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

Home Browse Search

e e e circulation will be needed to handle that situation. She said there will be an economic need for the four-lane streets in the future, adding that much of 7th Avenue is already four-lane. She stated that Jim Gix of ODOT was present to respond to questions of the council. In regard to the Design Review Committee, Ms. Decker stated that staff is recommending the continued use of the committee to continue work on the Washington to High Street section, to provide input to ODOT on future phases of the project, and to provide guidelines for maximizing preservation of significant trees and for streetlighting. Ms. Decker stated that the ODOT staff has worked well with both the committee and City staff in developing designs for a four-lane, 46-foot section that responds to the issue of preservation of existing trees. She said staff feels that the State will continue to make a good faith effort to address other concerns raised in the project. Ms Decker stated that Roger Rutan, President of the Planning Commission, was present to report the recommendation of the commission and Brian Bauske, Vice President of the Planning Commission, would present a report on the Design Review Committee. Mr. Rutan reviewed the actions of the Planning Commission on the 6th/7th Widening Project, stating that substantial testimony had been received by the commission at its public hearing on January 12, 1984. He said the commission continued its discussion on January 16, 1984, at which time the commission unanimously approved the project. The motion of the commission was to approve: the Environmental Assessment document, the Build Alternative, and further thoughts on the role of the Design Review Committee. Mr. Rutan said the commission left it to the DRC to address the public concerns on the widening project and to provide input to the City Council. He said the Planning Commission felt the project to be an important part of the City's transportation system and planning processes. Mr. Bauske stated that the initial charge to the Design Review Committee was to examine the draft Environmental Assessment statement and the preliminary designs, but the charge from the Planning Commission is to address concerns of tree preservation, the planting of new trees, streetlighting for the Washington to High Street section, paving colors, crosswalks, and to consider a three-lane thoroughfare in that section of the project. He stated that the committee has identified design concepts which would save most of the major downtown trees while still accommodating a widening to four lanes. He said the design modifi- cations would include shifting the roadway to the south on 7th Avenue at Washington Street, weaving the roadway between Oak and High Streets, and a realignment to either the north or south on 6th Avenue between Lincoln and Lawrence Streets. These modifications would save 21 of the 27 major trees in the High to Washington section. Mr. Bauske stated that the first two modifications were supported by consensus as workable, given a four-lane roadway section. Also reached by consensus was that the maple at the Darigold plant and the one at the Convention and Visitors Bureau were not, on balance, worth saving by realignment, since realignment would cost two blocks' worth of replanting. He said the committee agrees that any trees saved by these efforts should receive extra maintenance and care. The committee also suggested that the City ask ODOT to develop a project to improve access to and from 1-105. Mr. Bauske felt that the meetings were productive and he was pleased at the quality of the participation of the members and the cooperation from Jim Gix of ODOT and the City staff. However, Mr. Bauske said MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 23, 1984 Page 7