05/20/1987 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e changes in the area. He said there will eventually be three skybridges across Hi lyard Street. Answering a question from Ms. Wooten, Mr. McKinley said the fee for a privately initiated Metro Plan amendment is $600. Ms. Brody said a change in the Metro Plan designation from Residential to General Office for the 23rd and 24th avenues area on South Willamette would directly benefit the property owners; consequentlY"the fee would be appropriate. Referring to Scenario Fl, Ms. Bascom said CATS indicates that the conversion of Lincoln and Willamette streets to two-way traffic is not wise from a cost, operational, or safety standpoint and that the conversion of Willamette Street from 13th to 20th avenues is not related to the opening of Willamette Street to automobile traffic between 8th and 10th avenues. She said a gentle design for Willamette Street between 8th and 10th avenues would not be easy to accomplish if traffic is increased on Willamette Street from 13th to 20th avenues. Mr. Holmer said he does not favor commercial zoning along Willamette Street around 23rd and 24th avenues because it might result in strip commercial development. Mayor Obie said there are parking problems at the University of Oregon, Sacred Heart Hospital, and in the downtown but there are 10,000 rarely-used parking spaces at Autzen Stadium. He suggested that the cost of a mass transit system from the stadi um to those areas be compared to the cost of a parki n9 structure. Mr. McKinley responded that most of the University faculty, staff, and students live south of the Willamette River and they would have to go out of their way to park at Autzen Stadium. Mr. Reinhard said the Eugene/Springfield metropolitan area does not seem to be large enough to make such mass transit programs effective. He said the comparatively low price of parking spaces makes programs like the "Park and Ridell program unsuccessful. Mr. Gleason added that the downtown free parking program is an impediment to downtown development. Mr. Holmer said the City can address only part of the parking problem. He said the private sector should take responsibility for addressing much of the problem. Mr. Bennett said development of private facilities for parking precludes the opportunfty to share spaces and maximize facilities. He said downtown employers accept responsibility for creating parking when they pay the Downtown Development District Tax for the free parking program. Mr. Holmer wondered if the Downtown Development District Tax pays the cost of providing downtown parking. Ms. Wooten said the City must provide parking facilities until the downtown is revitalized. Several councilors asked for information before the council considers CATS again. Ms. Ehrman said the Downtown Commission and Planning Commission should MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 20, 1987 Page 7 ~IH~'~!'Lr}@qf.:t~-~-"iiii~'-~"""'_~:J''i~~~1:~~~t~':f:~~t,,,,-::-._..~~.~.~