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

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- contacts. Ms. Wooten reported that she also had requested additional information from Nena Lovinger about materials submitted for the record. Mayor Obie opened the public hearing. Richard Miller, 2460 Malabar Drive, said he spoke on behalf of the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Partnership and Executive Director Vicki Dietmeyer, who could not be present tonight. He noted that the partnership had submitted a memo supporting diagram and text changes, which his testimony also supported. Mr. Miller said the Mayor and City Council were committed to taking a strong role in economic development in our community. He said the partnership, of which the City was a partner, saw its place fitting in with that strong role. He said some councilors had been involved initially with the development of the metropolitan plan, part of which had been the determination of whether a need existed to justify plan designations for meeting the various types of uses. Mr. Miller said the partnership testimony submitted to the council indicated that through its experience, a strong and urgent need had been shown for additionally designated heavy industrial land in the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Plan, and more particularly for land located adjacent to railroads or that could receive rail service. e Mr. Miller said the partnership had shown that a large number of companies wanted to locate here, on land that was adequately served by railroads. He said that information would lead the council to conclude that this "rather modest" change would certainly be in order. Mr. Miller said Ms. Dietmeyer had reported a great deal of frustration about the lack of adequate land suitable for meeting clients' needs and eventually providing jobs. He said the partnership supported the proposal and thought there were certainly adequate facts to justify approving the amendments, and asked that the council, "Please do it now." Mayor Obie noted that those testifying in support would have an opportunity for rebuttal. Speaking In Support: Larry Douglas, 3321 Shelton, representing the Eugene Chamber of Commerce, noted that testimony in support of the Metropolitan Plan amendment being considered this evening had been given at previous hearings. He added to that information by quoting from a document dated May 28, 1956: In February of 1955, business leaders of Eugene appealed to the Chamber of Commerce to make studies of ways and means to attract new, diversified payroll sources to this community. It was soon learned that one of the pressing needs for new business was a variety of fairly priced, well-located building sites at costs that would be attractive to firms e MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 8, 1988 Page 3