Item 3: Ordinance on Downtown Code Amendments

Home Browse Search

Hugh Prichard , 2671 Emerald, had submitted written testimony in support of the proposed amendments. He reiterated that the current code discouraged construction in downtown and was sending development to suburbs which exactly the opposite of stated goals, intentions and policies. He recently spoke with Wally Graff, the developer of the medical office building under th construction at 18 Avenue and Pearl Street. Mr. Graff had developed several medical office buildings in Eugene/Springfield during the last decade, and understood the /TD would not allow construction within the downtown /TD zones. In the 1990’s, before the Land Use Code Update (LUCU) process led to the current problem, a building boom in downtown brought the U.S. Bank Building, Charnelton Place, Umpqua Bank, Pacific Continental Bank, and Broadway Place. All of the construction had a positive impact on parking. In the case of U.S. Bank, suburban parking ratios were improved upon by 60 percent. Broadway Place parked one person per unit, where one and one-half spaces were required in suburbia. Development was headed in the right way in the 1990s, but those advances were cut off with LUCU parking restrictions. While the intentions were good they were overdone. The proposed amendments were a good start. The definitions of lot or development site were murky. He encouraged the Planning Commission to go in the right direction and make the amendments. He had spoken to a number of groups during the last few months and had asked folks to come tonight to show support of the amendment process. He asked those in favor of the proposed amendments to raise their hands. Gary Wildish, 2424 Quince Street, thanked the Planning Commission for the opportunity and staff for their efforts. This was an important thing for our city. In last five or six years new commercial development had not been built in downtown Eugene. We gave LUCU a shot. He encouraged the Planning Commission to support the proposed amendments and forward a recommendation for adoption to the City Council. Jean Tate, 1375 Olive Street, had issued a challenge at the annual Chamber dinner to ask people to be willing to put up money for development in downtown. Sixteen people were willing to write checks for $100,000 to help something happen downtown. She opined none of the development projects that she had looked at to date could work with the current code. She encouraged the Commission to support the proposed amendments. MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission April 15, 2008 Page 5