10/13/1986 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Responding to comments from Ms. Bascom, Mr. Byrne di scussed the need to redesign Willamette Street because there are too many fixed structures and too e much empty space where there is no planned activity. Mr. Holmer asked the staff to investigate the section in the renewal plan concerning age discrimination. He wondered if the section would ban construction of housing such as Olive Plaza. Mayor Obie asked the councilors to express their opinions. Ms. Wooten said she wants an important and vibrant downtown. She said the blight to the west of downtown has been neglected but she is not sure if the the urban renewal boundary should be expanded or where it should be expanded. She said perhaps the council should take a long long-range view about the properties immediately surrounding the Hult Center and about more intense development in other a rea s. She said expanding the urban renewal boundary may not solve prob 1 ems. She said she is not convinced that the LTD transit site should be moved or that Willamette Street should be opened to traffic. Mr. Holmer said expanding the Urban Renewal District boundary and wanting more intense development do not seem compatible. He said the focus of the renewal district should remain where it is. He said he is concerned about increasing taxes outside of the tax increment district but probably some kind of Urban Renewal Plan Update will have to be adopted. Ms. Schue said she wishes the council had been involved in the update of the Urban Renewa 1 Plan earlier because the council is keenly interested in the plan. She said the community cares about the urban renewal district and the council needs more information and discussion about it. e Mr. Hansen said people have not decided what the downtown is supposed to be. He said expansion is not necessarily good. He said vacant property does not necessarily indicate blight. He said the citizens should be asked what they think about the renewal district in some way other than a public hearing. Ms. Bascom said two reasons for the expansion of the Urban Renewal District are the need for sidewalks and alley improvements in the area and the empty spaces in the Conference Center Garage. She said she wants more information about the LTD transit station and she has not made a decision about redesigning Willamette Street. She said the process for reviewing the Urban Renewal Plan Update is too hurried. Mr. Miller said there is no consensus about the renewal plan update and the council does not seem to agree about many things in the Downtown Plan. He said the issues are important and much council discussion is needed. Mayor Obie said it is important that the councilors reach a consensus before implementation of the plan begins. He said the basic issue is how downtown development will be financed. He said the councilors need to know why some projects are in the report and not in the Downtown Plan. He is concerned about the process for reviewing the Urban Renewal Plan Update. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 13, 1986 Page 5