05/22/1989 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

e Don Duwe, 265 Taylor, spoke as the owner of a business whose only access is from 5th Avenue. Mr. Duwe argued that it is unreasonable to purchase a home in a busy area and then attempt to change a busy street to a residential one. He maintained that traffic on 5th Avenue had been reduced as a result of the completion of improvements to 6th and 7th avenues. He encouraged the council to invest in an improved Council Chamber sound system instead of a permanent diverter. Jack Conklin, 2167 North Danebo, encouraged councilors to drive west on 5th Avenue from High Street. He considered the diverter a deterrent to customers of Eugene Mirror and Glass and Central Lane Builders Supply and he opposed its being established permanently. Lauren Heitzman, 2151 Golden Garden, identified himself as owning a business located two blocks away from the diverter and said that he had not received notice of the meeting nor had he been contacted by the Transportation Division in an attempt to determine the effect of the diverter on the area prior to a recommendation being made. He requested that consideration be given to the fact that 5th Avenue is a public street, not a private one. William Stril1zuk, 1410 West 5th Avenue, has resided in the area 48 years and while he admitted that the diverter is inconvenient, he thought its improvement of the residential area was worth the inconvenience. e Bill Snead, 2251 North 11th Street, Springfield, spoke as a Central Lane Building Supply employee who finds the diverter an impediment to business. Referring to a petition mentioned in earlier testimony, he said the 470 signatures were not solicited but were gathered by leaving the petition on a counter for customers to sign if they wished. Mr. Snead considered the diverter a hardship for businesses at the east end of 5th Avenue as well as for those closer to the diverter. Cheryle Hawkins, 1350 Bailey Avenue, expressed the support of the Whiteaker Community Council for establishing a permanent diverter. Ms. Hawkins suggested that affected businesses offer maps to their customers showing the alternative routes to their locations. Celeste Rauschert, 1473 West 4th Avenue, maintained that the diverter results in increased traffic on 4th Avenue. She suggested installing a half-diverter across Almaden that would allow 4th Avenue residents easier access to their homes. Margaret Backenheimer, 1424 West 5th Avenue, reported that traffic, trash, and damage to vehicles and shrubs have decreased significantly since the installation of the diverter and she considered the widened 6th and 7th avenues and the completion of the Chambers Connector adequate provision of access to businesses in the area. Ronald Wold, 1409 West 5th Avenue, said that without the diverter, he would expect the increase in traffic on 5th Avenue resulting from the Chambers Connector to make the neighborhood unlivable. He encouraged businesses which e MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 22, 1989 Page 4