Resolution No. 4575 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Engineer Les Lyle responded that Mr. Thompson's concerns were very different from the concerns expressed by most people along this portion of Terry Street. Most people in the area wished to have the traffic slowed to make the street safer. Mr. Lyle explained that Terry Street is a minor arterial street, and that the design proposed is intended to allow the street to carry the expected volume of traffic without blocking the traffic but also without allowing the traffic to pass through at high speeds. The design changes were included to make certain that the street was not separated from the neighborhood, and so that the street would not become a barrier to the neighborhoods on either side of the street. Mr. Lyle explained that the raised crosswalks did not create the need to severel y slow traffic such as the speed bumps or speed raises that were being installed on some neighborhood streets in Eugene. Mr. Thompson responded that he did not feel that the traffic slowing steps were necessary because the properties along Terry Street would not be entering onto Terry Street. City Engineer Les Lyle explained that it was possible for all the properties along Terry Street to make a curb cut and gain access. Mr. Lyle compared the proposed'improvements along this portion of Terry Street with the improved parts of Terry Street further north, where the high speeds attained by cars had led to many complaints, and which had prompted the design modifications to this portion of Terry Street. The next member of the public to speak was Toni Bamford, a resident within the proposed local improvement district. Ms. Bamford explained that while she did not want the project to happen, she did appreciate very much the City Engineering staff s work with the residents of the area on designing factors that could be included in the project to slow the traffic and integrate the street with the neighborhood. Ms. Bamford explained that she was opposed to the overall project because she had not been informed concerning the possibility of an assessment when she purchased her home, and therefore objects to the proposed assessment at this time. Ms. Bamford indicated that if the project was to be initiated that she very much favored the proposed design of the street with its traffic slowing devices. The next member of the public to address the hearing was Hank Alvis, also a resident of the proposed local improvement district. Mr. Al vis indicated that he also did not want the formation of a local improvement district. Mr. Alvis indicated that he had no knowledge that he would be asked to pay an assessment when he purchased his home. Mr. Alvis also asked if the offer to allow the residents of the Flatbush subdivision to construct their own sidewalks would be made to other persons in the local improvement district. Mr. Alvis indicated that he would like to be able to avoid the sidewalk assessment and that he believed that he and other members of his family, who were contractors, could put the sidewalk in. City Engineer Les Lyle responded that he did not want to close off the possibility. The situations were much different however, and it might not be possible for Mr. Alvis to have the same option. In the Flatbush subdivision the street was already in place, so the residents would have a long period of time to install the sidewalk. In other areas, the sidewalks could not be installed until after the street was finished, and this was commonly only in the last few weeks of the project. The logistics of having individuals