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the process had been successful in coming to agreement on a number of issues and eliminating others that, <br />at the beginning, had been ~quite contentious." <br /> <br />Mr. Lowe cited two policy issues for the council, a study of Agate Street and an area-wide traffic calming <br />study. He noted there were funding issues associated with the policies and conveyed staffs <br />recommendation that, should no funding be allocated, the policies be removed from the plan. <br /> <br />Mr. Lowe called attention to the issues mediation had not been able to resolve with the neighborhood. He <br />reported the neighborhood sought a minimum time limit for the plan to be in effect and staff had <br />recommended against it. He said another issue brought up by the neighborhood was a desire to prohibit <br />conditional use permits (CUPs) in the zone. He anticipated that the City Council would hear some <br />testimony in favor of this prohibition from the neighborhood. <br /> <br />Mr. Lowe indicated that the adopting ordinance published the previous week had erroneously specified <br />that, in addition to other uses allowed by a CUP, office uses would be allowed. He clarified that the policy <br />strictly limited the kinds of conditional uses in the area to office uses and other supportive uses. <br /> <br />Mayor Torrey called for questions and comments from the council. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly noted the east campus area was located within his ward and that he had attended many of the <br />meetings regarding the plan. He had been pleased by the mediation process. He felt there had been a <br />;;huge gulf" between the interests of the neighborhood and the University initially and that to reduce 30 <br />areas of contention to 3 was no small feat. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly called the traffic studies critically important. He urged the council to find funding for them. He <br />thought it especially prudent given the development of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), the potential <br />redevelopment of the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) site, and the enormous impact he <br />predicted the East Campus Plan would have. He noted the second study was not slated to be completed <br />before 2008. He commented that the first study only called for $15,000, suggesting it be taken from the <br />General Fund Contingency. <br /> <br />Mr. Pap6 commented that citizens in the River Road/Santa Clara also wanted funding to update the plans <br />in that area. He felt it important to keep ;;an even playing field." <br /> <br />In response to a question from Mr. Pap6, Mr. Lowe clarified that the Walnut Street/Franklin Boulevard <br />Node was a completely separate issue. He explained that the University application was judged on a set of <br />criteria and the boundary of the plan was 400 to 500 feet from the westernmost edge of the node. He <br />added that traffic patterns were projected to change, but the City would not be able to condition the plan to <br />address those concerns. He stressed that an area-wide traffic calming study would address concerns where <br />the node and the campus plan might overlap. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor asserted the council should be concerned about the preservation of neighborhoods. She asked <br />why CUPs should not be excluded. Mr. Lowe responded that the CUP process was one of the few <br />permitting processes that allowed the City to evaluate new development as it went in and place conditions <br />on its construction. Ms. Taylor believed the CUP process could be used to change development from <br />residential to office development. Mr. Lowe said that staff believed there should be a process that allowed <br />for positive change to happen in the edge of the east campus area. Without such change, he asserted <br />properties could lapse into disrepair because there was no way to improve the building. Ms. Taylor <br />disagreed, stating it would be worthwhile to preserve the housing. <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 11, 2004 Page 2 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />