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Page 1 of 2 THOMAS Patricia S From: TGushurst@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 4:29 PM To: patricia.thomas@ci.eugene.or, us Subject: Furtick/Larson zone change request. September 28, 2004 Patricia Thomas City of Eugene Planning Division 99 West 10th Avenue Eugene, OR 97401 Re: RA O4-1, Z 04-4 Dear Patricia Thomas: This is a response to the letter of September 14th addressed to you and the Planning Division from Richard L. Larson. In his letter Mr. Larson points out that he has received "two unsolicited purchase offers" for the property in question, and adds that, "Both of these offers were made almost a year ago." He cites this as proof that "There has been significant interest in using this specific parcel for commercial purposes" and that this demonstrates "clear evidence that there is commercial need for this property." Two offers more than a year old may demonstrate some amount of interest in purchasing the property but it certainly does not amount to a "need", much less a public need. He goes on to argue that the fact that "the tear down of the Clarion Motel [in the Gateway area] to make way for construction of the Best Buy Electronics Store" indicates that there is a need for more motel construction. If Mr. Larson is correct one may well wonder why that motel was tom down and replaced by an electronics store. Certainly it demonstrates the opposite. When he furthers argues that "the only site for a motel would be at this Glenwood site if it is to serve the Eugene/Springfield community", he seems to be unaware of the growing interest on the part of our present Mayor and the City Council in the creation of a I-5 south-bound off-ramp that would guide traffic onto Franklin Blvd. rather than through the Glenwood area. Such construction would certainly effect the need for a motel located on the property in question. Furthermore, development in the commercial node already designated for that area may well provide motel rooms for those traveling on I-5. To allow construction on this property at this time, ahead of the development of the commercially zoned properties nearby, has the effect of truning the intentions of the framers of the area refinement plan on its head, developing first what should be developed, if needed, last. Mr. Larson claims in his letter that "a two-story building would be barely visible, if at all from residences in the neighborhood. The towers [the electrical transmission towers located on the site] are at least twice as high." Well, unlike the towers and poles located on the site, which offer little visual obstruction since they can be seen through and around easily, a two story motel would present the viewer with a solid object witch would indeed have a significant visual impact. In fact, such an building IV-84 9/28/2004