CC Minutes - 07/24/06 Work Session

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the preparation for this work session, staff will work with the Jefferson Westside Neighbors to consider approaches to their situation with R-1 to R-2 upzonings. Ms. Bettman stated the issue had been a concern since adoption of Metro Plan housekeeping amendments resulted in vulnerability of a 15-block section in the Jefferson-Westside neighborhood along with areas in River Road and Santa Clara. She reminded councilors that they had received a petition signed by 286 people distributed throughout the Jefferson-Westside neighborhood as well as other neighborhoods. She said the motion was sufficiently flexible for staff to work with knowledgeable and interested people to develop options for the council’s consideration at its August 14 meeting. She pointed out that the refinement plan, which dictated approval of zoning changes that allowed high density on already-developed single family sites, did not include any criteria for approval. Mr. Papé appreciated the issue being raised by the Jefferson-Westside neighborhoods and suggested it could be addressed by a moratorium. He noted that an earlier process with the Chambers Area Families for Healthy Neighborhoods (CAHFN) involved the Planning Commission. He felt there was a process already in place and if the motion included River Road it should be done in a more systematic manner that included the Planning Commission. He could not support the motion unless it was narrowed to only address Jefferson-Westside. He relayed comments from River Road community organization people who thought the process should not move forward as quickly as the motion would require. Ms. Taylor said she would support a motion to separate the areas for consideration. She said Jefferson- Westside was the most urgent and she did not understand how the amendment process had happened so quickly and quietly. She said it was important to protect neighborhoods close in to downtown and inappropriate infill, which was happening all over town, was detrimental to neighborhoods. She said visitors were surprised that Eugene had no slums and she was concerned that slums could occur if the council did not move to protect the most vulnerable areas. Mr. Kelly felt that the concerns would be addressed in the long term through the work program and resources provided to develop infill standards and opportunity siting and the issue being raised was whether there were short-term measures that might mitigate some of the harm while those long term solutions were developed. He was not certain there were short-term solutions and noted that even a moratorium would require a minimum of 60 days. He said he would not support the motion if it focused only on Jefferson- Westside because the need for short-term help was broader than just that area and sometimes the council reacted according to which neighborhood was best politically organized at a particular time. Ms. Solomon asked the City Manager to comment on the motion. City Manager Taylor replied that he would be happy to assign staff to work on options short of a moratorium, although providing the material for an August 14 meeting would be challenging. He asked if the council would consider shifting the item to the August 16 meeting. Ms. Bettman agreed to shift the item to the August 16, 2006, meeting agenda. Mr. Poling offered a friendly amendment to eliminate the phrase “and River Road” from the motion. Ms. Bettman accepted the friendly amendment. Ms. Bettman explained that she was originally focused only of the 15-block section of the Jefferson- Westside neighborhood and received feedback that other areas also had emergent issues with infill. She MINUTES—Eugene City Council July 24, 2006 Page 3 Work Session