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<br /> <br />VRI 08-1 / University of Oregon Arena - Alley vacation requested to consolidate properties <br /> <br />for construction of Matthew Knight Arena. <br /> <br /> <br />VRI 08-2 / University of Oregon – E. 13 - Vacation requested to consolidate unused right- <br /> <br />th <br />of-way into landscape area for arena. <br /> <br /> <br />VRI 09-1 / 10 and Olive – Alley vacation requested to consolidate properties for the <br /> <br />th <br />purpose of building Lane Community College Downtown Campus and apartments. <br /> <br /> <br />VRI 10-1 / University of Oregon – Moss Street - Vacation requested for construction of <br /> <br />Moss Street parking project. <br /> <br /> <br />VRI 12-1 / Capstone/Peacehealth - Alley vacation requested to realign the existing alley for <br /> <br />the development of a proposed student housing project. <br /> <br /> <br />VRI 12-2 / Eugene Hotel Retirement Center – Alley vacation requested to create a <br /> <br />pedestrian promenade in front of new proposed commercial storefronts. <br /> <br />Councilor Poling asked if the east end of the alley was already closed to vehicles. The alley is <br />entirely open to vehicles, bikes and pedestrians at this point, although there is no through-traffic <br />because the alley terminates at the jail. <br /> <br />Councilor Poling also asked about further restrictions, guidelines and precedence for vacating <br />alleys. The City Council has wide discretion with vacation requests as the sole approval criterion <br />requires the council to determine if the vacation is in the public interest. To help assess this <br />criterion, staff considers how the vacation not only benefits the applicant, but how this vacation <br />serves broader City objectives. In addition, staff evaluates the function and overall benefit of the <br />right-of-way, including vehicle, bike and pedestrian use, as well as utility service. This process <br />includes consent from adjacent property owners as well as consultation with a variety of other <br />public agencies. Ultimately, the City Council needs to weigh these considerations and determine <br />whether, on balance, the vacation is in the public’s interest. <br /> <br />City Council Determination <br />In the evaluation of this particular application, staff believes this request shares some common <br />elements of previously approved requests, but also includes some unique circumstances which <br />further support approval. These include the following: <br /> <br />The applicant needs greater flexibility along the alley to make façade and access <br /> <br />improvements to his tenant spaces to enhance their viability and success. These objectives <br />are consistent with the City’s goals of supporting local businesses and the overall vitality of <br />downtown. <br /> <br />The alley currently provides minimal value as an access route for the general public, given <br /> <br />that the alley dead-ends at the jail. 5 Avenue serves as the primary access-way for <br />th <br />vehicles, bikes and pedestrians, which will be unaffected by this vacation. <br /> <br />The alley is primarily used by the applicant and his tenants, which will be retained for <br /> <br />private use. <br /> <br />Due to its immediate proximity to the jail, this alley experiences a high degree of safety and <br /> <br />nuisance-related incidents associated with recently released inmates. These circumstances <br /> S:\CMO\2013 Council Agendas\M130211\S1302114.doc <br /> <br />