02/17/1982 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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~ ,- ~ e than 50 percent of the land is non-residentially used, and 4) the clinic uses an existing structure so that the character of the neighborhood was not destroyed. Ms. Schue felt two issues were important: how to preserve the housing on 12th Avenue and how to accommodate physicians who need offices near the hospital. She said a definition which would distinguish between doctor's offices and clinics would be helpful. She agreed that a mixed use of residential and professional offices was a good idea, but she understood it is difficult to finance. Mr. Obie suggested that the council could adopt the plan as recommended by the Planning Commission with the exception of the 12th Avenue area which could be treated as a special area. He was inclined to favor clinics in R-4 districts as a conditional use. In reviewing the existing criteria for conditional use, Mr. Lindberg felt they were somewhat vague and should be more specific for this particular area. Jody Miller said the Hearings Official, in considering a conditional use application, would refer to the refinement plan for guidance and it would be appropriate for the council to include specific guidelines for allowing clinics in the area. Mr. Obie was concerned about investors who have relied on past plans and he felt that should be a consideration in this conditional use process. Mr. Hamel asked how much of the area was owner-occupied. Jody Miller said that in the whole neighborhood, the owner-occupancy rate is about 5 percent. Within the specified area on 12th Avenue, the figures were not readily available. e Mr. Lindberg observed that the principal goals were to preserve housinq and to preserve the character of the neighborhood. Balancing the two objectives was difficult, but one way to preserve housing would be to obtain very intense use through high-rise buildings. The problem with this, as he saw it, was that massive structures would destroy the neighborhood's character. Councilor Miller reviewed the Metro General Plan goals for this area regarding increased housing density. She said she was inclined to favor one or two high-rise medical facilities and preserve the rest of 12th Avenue for housing. She noted the importance of 12th Avenue for bicycle and foot traffic. In addition, she was concerned about the feasibility of converting some of the older existing structures into professional offices. Mr. Hamel expressed his concern about traffic related to high-rise residential or professional buildings. Ms. Schue said a general practitioner might be very comfortable in an older home, but it would probably not satify a specialist who desires to be close to the hospital to take advantage of using the hospital's expensive equipment. Mr. Croteau said the more specific the plan could be in policy language regarding what types of conditional uses would be permitted, the more it would assist the Hearings Official in making a decision. Jody Miller said the specifics for 12th Avenue would be included in the text for the Land Use Diagram, as well as in the policies in the Land Use Element. - MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 17, 1982 Page 2