05/27/1986 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

- e e MINUTES Eugene City Council Work Session Eugene Conference Center May 27, 1 986 5:30 p.m. PRESENT: Brian Obie, Mayor; Mike Gleason, City Manager; Roger Rutan, Richard Hansen, Freeman Holmer, Ruth Bascom, Emily Schue, councilors; Gary Chenkin, Les Tumidaj, Jim Croteau, Dave Whitlow, Susan Brody, Larry Reed, Barb Bellamy, Gerry Gaydos, staff; Jim Boyd, The Register- Gu a rd. The work session was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by the Mayor. I. REVISIONS TO SOLAR ACCESS REGULATIONS The Mayor asked the councilors for consensus on individual items regarding the solar access regulations. He also asked the councilors if there was sentiment against having a solar access code, if the Planning Commission should present reasons for having a code to the City Council, and if the discussion should continue. Mr. Hansen asked how many cities in Oregon have a history of solar access ordinances. Mr. Tumidaj replied that Ashland has a six-year-old ordinance and at least 20 cities have ordinances which are two to three years old. In response to a question from Mr. Rutan, Mr. Tumidaj clarified that the City of Eugene has a solar access ordinance now, and that what is before the council now are revisions and additions. Mr. Hansen asked if the existing code could be "cleaned up" without the additions. Mr. Gleason responded that the Plan- ning Commission requested a broader ordinance. Mr. Chenkin added that the existing provisions apply only to new planned unit developments and land divisions; the revisions and the additions lessen restrictions in some cases, based on the experience of cities using the code. Mr. Rutan did not believe the language of the ordinance to be unduly restrictive, and Mr. Holmer believed the ordinance was headed in the right direction. Mr. Tumidaj reviewed the solar access revisions as distributed to the coun- cilors. Under Part I, Solar Setback Standards for New Buildings and Additions in Existing Developments, he explained that in a number of ways the standards are more lenient than the existing ordinance. He also reviewed the guarantees and exemptions. Mr. Tumidaj addressed two questions referred to him by the councilors at the last work session on solar access. He suggested that in cases where there was a small infraction of the solar setback standard, that there be a categorical exemption for chimneys and television aerials and that a leeway of 15 square MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 27, 1986 Page 1