Ms. Bettman commented that there were already many incentives for businesses to locate in the downtown area. She believed the proposed development standards for the area were modest. Ms. Bettman suggested that the downtown area height minimum should be at least three stories. In response to a question from Ms. Bettman regarding sign projections from buildings, Mr. Yeiter said the intent was that extensions over the right-of-way, besides awnings, could take up to 30 percent of right-of-way space and could not project beyond that point. Mr. Kelly agreed with Ms. Bettman that the standards did a good job of balancing design standards and the business climate. In response to a question from Mr. Kelly regarding how the Planning Commission's position on the zone, Mr. Yeiter said there was general support for the standards of the zone. Regarding the issue of building projections, Mr. Kelly said there should be some flexibility for distinctive architecture. Mr. Yeiter said the paragraph cited by Ms. Bettman was in response to concerns voiced from the architectural firm working on the Center Court building. He noted that a building may cantilever slightly over the right-of-way and the firm wanted to project slightly further. Mr. Yeiter said the Planning Commission had discussed the matter of projecting into the right-of- way and had come to the conclusion that some projection allowance was acceptable but added that the commission was also concerned over creating a "canyon effect" on Broadway Street that would limit the amount of natural light getting to the street. Mr. Meisner expressed his appreciation for the effort to achieve a of the balance in standards. He acknowledged that it would be a difficult balance to achieve. Ms. Nathanson called for a comparison of the standards with the goals established in the downtown visioning process. She raised concern with a value statement that specifically used "retail" in its wording. She suggested writing objectives about what was trying to be achieved. She cited day time, night time, and weekend business as examples. Ms. Nathanson raised concern with window signs and asked whether there was a difference in encouraging taller building on the north or south side of the street. Mr. Yeiter said the preference was to have taller buildings on the north side of the street to utilize exposure to the sun to maximum effect. MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 30, 2002 Page 2 Work Session