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<br />: Councilman Keller referred to statement attributed to the Planning Director in
<br />minutes of January 17 meeting of the Association - "...group was too small for fair
<br />1 treatment from the planning department and should consider merging with the Downtown
<br />:Association." Mr. Porter explained that when he met with the group he was concerned )
<br />. · about precedent in considering the small area represented by the group. Planning had
<br />- . . ! thought in terms of 10 to 15 groups in the ci ty, but if the, areas 'represented were
<br />:,of,the size of this Association it could mean 25 to 50 groups in the city, and he
<br />:f~4t planning could not provide help and staff for that many. Because 'of the com-
<br />mf';tcial interests of that area,-he said, he 'suggested merger with the Downtown
<br />:~$"sociation which had parallel interests, or if it tended toward residential then l'
<br />it would seem better to ally with the westside Neighborhood Quality project rather,
<br />than a separate group representing a smaller area'. Mr.' Porter said hehcid advised
<br />, the group that in refinement of the overall Plan this area was being considered for
<br />: medium density housing rather than commercial. The group ,had been asked for specific
<br />i backups to the design plan b,u~"there had- been no response.
<br />
<br />..' \\'. I ~ , .
<br />
<br />. Assistant Manager thought recognition would seem appropriate since it was a cohesive
<br />unLt and would give a mechanism for working with people in that area ,until the general
<br />~_characterof the neighborhood was defined through refinement of the General Plan.
<br />0" ." .._....n _ .... .. __~_....,_.-:._._.,. ~~..,_._~..._,_.' _ . u_ . ..'-'..r _. _,,,,._. ~_...,,_ . ".. ..--_. _. . . ._,'au
<br />-:
<br />
<br />~ response to Councilwoman Beal, Pla~l'ng~i5irecto.r s'aid the area was.. basically zoned i
<br />!C-2 with some R-3. There was no R-l. with regard to whether there was indication i
<br />:of a desire to change any of the zoning, Assistant Manager could answer only that I
<br />! bunds were budgeted to start a -refinement study of the 'near. westside downtown area I
<br />Iii rafter the Bethel-Danebo and Willagillespie studies were completed. That study would ;
<br />~ !give a better basis for determining how the area should be zoned. Planning Director i
<br />iexplained further that the area represented by this group had to be looked at in the
<br />!larger picture of relationship of the whole downtown area with the Goodpasture Island
<br />:area now 'under study. Although there was no definite conclusion at this point there
<br />:was an indication that the near westside should go to medium density housing.
<br />
<br />:Mayor Anderson brought discussion back to whether the charter qualified the Westside
<br />!group as a neighborhood organization, saying it was not a matter of future plans
<br />. since the important feature of neighborhood organizations was that they would be
<br />!able to formulate their own plans. The Mayor commented on the critical nature of
<br />the area, similar to that on the east between downtown and the university where a
<br />'neighborho.od organization would-be helpful in wor~ing ,with the citiz,?1J.s on issues.
<br />affecting commercial and residential areas. '
<br />
<br />i Mrs. Beal moved ~econded by Mr., Keller to schedule public hearing on the
<br />charter for the Downtown Westside Association. ;
<br />,
<br />
<br />~Councilman Murray thought the pUblic hearing would be the best course of action, say-
<br />iing there was no reason to deny the charter unless it could be demonstrated in some i
<br />! fashion that this group did not fit the neighborhood organization policy. He said .
<br />... I Mr. Golden did raise some issues which the Council could consider in deciding whe-
<br />~ ! ther there was a violation of that policy. He thought the size of the area should
<br />be ~~pt in mind too if there was possibility of recognizing other groups repre-
<br />senting l2-block areas.
<br />
<br />Councilman McDonald wondered if a public hearing was necessary, noting staff's
<br />recommendation to extend recognition to the neighborhood association and the group's
<br />; charter provision for open membership to property owners and tenants amking it no I
<br />I different from others accepted by the city. Mayor Anderson said that although there'
<br />I .
<br />I were minor variations the charter was essentially the same as others accepted.
<br />i However, he noted that action taken now was informal and subject to public hearing
<br />at the regular meeting to give residents of the neighborhood an opportunity to be
<br />heard by the Council.
<br />
<br />Vote was taken on the motion to schedule public hearing. Motion carried cJmm
<br />, unanimously. ,,'_ ,." '. _'.. .. ...,._ _.,.,...-> .,6/19/74
<br />
<br />, Pub Hrng
<br />Manager reported that notification of meetings of the Downtown Wests ide group
<br />anddist:i~uti?n o~ the proposed charter had been adequate to provide an opportunity
<br />for p~rtl?lpatlon ,ID recent actions, although during early stages of the group's
<br />organlzatlon there may have been less than adequate notification.
<br />
<br />f~ Public hearing was opened.
<br />
<br />Paul Gilbertson, 1312 Lincoln Street, explained that the group was organized as the
<br />(0911) result of feeling by some members of the larger Westside Association that the smaller
<br />area i~ediately adjacent to the downtown had unique characteristics needing special
<br />attentlon toward upgrading to make it more compatible. He described the area covered
<br />by the proposed charter and the type of development there.
<br />
<br />6/24/74 - 7
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