04/14/1975 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e regional center. Therefore, the basis of market demand would not neces- sarily guarantee approval of a proposal for a third center. Mr. Keller moved seconded by Mr. Hamel to accept the Planning Commi~sion recommendation on Recommendation I of the L&B report. In making the motion, Mr. Keller expressed the opinion that the recommenda- tion was critiCill, that it was an "absolute must" for pursuing with all levels of government included in discussions of previous reports. Councilwoman Beal was dubious,about accepting the recommendation because it was based on prognostications of future inflation and future prosperity without taking into account the possibility of a depression. She felt this recommendation was for reservation of space at some time in the future rather than at this time. Assistant Manager said the report assumed that growth and low/high economic escalations would exert pressures about 1990 for the need of another regional shopping center. It was not so much "if" or "where" as it was to have some common idea among the metropol i tan agen'cies of which areas might be protected to preserve the economic welfare of existing centers. He said proposals were being discussed now in Spring- field on two or three sites, one of them immediately adjacent to Eugene city limits which could have a substantial effect on Eugene if Springfield allowed it to go in. For that reason, joint discussion should'be held to have a common understanding of how to deal with that type of pressure. Councilman Murray reviewed the process on which the economic consultants based their proj~ctions for needed retail space - the use of median figures for economic forecasts on employment, income, spendable income, etc. He felt higher or lower actual experience in any of those areas over a ten- year period could alter the projection of need for a third regional center. He cited statements of the consultants themselves that the time limit for preparing the report precluded in-depth research on some of the economic factors, that Oregon's having no sales tax resulted in meager information with regard to growth sales, that they were not certain LeOG employment figures reflected recent statistics, and that the present economic situa- tion was more serious than most thought. Because of these factors, Mr. Murray said, he was not convinced a third regional shopping center should be discussed with anyone - that discussion of this recommendation would preclude other recommendations in the study. He noted the Planning Com- mission itself raised some of the same concerns but on a "let's go ahead anyway and discuss it with the co-ordinating committee" basis. Mr.Murray felt there should be further discussion of the issue here before going to the planning commissions' po-ordinating committee. . 1- Councilwoman Beal commented that it didn't seem fair to tit' up attractive, merchantable parcels of land on something as vague as this, to say a property owner couldn't develop his land because it had to be saved for a ~ossible regional center at some time in the distant future, especially with the city's not being in the market to buy the land. Assistant Manager answered that there was reasonable risk using the controls the city has that property value would not be adversely affected by keeping large parcels from development. He noted present consideration of use of the airport property in Springfield for a regional shopping center which would have substantial adverse pressure to some of the goals relating to Eugene's downtown area. He said that is happening now, and the proposed discussion in the co-ordinating committee would provide a place for dealing with that as well as with what is happneing in downtown Springfield. Both are of regional concern and should be a matter of discussion by all agencies in the metropolitan community. Councilman Murray recognized those as pertinent to the issue, but he felt there should be further discussion on Eugene's posture first, it had to be better defined before going into discussion with other agencies. \b"3 4/14/75 - 11