01/28/1987 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e have time to adjust. The commissioners decided that Eugene should have an ordinance to address problems created by conversions because Eugene is a caring community. Mr. Gaydos said the existing ordinance requires a developer to give a lifetime lease to people for whom comparable housing cannot be found but the definition of comparable housing is so strict that it really means many developments cannot be converted to condominiums in Eugene. Therefore, the commission recommended that IIsimilar and availablell housing is adequate. Answering a question from Ms. Ehrman, Mr. Gaydos said the commission received no testimony from developers who did not proceed with conversions and does not know why they did not proceed. He said Mr. Bennett i ndi cated that the comparable housing and lifetime lease provisions in the existing ordinance probably affected conversions. Mr. Gaydos said the Planning Commission discussed private property rights vs. the public good, the nature of housing, who should pay for problems created, and who should receive benefits. He said some commissioners said that some people 62 years old are able to care for themselves. Therefore, the commission tried to identify people who need help. Jim Ellison, President of the Planning Commission in 1986, said the commissioners learned that the condominium ordinance has social significance. He said they were told that forced relocation creates life-threatening trauma for some people. He said the Planning Commission focused the issues for the City Council. The commissioners did not think a 30-day rental agreement should obligate a developer to give a lifetime lease. He said, therefore, the 4It City Council must address the comparable housing and lifetime lease issues. Mr. Bennett said the comparable housing and lifetime lease provisions in the existing ordinance are not the reason there have been no conversions in the past six years. He said, however, that those provisions would constrain the conversion of certain buildings. He said the units for which the City process was completed have not been sold because there has not been a market for them in the last six years. Answering a question from Ms. Ehrman, Mr. Gaydos said the Planning Commission recommendation that people 70 years old and older should receive special benefits responded to concerns about elderly people. The commission considered making the age limit 75 years. Mr. Miller said he has known people who were not elderly whose lives were threatened by forced relocations. He wondered if the council should consider ways of preserving private investments and, at the same time, addressing the concerns of elderly people and others who need special care. Ms. Brody wondered if the councilors would like the City to consider protecting people in all rental housing from displacement. Responding to Ms. Brody, Mr. Holmer said the council should address the broad issue when it is appropriate but the categories of protected people should be e MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 28, 1987 Page 9