01/30/1991 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

e port attempts to address. He noted that current policies had failed down- town. Mr. MacDonald said that if compact urban growth is the goal, existing poli- cies need to be examined and policies that support compact urban growth need to be developed so that "the community we come out with is the community we want, not one we end up with." Mr. MacDonald also spoke in favor of neigh- borhood commercial centers. Reviewing the section, he felt that Item E under Section III was irrelevant, and he found Items C and D contradictory. He also felt that the idea of the incubator facility for fledgling businesses should be revisited. Ms. Ehrman felt some of the policies were interrelated with the City's trans- portation issue. She favors pursuing an inventory of present development to enhance future transportation decisions. Ms. Ehrman said she favors the section. Mr. Green expressed support for.the document. e Mr. Boles said the major reason for the difference in business between down- town and the periphery is parking. He favors charging businesses for the amount of parking they require. He noted that the recommendations in the report are sound public policy. Mr. Nicholson felt that many things recommended by the report could be done without revisiting existing plans. He also said that commercial development downtown would be driven by demand and that he thought that the City's goal was compact urban growth. Mr. Nicholson said he felt the library should be supported with tax increment funds. Ms. Bascom pointed out that the geographic center of the Eugene/Springfield area is Valley River Center, and not to forget other important parts of the central area; for instance, the University. She also questioned why the council was discussing this section of the report at this level. Mayor Miller said it was important that the council be in agreement before proceeding with the plan. Mr. Boles moved, seconded by Ms. Ehrman, that council direct staff to develop a work plan that would focus on both policy implementation and an ordinance recommendation associated with Item A under I; Items B, C, and D under III; all the items under IV; all the items under V; and III-A with the first sentence deleted. Mr. Gleason suggested that the division in perspectives has to do with philo- sophical issues. He said it was a practical problem, one that required dis- cussion about such things as square footage. He noted that the Urban Land Institute has found that successful cities have 60 to 70 percent of their class A space in their core area, Eugene has approximately 40 percent. He recommended that the Planning Commission and City Council analyze the docu- e MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 30, 1991 Page 4