02/11/1985 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ron Lovin~er, 1445 East 21st, opposed the project. He said the automobile will contlnue to drain the society of its scarce resources. The automobile is ~ destructive and disruptive. ~ Richard Gold, 4275 Oak, opposed the project. He said the widening might be convenient for people who drive each day, but the automobile is on its way out. As gasoline prices increase, fewer people will be able to afford automobiles. Sixth and seventh avenues will not need to be wider. Citizens should have a chance to vote on a subsidized, free public transportation plan. People would flock to Eugene from other cities which have much concrete and big automobiles. Steve Adey, 1375 Bailey, was the only member of the Design Review Committee to oppose the recommended alignment. He said the Whiteaker neighborhood was concerned about the population projections, the traffic projections, and the 1-105 ramps. There is no plan to improve the on-ramp at Washington street. There is no plan to reroute traffic around downtown. Businesses on 6th and 7th avenues will be severely impacted because of the widening. He did not think all the issues were addressed by the committee in its four meetings. The committee's charge was to save trees. He did not think the charge was adequate because it did not reflect other issues. He thought Phase 1 for widening 6th and 7th avenues from High to Washington streets is complete and ready to go to the voters. He did not think the second and third phases from Washington to Garfield are complete. No provisions have been made for pedestrian crossings or street signals. Jim McCarthy, 474 Brookside, has a business on 6th Avenue which will be impacted by the project, but he supported it. A large tree in front of the 4It business will be saved, but he does not like the tree. It causes the gutters to clog and keeps the grass and plants from growing. The trees which will be planted will make the city more attractive. His payroll is over $250,000 and the business is growing. He was told in 1968 that 6th Avenue would be four lanes. The issue is economic development. He is on the Governor's Small Business Advisory Committee for Economic Development. Efforts to attract new businesses to Eugene are frustrated by the effort to save a few trees. Many log trucks use 6th Avenue and he wondered if they could be rerouted. He thought Ballot Measure 52 would not have passed if the citizens interested in seeing the community grow and thrive had become involved. Carol Clarke, 931 Van Buren, opposed the project because the need had not been proven. She urged reconstruction of 6th and 7th avenues. Don Norris, 1984 Kimberly, supported the project. He said Eugene needs jobs. Many plans have said Eugene needs economic diversification which needs to be supported by the widening of 6th and 7th avenues. He read a 1981 Letter to the Editor of the Register-Guard from Councilor Wooten in which she said the city needs to broaden its economic base and implement the Six-point Economic Diversification Plan. Mr. Norris said the Six-Point plan calls for the widening of 6th and 7th avenues. - MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 11,1985 Page 6