07/08/1985 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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II. PUBLIC HEARING: RIVERFRONT PARK SPECIAL AREA STUDY (memo, background - information distributed) City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced the agenda item. Pat Decker of the Planning Department gave the staff report. She distributed a draft of the Planning Commission minutes of June 24 and July 1,1985, when the commission took final action on the Riverfront Park Study. Ms. Decker said the Riverfront Park Study was initiated by the council. The Riverfront Park Study Committee began work in the summer of 1984 and approved the study in April of 1985. The staff discussed the study at public meetings before the Planning Commission held a public hearing on the study on May 20, 1985. The commission then held seven work sessions to develop its recommen- dations on the study. Ms. Decker said the Planning Commission recommended that the council adopt the study with the modifications recommended by the commission, that the council consider the other issues raised during the public hearings, and that the council initiate an amendment to the Metro Area General Plan to change the designation for the University property in the Riverfront Park study area before the mid-period review of the Plan. Ms. Decker recommended that the council study the testimony it will receive on the study and then, on July 17, consider approving it conceptually and referring it and a proposed Metro Plan amendment to Lane County and Springfield for review. Ms. Decker reviewed the modifications to the study recommended by the Planning e Commission and the other issues raised at the commission's public hearing. They are in a memo entitled "Planning Commission Recommendations on Draft Riverfront Study" dated July 8, 1985, from the Planning Department to the Mayor and City Council. Mayor Obie noted the council had toured the Riverfront Park area and held a meeting with the Planning Commission. Answering questions from Ms. Ehrman, Ms. Decker said protection of the riparian vegetation (blackberries) is included in the environmental section of the study. The riparian vegetation provides habitat for wildlife. The direc- tor of the University of Oregon Herbarium indicated that some blackberries should be removed. A description of the existing wildlife could be added to the Vegetation/Habi tat section on page 23 of the study. Mayor Obie opened the public hearing. John Moseley, University of Oregon Vice President for Research, thanked the Planning Commission for its review of the study. He said University repre- sentatives had attended several commission meetings. He said the study is excellent and did not recommend any changes to the commission modifications. Charles Wright, 2051 Friendly, is a member of the University of Oregon Campus Plannlng Commlttee. He said the Campus Planning Committee has held a number of public hearings. The committee supports the Riverfront Park Study and the e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 8, 1985 Page 2