10/22/1984 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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."" The public hearing was opened. e David Piper, 899 Pearl, representing Michael O'Connell, disagreed with the conclUSlon of the staff that a hardship had not been established. He said his client is asking for relief from the extra 7-foot requirement on Blair. The lot is a small triangle and development of the parcel is being hampered by the streets that dominate the entire parcel. Mr. O'Connell has attempted to design a 600-foot space building but has been unable to do so and this has necessitated the hardship. He noted that Mr. O'Connell would remove any billboard if the streets were widened. Pete Van Herwaarden, 632 Blair, said the property in question had had a service station and a photomat store. The lot was vacant for many years. The present owner knew when he bought the property that he could not build on it. Speaki ng for six property owners near the property they do not want the billboard over their properties. Debra Kamp, 1204 W. 4th, stated they did not want to see the billboard everyday. They live in a neighborhood. She applauded the Sign code. She said the Sixth and Blair intersection is dangerous and does not need distracting signs. People want a pleasant City. Gerald Kamp, 1204 W. 4th, told councilors the business people in the Blair neighborhood had taken great pains to improve the area. A billboard would detract from the image of a prosperous neighborhood. Austin' Petersen, 622 Blair, said he was born and raised in the Blair area. The e owners of the property had tried to indicate the property was bad for business. This was not the case. Several businesses had made money in that location. The owner did not want help when neighbors tried to talk with him. There being no further testimony, the public hearing was closed. Mr. Obie moved, seconded by Ms. Wooten, to deny the appeal. Mr. Obie stated that to grant the appeal would be in opposition to the ordinance. Ms. Wooten said the billboard would be a blight on the neighborhood she represents. Roll call vote; the motion carried unanimously; 8:0. III. CONTINUED DELIBERATION ON METROPOLITAN PLAN AMENDMENTS (memo, background information" distributed) Mr. Farah referred to the distributed material and to a recent memorandum distributed at the meeting, "proposed Modifications to Draft Findings". Mr. Farah, reviewed the four proposals as noted in the memorandum. He sai d the week th~~had been taken in developing the findings was well used. He sa i d the issue raised by the Emporium's proposal was a complicated balancing act. There are 19 pages of findings. He introduced Terry Jones and Steve Gordon. - Ms. Schue asked why the exception area was larger than the area requested. She was told there were 13 Exception Areas in the Metro Plan since its adoption and that the proposal did not expand any of these Exception Areas. MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 22, 1984 Page 5