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FNA East Campus Committee Comments East Campus Lands Land Use Applications Amendments (MA 03-7, RA 03-5, CA 03-5) February 23, 2004 Investment in Traffic Calming Saves Money: Allocation of funds for Waffle calming in response to increased density actually saves money by: 1) Stabilizing property tax revenues: traffic calming mitigates helps prevent the deterioration of residential neighborhoods. This, in mm, maintains property values and property tax revenues for the city. 2) Avoided capital and maintenance costs associated with sprawl: In a growing city like Eugene, the alternative to densification is sprawl. Sprawl reiults in increased capital funding to expand the transportation system and associated long-term maintenance costs. Eugene's low System Development Charges result in new development not adequately contributing toward capital expenses associated with increasing size of the transportation system. 3) Increased Efficiency of city services: Traffic calming promotes livability. Livability attracts residents. More residents mean more property tax revenue per acre and more efficient use of city services such as fire and police protection. Traffic Mitigation is Pro-Development: Numerous MetroPlan policies address the importance of mitigating the impact of increased density and preserving existing neighborhoods. Without traffic mitigation the city cannot promote development and in-fill without conflicting with MetroPlan policies. Therefore, traffic mitigation goes hand-in-hand with enhancing Eugene's "open for business" outlook to support commercial activity, create jobs, and improve the community as a whole. Traffic Mitigation is Needed for the Fairmount Neighborhood: While traffic mitigation is a city-wide issue, the Fairmount Neighborhood specifically needs traffic mitigation due to its close proximity to the University of Oregon. The University of Oregon generates a substantial mount of vehicular and pedestrian that which places a strain in surrounding infrastructure. Like the neighborhood near the Lane County Fairgrounds, traffic mitigation is needed near large institutions. The University is a Blessing and a Burden: The City of Fairmount (now the Fairmount Neighborhood) was formed when the University held a few acres near Agate street. As the University has grown, the single-family neighborhood has embraced the cultural offerings the University provides while dealing with the burden of increased traffic and development. The University is an economic powerhouse and stimulates other aspects of Eugene's economy. However, unlike other residents, the University does not pay property taxes or pay for fire coverage which provide for the long term preservation and maintenance of the City's infrastructure and services. As the City embraces all the University has to offer, so to must the City step in and promote a long-term, harmonious relationship between the University and the Neighborhood through infxastmcmre improvements that promote University development while protecting the single-family neighborhood. Traffic Policies: Because of the importance of traffic mitigation, the FNA East Campus Committee proposes changes to traffic policies #6 and #7. Traffic policy #6 deals with addressing Agate Street which is characterized as "nearly dysfunctional" by city staff. In particular, the intersection of Franklin Boulevard and Agate Street is approaching failure according to state criteria. Traffic policy #7 deals with an area-wide traffic analysis on or before December 2008. These policies have consistently been of concern to the Committee and all parties involved in the process have been Page 2 of 5 City Council Agenda page 258