07/24/1989 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e favoring protection of the house and opposing a high-rise project on that property; and 3) there are three units of low-income housing on the site (the Ita1ianate house and a small duplex) and the developer is proposing moderate-income housing. Ms. Bentsen suggested requiring the developer to move the existing low-income units to preserve the stock of available low-income housing. She said lack of maintenance by the owner could have contributed to the possible unsoundness of the structure. Lloyd Slonecker, 1362 West Broadway, described the $3,200 annual fee that would be produced by the project as "a joke" and said private developers are profiting unfairly at the expense of rental property owners and homeowners in Eugene. There being no additional requests to speak, Mayor Miller closed the public hearing. Mr. Gleason clarified that the historic preservation ordinance passed by the council earlier in the year protects designated structures. He added that the City's vegetation ordinance focuses mostly on dry fields as a fire hazard and said that he would check the record to see if there were any reports on the property in question. Ms. Ehrman said she was familiar with the area and considered the proposed project an improvement to the appearance of the neighborhood. She described the tax exemption program as one of the tools approved by the council in its effort to encourage more housing in the downtown area. e Mr. Rutan encouraged support of the project which he said would help realize the council's housing goal. Ms. Schue commented that without the tax exemption, the project would not be built and the City would receive no additional taxes on the property. Mr. Boles said more precise definitions of low- and moderate-income housing are needed. He directed a question to Mr. Bennett about the accuracy of the stabilized projection with property taxes at true cash value, items relating to property management, and on-site management/landscaping. Mr. Bennett replied that these costs are normally higher than those projected for this project. Finally, Mr. Boles wondered how rental housing could be allowed to deteriorate to the extent of the house on this property and he questioned the nonexistence of rental housing code standards. Councilors reached consensus that the resolution under consideration would be amended to reflect the council's concern that the Italianate house be preserved if possible. Res. No. 4130--A resolution approving a multiple-unit property tax exemption for property located at 15th Avenue and Olive Street; and requiring that the property owner actively seek a buyer to move the residential structure at 195 West 15th Avenue, with a time limit of October 1; e MINUTfS--fugene City Council July 24, 1989 Page 7