10/13/1986 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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in new development along the entrance corridors, and the description of Highway 99 North can be changed. She said the council will have to decide e whether to use the term IIdowntownll or "ci ty center. II She also discussed more recognition of the Ferry Street bridge, signs directing visitors to the city, and incentives for the private sector to provide landscaping and buffering along the entrance corri dors. She sa i d the implementation of policies concerning signs will have to be negotiated with the State Highway Division. Mayor Obie opened the public hearing. Anne Bennett, 979 Ferry Lane, represented the Downtown Commission. She said the Downtown Commission supports the goals and policies in the Entrance Beautification Study. She said the Downtown Commissioners recommended that the term "downtown" be used on any signs directing visitors to the center of the city. She said the community uses the term "downtown" and its use provides consistency. For example, there are the Downtown Commission, the Downtown Rotary Club, and the Eugene Downtown Association. She said the term IIdowntown" is used nationally. Steve Adey, 1375 Bailey, thanked Ms. Bascom for her work on the Entrance Beautification Study. Referring to the City's lack of funds, he suggested the council require property owners along entrance corridors to beautify their front yards. He suggested improvements be required to upgrade the property whenever a City permit is requested. Harold Chapman, 51 Chapman Drive, discussed traffic loads on Beltline Road between Delta Highway and River Road. He suggested the City work with other jurisdictions to get the Beltline Bridge and Beltline Road between Delta e Highway and River Road widened. He said he supports the proposal in the River Road/Santa Clara Public Facilities Plan for an expressway on the west side of the Willamette River that will connect with Beltline Road west of the bridge. He said, however, that the ramp from River Avenue should be closed or some other solution found. Mr. Chapman said residents have been working to save the fir trees on River Road on the west side of River Road south of Park Avenue. He said the Eugene Parks Department owns the property. He discussed plans of the Lane County Public Works Department to construct soccer fields in the area and suggested the City testify before the Lane County Commissioners about the value of the fir trees to beautification efforts. He also di scussed the Northwest Expressway and said it should be landscaped. Wes Stofford, 4494 Cascade Drive, said North Bend has a beautiful entrance from the north. He said people entering Eugene from the north see an unattractive junk yard as they come over the Southern Pacific Railroad overpass. He hoped something can be done about it. There being no additional requests to testify, Mayor Obie closed the public hearing. Ms. Bascom discussed a dictionary definition of IIdowntown." She also said IIdowntown" is interchanged with the term "centra 1 ci ty" ; n the Nat i ona 1 League e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 13, 1986 Page 2