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<br />Rob Zako handed out written testimony, then summarized his thoughts about the Planning <br />Commission's 2008 work program: See the forest for the trees. He noted the effects of <br />global warming and increased use of oil, then cited the increase in housing being built in <br />areas near Eugene, even as the majority of jobs continue to be in Eugene. He said this greatly <br />increased commuter traffic. <br /> <br />Mr. lako said there was no effective f()fum for regional planning, noting that the Region <br />2050 project was nm\' dead and that the Metropolitan Policy Committee dealt with only part <br />ofthe region, and foclIsed on transportation planning, not land use planning. He listed <br />several other things that would affect land use planning, including recent legislation and <br />upcoming ballot measures. Mr. lako concluded by saying that there was no shared vision for <br />Eugene's downtown, and that the City's land use code was "broken." <br /> <br />At Mr. Duncan's request, Mr. lako said he would provide copies of his testimony to the City <br />Council. <br /> <br />Rob Handy agreed with Mr. lako that recent legislation caused the Metro Plan to be <br />inconsistent with what was happening "on the ground." He said it \vould be helpful if draft <br />ordinances would refer to the statutes they \vere meant to modify, to save a lot of research <br />effort by concerned citizens. Me Handy spoke highly of the public participation around the <br />infill compatibility standards process, and commended the Planning Commission and staJ'f <br />members for engaging the community. This contrasted, he said, with the Metropolitan Policy <br />Committee (MPC), which he felt did not appear to take public participation seriously. He <br />provided the example of a poorly-attended MPC hearing about the Regional Transportation <br />Plan. <br /> <br />Mr. Handy said that making transpOlt.ation decisions before land use planning was in place <br />was putting the cart before the horse. He thought it was important to integrate transportation <br />and land use, and urged the Planning Commission to make that a key component of their <br />work plan. He thanked the commissioners and staff for their work in the metro community <br />and wished the other partners "had half the energy that you atl do." <br /> <br />Mr. Belcher remarked on last week's session on opportunity siting, saying he was discour- <br />aged by the lack of public engagement in that topic. He encouraged Mr. Handy to try to have <br /> <br />MINUTES-Eugene Planning Commission <br /> <br />October 15, 2007 <br /> <br />Page 3 <br />