02/08/1988 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e Ms. Marker asked how rail access would be supplied either east or west, because long trains often resulted in lengthy closures of Awbrey Lane and Meadowview Road. She said new roadways and railroad tracks would be needed, and county officials had agreed that the intersection of Meadowview and Prairie Roads was an example of poor engineering. Ms. Marker said she wondered what type of industry would locate next to the 42 acres of sludge that would be built. Ms. Marker said she favored waiting for the Metro Plan update, adding that she did not understand the reason for the rush. She suggested waiting to see if it was true that the sludge would have no smell, and perhaps cleaner industries could be recruited. Ms. Marker said she represented many residents of the neighborhood who were concerned about the price they would have to pay for electricity, water, sewer, and roads, as well as about the effect on wells, which served all residents from Awbrey Lane on. She noted that residents would pay to hook up to sewers, which would dispose of sewage by allowing it to dry in sludge ponds next door. e Ms. Marker said she wondered whether officials were looking at the proposal in a feasible manner or for potential revenue. She suggested thinking about the impact on taxpayers who lived in the area and about the type of businesses that would want to locate in the area with the existing problems. Ms. Marker said that if businesses were going to create more stench, complaints should not be made about burning by county residents. She asked the council not to bring in companies that would cause more stench in their backyards, because residents did not want them. Greg Shaver, 1225 Water, Springfield, said he had been appointed to represent the majority opinion of the Springfield Planning Commission. He said he understood a little of the task facing the council tonight, but Springfield had not had to deal with infrastructure costs, as did Eugene. Mr. Shaver said the Springfield Planning Commission had recommended waiting for the Metro Plan update, and he reviewed the reasons for that recommendation. Mr. Shaver said the commission had found no compelling need. He said much testimony had been contradictory and unfocused. He said some speakers had supported a large-scale, rail-dependent site, some had supported a special-light industrial site, and others had supported a campus setting. He agreed with Mr. Saul's statement that his testimony had been contradicted by people who, nevertheless, supported the amendment. e Mr. Shaver said the single unique feature to the site identified by the commission had been the dual rail access. He said the trend observed had been away from rail-dependent industry, and the study and firms cited by the partnership were thrown into question by the first entry, stating MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 8, 1988 Page 13