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e Growth Areas Study indicates the Awbrey-Meadowview site should be a site of approximately 200 acres because it would be hard to justify the addition of small parcels. She said the Awbrey-Meadowview site is unique because it is in one ownership and has direct rail access. Answering questions from Mr. Bennett, Mr. Gaydos and Mr. Prichard said they were in the minority when the Planning Commission made its recommendation. He said he thought the councills direction was for the commission to consider the merits of the Awbrey-Meadowview site but that action was "sidetracked" at the public hearing when the owners did not testify. Mr. Prichard said the Awbrey- Meadowview site is unique and a decision should be made about it. He said things change and the decision should not be made on policies developed in the 601s. Mr. Bennett said it is important to evaluate how sites compete regionally. He said the Awbrey-Meadowview site is unique for certain uses and there should be some way to indicate to the LCDC that the Awbrey-Meadowview site is very competitive for some uses. He said additional information will not change the issues. He said the council should consider the site. Ms. Bascom said the council initiated the Alternative Industrial Growth Areas Study which indicates to her that the Awbrey-Meadowview site should be considered if additional special heavy industrial land is needed. She said the completion of the study seems to finish the planning process. e Mayor Obie said several councilors asked the Planning Commission to ensure that the Awbrey-Meadowview site was considered during the Mid-Period Review because the issue has festered for a long time in the community and because an opportunity for economic development should be reviewed. He said he does not favor considering the site during the Metro Plan Update because the update will not be completed for at least three years and then the property would have to be marketed before the community could benefit from development on the site. He said the 200-acre site provides a unique marketing opportunity and he supports maintaining it as a 200-acre site. Mayor Obie urged the planning commissioners to remember they are a citizen advisory group. He said they are not professional planners. He said the commission is a buffer and the commissioners have a planning viewpoint. He said consideration of the Awbrey-Meadowview site is a timely, public issue now because of the community's deep economic problems. He said it is important to address the problems now. He said there may be another recession in three years and that would not be a good time to address economic problems. Mayor Obie said the Awbrey-Meadowv;ew site is marginal agricultural land and lack of an appropriate designation may result in the loss of an economic development opportunity. Mr. Rutan said members of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce told him they requested a 60- to 90-day delay in considering the Alternative Industrial Growth Areas Study. They did not anticipate a two-year delay. He said the LCDC staff has told him Eugene could proceed with an amendment to include the Awbrey-Meadowview site in the urban growth boundary. They said the decision should be made by the City Council. e MINUTES--Joint Eugene City Council/ February 23, 1987 Planning Commission Dinner Session Page 6