01/30/1991 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e I. Beltline-Barger Overpass Mr. Green shared a newsletter that he received from the Bethel School Dis- trict focusing on community efforts to push the Beltline/Barger overpass project forward. J. Sign Ordinance--Flags Mr. Green also said he received a complaint from a business owner who was told by the City he was in violation of the Sign Code for displaying flag banners in support of U.S. troops. A brief discussion revealed that a dis- tinction cannot be drawn based on the content of the sign; therefore, the Sign Code applies to political, religious, and commercial speech to the same extent. Political signs are covered under the temporary section in the code. II. RETAIL TASK FORCE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS e Jan Bohman, Planning and Development Department, gave a brief history of the Retail Task Force and outlined its charge. The group's July 1990 report included four components: 1) the Tenant Mix Plan; 2) the Property Owners' Program; 3) the Redesign Principles; and 4) Recommendations for Public Policy to Support Downtown Development. The council adopted an ordinance concerning the Tenant Mix Plan, directed staff to work with Downtown Eugene, Inc., on implementation of the Property Owners' Program, and approved the Redesign Principles as the basis for the downtown design process. With regard to the fourth component, the council decided to consider the policy proposals at this work session. At Mr. Boles request, Ms. Bohman provided the following points addressed by the Planning Commission in the Commercial Lands Study: 1) providing design review of commercial properties; 2) designating downtown as the service area for South Eugene; and 3) several suggestions to upgrade parking and to dis- courage certain kinds of commercial use in outlying areas. Mr. Rutan suggested the fourth section of the report be set aside as a source for ideas that may be used and/or integrated into existing plans. He added that the City was already doing a tremendous amount to encourage downtown development and that policy directives already exist. He said approving the section undermines current policies. Mr. Nicholson said that except for the fourth component, he felt the report was totally devoid of substantive evidence that implementing the costly rec- ommendations would be effective. He felt the fourth section presented struc- tural changes with regard to taxing-and allocating land use that supported compact urban growth. Mr. Boles said that part of the reason it has been difficult to maintain a viable downtown is an "unlevel playing field" which section four of the re- e MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 30, 1991 Page 3 v