CC Minutes - 02/19/08 Public Hearing

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Candy McAndrews , 4159 Victoria Lane, favored the applications. She was pleased to hear of the plans for the shopping center because Santa Clara lacked many services, such as restaurants, cafes, and other retail shopping, forcing her to regularly drive out of the area to other locations. The applicant had been working with many potential tenants. The Santa Clara area currently lacked restaurant, retail, and banking services, and increasing the selection of such services would lessen the need to drive. She said the development would save her time, gas, and money. She asked the council to approve the application to give residents better and closer services on their side of the river. Susan Hutchinson , 2262 Wisconsin Street, favored the application. She shopped in the area frequently. She said that Eugene was both a city and group of neighborhoods tied together by a sense of pride. She found Eugene to be diverse and progressive and devoted to community, and she supported community development as the need dictated. She said most of the development in the area was housing. She believed that the City’s effort to intensify development was being taken to heart in the community. More services for that level of density was needed so people could shop closer to home. She wanted more choices for shopping that she could reach easily without the need to drive. Ms. Hutchinson called for more retail choices in the area and cited several example businesses. She believed the development would beautify the area and improve the street network and sidewalks. The development being proposed was a mix of uses with an environmentally friendly design. It would help preserve land within the urban growth boundary (UGB). She felt the plan was an excellent design to meet future needs. Councilor Zelenka arrived during Ms. Hutchinson’s testimony. Debbi Tomely , 585 Chestnut Drive, spoke in favor of the application. She said the proposal was for the development of shops and restaurants currently lacking in the Santa Clara area. She was forced to travel to shop and dine out and called for nearby retail opportunities she could bicycle to with her family. The design proposal appeared very user friendly, pedestrian-friendly, and more inviting than the typical mall. She asked the council to approve the application for her family and the many residents of Santa Clara who needed the type of retail village being provided by the development. Gary Meili , 3040 Duckhorn Drive, a Santa Clara resident, spoke in support of the application. He felt the application met Eugene’s goals of using infill sites for redevelopment. It addressed both commercial and residential needs by providing close-in shopping opportunities and residential opportunities. The develop- ment would add much needed commercial development in the Santa Clara area in the right place. It would put less pressure on the community to sprawl along River Road. Those living close to the development in his neighborhood would be able to reach it by bike or on foot, avoiding automobile use. His family routinely bicycled in the area and the development would give them another place to go. He pointed out the development would include high-density residential that would help preserve existing farmland. Gary Martin , 2244 Lasiter Street, reviewed and submitted written testimony that supported the findings of the Planning Commission. Brenda Payne , 535 River Loop 1, spoke in support of the application. She said she and her husband and their two children had all attended Santa Clara Elementary School and lived in close proximity to the property in question. She said after the building moratorium was lifted there were many new residential developments built but the area lacked sufficient commercial development to preclude people having to travel out of the neighborhood for dining and shopping. She hoped to see retail development similar to that occurring on Coburg Road. MINUTES—Eugene City Council February 19, 2008 Page 2 Public Hearing