11/28/1988 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e Ms. Brody briefly reviewed the major Metro Plan update issues as identified by the planning directors and the tentative recommendations made by MPC (see memo from the planning directors to the City Council dated November 18, 1988). Mr. Bennett said he does not like the proposed update process. He did not feel it would address the need for a comprehensive plan and felt that a number of minor changes undertaken haphazardly would undermine the integrity of the plan. Mr. Bennett added that the old process provided an opportunity for community input on the direction of the plan. Consequently there was community support for the plan when implemented. Ms. Brody said the preference of the planning directors is to continue the Metro Plan Update. She said the City was ready to devote the resources necessary to complete a successful update of the plan, but neither Springfield nor Lane County felt they had the resources needed to continue the update effort. Ms. Brody said the City of Eugene did not feel it could commit more resources to the update, so the planning directors met to generate these alternatives. She said the planning directors feel the options presented are the second best alternative to a complete update process. In defense of the alternatives, Ms. Brody said she feels it is sensible to tie local update of the plan to the State periodic review requirements because some of the same analysis is required in both processes. Ms. Brody e added that the plan is a dynamic document and that she supports the idea of continuing to do major intergovernmental studies and make changes to the plan between reviews when necessary. She said if amendments are allowed semi-annually rather than continuously, citizens will have a better opportunity to see the overall direction of the plan. Mr. Bennett reiterated his opposition to this approach. He stressed that the update is necessary to set the basic framework of the plan so that community members have a basis for making long-term decisions. Mr. Bennett added that although more frequent changes may be thought to make development easier, it will not. He felt less comprehensive planning makes it impossible to make long-term decisions. Mr. Gleason said the trend toward less comprehensive planning is occurring city-wide as well as metropolitan-wide. He cited the lack of refinement plans, and the need for industrial lands and commercial lands inventories as examples. Mr. Gleason said the options from MPC are the best hope for keeping some metropolitan planning focus with available resources, although they are "band-aid" measures at best. Ms. Schue said MPC agrees with Mr. Bennett1s viewpoint that a major comprehensive update process is best, but it is the prerogative ~f Springfield and Lane County not to participate. She said since Eugene is not in a position to cover more of the update costs, there is not much choice about how to proceed. - MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 28, 1988 Page 8