05/22/1985 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e - Richard Shapiro, 1848 Happy Lane, said he sees the herons frequently. He said there is not enough information to specify exactly the area needed by the herons. He urged the application of the NR designation. He said clean rivers and the ability to see birds and other wildlife make Eugene unique. If they are destroyed, Eugene and Springfield will lose unique qualities. Shoshanah Thiel1e, P.O. Box 1485, Eugene, said 400 feet is not enough of a buffer zone for herons. The noise of a sand and gravel truck will drive the birds away because they are shy. She said the first concern of the sand and gravel companies is money. She urged protection for the birds. Michael Horton, 90541 Smith Lane, said the sand and gravel companies are concerned about business, but they are also concerned about public relations. He suggested development of the sand and gravel resource be permitted in stages toward the heronries. If the herons are disturbed and abandon the site, the sand and gravel extraction should be stopped. C. Pudding Creek Heronry Working Paper and Plan Amendments Randall Hledik, P.O. Box 7428, Eugene, represented Wildish Land Company. He submitted some testimony in writing. He urged support of the recommendation of the MPC and Eugene and Springfield Planning Commissions. He said the recommmendation protects the Pudding Creek Heronry. No purposeful removal of vegetation and no recreation can occur within the 400-foot buffer. There can be no extraction within the 1 ,OOO-foot buffer in the nesting season. The recommendation also recognizes the importance of the underlying sand and gravel, complies with Statewide Goals and Guidelines, adheres to the spirit of the Goal 5 conflict resolution process, and provides an environment in which both public and private concerns are addressed. Mr. H1edik said 50 acres of sand and gravel in Lane County is significant. A 1984 L-COG inventory of sand and gravel deposits indicated there is only 25 percent more sand and gravel available than will be needed to the year 2000. Twenty-five percent is only a four-year supply. Fifty acres is two to three years of production for Wi1dish Land Company. Sand and gravel opera- tions have taken place on the Pudding Creek property for 18 years. The company simply wants to maintain the use. Sand and gravel is an important resource. Mr. Hledik said the Greenway Goal states that uses in effect before December, 1975, should be allowed to continue and seasonal increases in sand and gravel operations should be allowed. The Wildish Land Company was operating in the Pudding Creek area before December, 1975. Mr. H1edik emphasized that the heronry will be protected if the recommendation is approved. Mr. H1edik said the restrictions on the use of the Pudding Creek site are not automatically lifted if the herons abandon the site for three years. The Department of Fish and Wildlife, Lane County, and the two cities will then evaluate the site. If a decision is made that the site is still significant, the restrictions may remain. MINUTES--Eugene City Council, Springfield City Council lane County Board of Commissioners May 22, 1985 Page 5