09/09/1985 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Willamette Greenway. He said the Greenway should protect the wildlife and - scenic qualities along the river. He did not think the archaeological value of the area had been addressed. Mr. Silvermoon questioned the validity of Finding H which concerns Statewide Goal 2 because the Metropolitan Plan Monitoring Report indicated there is more industrially zoned land than is needed in the community. He noted that the Special Light Industrial zoning district was approved to create the same kind of jobs the Riverfront Park is to create and there seems to be an over-supply of such sites. He wondered how the public investment in the sites will be recovered. David Thaler, Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, said the Riverfront Park will invite the military/industrial complex into the commu- nity. He referred to an article in the New York Times concerning $3 billion which is to go to university-associated research. He said the best science is not secret. He read a petition signed by about 120 people who work at the Institute of Molecular Biology. He asked the council not to approve the Riverfront Park until university officials have taken a position on classified research. George cris~ P.O. Box 5346, Salem, represented Agripac. He favored the Riverfront ar and the tax increment district. He said they will create jobs, strengthen the university, enhance the area's beauty, and diversify and shape the economy for the future. He said Agripac has participated in the planning process for the Riverfront Park and demonstrated a wish to cooper- e ate. Agripac and the Riverfront can co-exist. He said Agripac plans to stay at its present site for about 20 years, although that decision may be reconsi- dered if the Riverfront Park succeeds. He emphasized the need to construct the improvements in the existing Agripac plant that were identified in the Riverfront Park Study. John Moseley is Vice President for Research at the University of Oregon. He said the Riverfront Research Park has been considered in the normal, estab- lished planning process of the university. The Campus Planning Committee held open hearings. Mr. Moseley read from its findings. He said President Olum is drafting land transfer conditions that will be presented to the Oregon Board of Higher Education. The conditions will be consistent with the Riverfront Park Study. There being no more requests to testify, Mayor Obie closed the public hearing. Responding to the testimony, Ms. Decker said the Eugene Software Council tes- tified previously that the Riverfront Park will employ people who are in the community now. Several local businesses might relocate in the Riverfront Park. Improvements to the site will be phased after a specific development plan has been submitted and after a master site plan has been approved. The access points on the east and west ends of the development will minimize costs at the start of the development. When it adopted the Downtown Plan, the council indicated that the Riverfront Research Park section of the Willamette River should have an urban edge to emphasize its relationship to the downtown. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 9, 1985 ~~4