Laserfiche WebLink
Site Analysis Presentation <br /> <br />Consultant Doug Macy said that the boundary of the study of potential sites was the Downtown Plan <br />boundary. He said Eugene’s downtown was compact and nicely scaled and orientation of the City with <br />Willamette Street running between Spencer Butte and Skinner Butte was a major organizing element for the <br />community. He introduced consultant Ken Pirie to present findings of the study. <br /> <br />Mr. Pirie used a map of the downtown area to illustrate all major open spaces, public roadway rights-of- <br />way, building footprints and parcels. He said that all buildings in downtown were identified and key <br />landmarks named. He referred to the revised site criteria provided in the agenda packet and said they would <br />be used to inform the future site selection decision. He reviewed the following criteria and provided <br />examples of how they might be applied to sites: <br /> <br />? <br /> Appropriate site size to accommodate space needs <br />? <br /> Ability to accommodate future expansion space <br />? <br /> High potential to integrate sustainable design <br />? <br /> Proximity to and beneficial relationship with other governmental services <br />? <br /> Compatibility with adjacent land uses <br />? <br /> Easy accessibility via multiple modes of transportation: auto, walking, transit, bicycle <br />? <br /> Easy access to transportation corridors for public safety vehicles <br />? <br /> Costs related to existing improvements and site preparation <br />? <br /> Site availability and willing seller/s <br />? <br /> Contribute to civic pride and vitality downtown <br />? <br /> Support downtown planning efforts <br />? <br /> Consider impact of displacing prime private development opportunities <br /> <br />Mr. Macy remarked that a master planning process for the Park Blocks was in progress and recommenda- <br />tions at a public forum last week called for preserving the historic integrity of the east and west blocks and <br />th <br />reestablishing of the traditional Park Blocks and improving 8 Avenue. He said the plan would be published <br />in the near future. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly asked why a two- to three-block strip on each side of the railroad tracks was identified as high <br />impact for noise. Mr. Pirie replied that the width of the area was arbitrarily chosen as likely to be most <br />affected by the noise of passing trains. Mr. Macy added that noise could be mitigated and that factor was <br />only noted as something to contribute to the discussion, not necessarily to use to eliminate a site. <br /> <br />Mr. Papé asked if there were any examples of a public/private partnership to create a city hall building <br />where commercial activities co-existed with government functions. Consultant Thomas Hacker replied that <br />there were good examples of city halls that had been developed with areas for rental to private enterprises <br />but he was unaware of any public/private enterprise to actually develop a building. <br /> <br />Mr. Pirie reviewed a selection of policies approved as core elements of the Downtown Plan that were most <br />relevant to siting of a new City Hall complex. He said an assessment of current zoning in downtown <br />concluded that it supported a new City Hall complex in most of the Downtown Plan area with the exception <br />of some residential areas south of Broadway and east of downtown. He said other considerations were key <br />elements of overlay zoning and related to urban design. He noted the current City Hall site, as well as <br />several other sites, were outside the boundaries of both urban renewal districts. He reviewed a map of <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Eugene City Council August 9, 2006 Page 2 <br /> Work Shop <br /> <br /> <br />