09/12/1983 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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agency. He said the surrounding property consists of the 1-2 zoned Lane Transit e District bus operations to the south, a paint store and a variety of commercial and industrial uses zoned 1-2 to the east, and a mixture of 1-2 and C-2 zoned properties to the west and north. Mr. Croteau mentioned that the property located to the west on the corner of 7th Avenue and Garfield is the property just rezoned to C-2 Community Commercial District in item I,B,2. He sta ted the Planning Commercial voted 3:1 on July 19, 1983, to recommend approval of the request. Ms. Wooten raised the question of the possible increase in traffic on West 8th Avenue as a result of the change in use of the building on the property as discussed by Mr. Bauske, the staff, and the applicant. She asked if any data had been presented which could make a distinction between the traffic generated from the prior use and that proposed by the zone change. Mr. Croteau said the original zone change submitted to the Planning Commission was for a change of the entire two parcels of land that run and front onto 8th Avenue. He sa i d that the application was revised (after staff discussion and a concern over traffic generation) so that the zone change did not extend to 8th Avenue. He said the office building which extends from 7th Avenue almost to 8th Avenue has its main access and parking lot on 7th Avenue; therefore, the commercial develop- ment of the property will be oriented more to 7th Avenue. Mr. Croteau said he does not want to discount Mr. Bauske's comments since he was apparently concerned about commercial encroachment on 8th Avenue and eventual traffi c increase. He said that Ms. Mulder was present to answer any questions. Ms. Wooten asked if any thought had been given by the Planning Commission to the e amount of traffic which wi11 be generated in relation to the Chambers Connector and the traffic patterns of vehicles exiting from that section of the thoroughfare. Mr. Croteau said that he does not believe there was any specific discussion on the connector and the impact of the traffic generated on that area. He sa i d that the area has been developed wi th a mixture of commercial and industri al uses. He said that a change from predaninantly industrial zoning to commercial was started two years ago due to the newly formed 1-2 zoning district which did away with many of the commercial uses in the industrial district. He added that the strip commercial on 6th and 7th Avenue has occurred over the past 20 years under industrial zoning. Mr. Croteau said that the area will be undergoing a change in the zoning rather than any actual change in the uses of the properties. There were no statements of ex parte contacts or confl icts of interest. The staff notes and minutes were entered into the record. Public hearing was opened. George Mayer, 1065 High Street, Eugene, said that the Jefferson/Far West Refine- ment Plan included the subject area as a C-2 area. He said that it also falls within the guidelines of the Metropolitan General Plan. He said the first pl an mentioned goes further south according to the map. Mr. Mayer said the building on the property has 16,600 square feet with a 7-foot, 6-inch ceiling. He said that it would be difficult to use the building for industry or manufacturing. He said it is the intent of the owner to upgrade another building to keep it from becomi ng 1 i ke the fl eet of empty office bui 1 dings found in the downtown area. Mr. Mayer said the building was used by the State Welfare agency, so the e M1NUTES--Eugene City Council September 12, 1983 Page 6