01/23/1984 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e therefore the council owes the downtown equal consideration. He said the traffic growth differential implies some differential treatment of the eastern and western portions of the corridor. He said the council can best support the downtown by keeping the Design Review Committee on the project and by providing support to the recommendations of that committee. Thomas Forster, 3586 Willamette Street, stated that he has lived in Eugene for five years, although his childhood was spend in Japan. He explained that trees in Japan are preserved, maintained, and listed in a national registry. Referring to previous testimony on the historical significance of the trees and on Francis Wilkins, he urged the council to consider all factors in its decision and to support the Design Review Committee. Michael Gannon, no address given, stated that one of his most favorite trips in Eugene was 21 years ago when cars parked along 11th Avenue were smashed by trees felled by the Columbus Day storm. He stated that he misses the trees on 11th Avenue. While Eugene is in one of the most heavily forested areas in the country, it disturbs him that so little attention is given to the trees. He stated that the whale organization in which he is involved planted trees on the Washington- Jefferson embankment in the spring of 1980 as part of a project to rehabilitate the earth. Commenting on the political process in Eugene, he stated that the City has worked with the appearance of openness on several projects, including the Hult Center and the Park-Willamette Building, and that those projects were completed even though public concerns were raised against them. He said the community needs to feel that the City Council loves and respects the trees and the earth. He said the City must realize that rehabilitating the earth starts at the community level; that is why his group planted the trees without City or gasoline tax money and dedicated them to whales. Mr. Obie temporarily left the meeting at this time. Stephen Adey, 1375 Bailey Avenue, a member of the Design Review Committee, stated that he is a member of the majority in the committee who holds the opinion that the correct solution is a three-lane, forty-foot wide road. He said he was assured time to talk at the beginning of the meeting to state an opinion and he felt they were made to wait until last because the council did not want to hear their statement. He said it is unfortunate that those in control have demonstrated that they do not want to work with the people of Eugene for a solution and instead want to build a four-lane highway through the city. He said it is also unfortunate that the issue must result in an initiative petition to stop the project. He felt that a good road in downtown Eugene can be built and many people wish to work toward that goal. Gene Bressler, 1595 Nectar Way, a member of the Design Review Committee, stated that he felt much can still be done. He acknowledged the work and effort of the ODOT and City staff and the other members of the DRC. He complimented Mr. Bauske for his representation of the committee's views. Mr. Bressler then reviewed the findings of the committee, stating that the project was actually composed of two areas divided by the Washington-Jefferson Street Bridge. He said it could be possible to construct a four-lane road section in the east portion of the project and maintain the trees by weaving the roadway. He said this was only a possibility because final drawings had not been completed, MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 23, 1984 Page 16