12/04/1988 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e VIII. PUBLIC HEARING: USE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS TO ACQUIRE A HOUSING LANDBANKING SITE (EAST OF THE NORTHWEST EXPRESSWAY AND SOUTH OF THE MAXWELL CONNECTOR) City Manager Mike Gleason introduced the topic. Richie Weinman, Planning and Development Department, reported that the Council Social Goals Committee, following extensive environmental assessment of the site, unanimously recommended purchase of a 40-acre property currently owned by the University of Oregon Foundation. Mr. Weinman corrected an error in identification of tax lots: the second parcel is Tax Lot 17-04-23-2 0--3900. The property is not currently in the city limits, but is in an area which could be annexed. The Metro Plan identifies the site for medium-density housing. The City Landbanking Program was established to create an inventory of sites suitable for public-purpose housing. On this particular site, a mix of housing types will be desired, including market-rate housing, moderate- and low-income housing, and housing for people with disabilities. It is hoped that some of the market-rate housing will help subsidize some of the lower-cost housing. The site is close to schools, buses, transportation corridors, shopping, and parks and recreation. The cost of $203,000 is considered by local appraisers to be a fair price. Mayor Miller opened the public hearing. Terry McDonald, 3063 Whitbeck Boulevard, strongly encouraged the council to take advantage of an opportunity to have a positive impact on the housing e crisis in the community by acquiring the land under consideration. There being no additional requests to speak, Mayor Miller closed the public hearing. Ms. Schue commented on some of the constraints observed during a tour of the property: it is close to the railroad tracks and will require noise buffering, and a small pond could be hazardous to small children. Nevertheless, Ms. Schue said that the property could be attractively developed for housing and she urged the council to add it to the City's inventory of developable property for low-income housing. Mr. Boles pointed out that this purchase would encumber 40 percent of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money set aside for low- and moderate-income housing and he urged careful consideration of how this money might be returned. Responding to Ms. Bascom's inquiry about how decisions about the parcells development will be reached, Mr. Bennett expressed confidence in the Planning and Development Department. Mr. Bennett appreciated Ms. Schue's concerns regarding the site's development risks (prOXimity to the railroad and safety concerns relating to the pond). Mr. Weinman added that an environmental review indicated that portions of the property lie within the floodplain and would require e MINUTES--Eugene City Council December 4, 1989 Page 7