02/11/1991 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e comes from a parking study conducted by staff of existing projects for each separate type of housing. Ms. Johnson noted that a table with specific rec- ommendations is included in the council's agenda packet. Ms. Johnson said that Gary Chenkin, Planning and Development Department, and John Van Landingham, Eugene Planning Commission, were available to answer questions. Mayor Miller opened the public hearing. Jim McCoy, 1190 West 5th Avenue, said that he has been involved with housing development similar to that being considered this evening and spoke in favor of the suggested parking requirement reductions for specialized housing and emergency shelter. He noted that parking needs within student family housing developments (which are primarily owned by educational organizations) vary widely and suggested that a user group comprised of representatives from the University Housing Administration, housing tenants, and surrounding neighbor- hood residents be allowed to determine the requirements for each project. Alan Reeder, 1645 Fairmount Boulevard, testified that parking needs for the elderly and disabled are different from students' needs; parking requirements for these populations should be differentiated. He voiced concern that a reduction in parking requirements for University housing would effectively shift the burden onto the neighbors by increasing on-street parking conges- tion. He urged the council to encourage university students to use alterna- tive modes of transportation. There being no additional requests to speak, Mayor Miller closed the public hearing. Responding to a question from Mr. Boles, Ms. Johnson said that the suggested parking requirements are minimums not maximums. Parking requirements could exceed the required ratio if the property developer chose to do so. Mr. Boles asked whether consideration was given during the creation of this ordinance to implement strategies for encouraging the use of alternate modes of transportation, such as mandating a transit stop close to the proposed housing and/or providing covered bicycle parking and showers. Gary Chenkin, Planning and Development Department, said that this ordinance only addresses parking ratios. However, if the council was interested in incorporating incentives for alternate modes into the ordinance, it could do so after fur- ther review. Mr. Nicholson said residents in the east campus area have vocalized concerns that the proposed reduction in parking ratios would exacerbate parking con- gestion in the area. He asked for an opinion from staff about whether this would likely occur and whether the recommendations that were established were based on specific data that parking needs for students are different from other populations within the community. In response, Ms. Johnson said that the proposed requirements were generated from a survey of Westmoreland and Amazon student housing residents. The survey data demonstrated that these MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 11, 1991 Page 2