04/14/1975 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Bradl~y felt the proposed rezoning in Springfield could result ina third regional center. He thought action on that rezoning should wait until decisions were made with regard to the commercial study, that it was extremely important and an issue __ similar to the regional sewer proposal. Councilman Murray asked whether Springfield had received copies of the commercial study and" recommendations. Assistant Manager answered that they had but he was not sure they had been studied officially by Springfield. Councilmap Hamel thought it ridiculous for Eugene to make a decision on whether Spring- field was. going to have the shopping center. He thought a third regional center could be located in Springfield just as well as it could be located on Goodpasture Island. He favoreii action on the recommendation at this time. Councilman Murray was somewhat sympathetic with the motion but said he favored instead discussiori with the Planning Commission first. 2. L&B Recommendation 2 - Prepare a detailed development plan for the area sur- rounding the downtown urban renewal area and designate boundaries of a second urban renewal project west of Charnel ton Street, land acquisition and project financing to occur only when a firm development proposal is submitted; bulk of the area so designated used for apartments with reservation of a site at the west end of the downtown mall for an enlcosed mall shopping center to add to the downtown retail strength. The Planning Commission recommended inclusion of development planning fqr the area sutrounding the downtown urban renewal area in the plan- ning process developed for use of community development funds. The Commission expressed concern that such planning not exclude considera- tion of an open mall. Also, that any expansion of the downtown mall should be to the west, between Lincoln and Charnel ton, and protection and development of housing near the central business district should b~ kept in mind. -- Mr. Hamel moved seconded by Mrs. Beal to accept the Planning Commission recommendation on Recommendation 2 of the L&B report. Councilman Murray said he did not question the concept presented, but he wondered about consultant's statement that the area immediately west of downtown was pretty much filled with obsolete housing which would inevitably have to be re- moved because of the "downtown" trend. He said he had found in that area con- siderable housing in need of major repair, but none warranting abatement or demolition. The thrust of community development, he said, was housing rehabilita- tion, and he couldn't see where the Planning Commission's recommendation spoke to that. Mr. Murray also expressed concern about traffic in that area. He was reluctant to make a commitment to desirability of westward expansion.from the mall until statements in the commercial study with regard to traffic were ad- dressed - need for a strong mass transit system to minimize traffic impact on surrounding residential streets, need for pursuit of construction of Roosevelt and Amazon expressways to provide access to downtown, precautionary notes with regard to character of residential streets in the area. Assistant Manager answered that refinement of the General Plan with regard to the area surround~ ing the central business district would determine the housing concerns in that area. And development of housing densities in that process would be the basis for transportation policy. He said retail space could not be expanded without addressing transportation systems, those issues were interrelated and the types ~ of issues which would have to be dealt with in the study the Commission was .., suggesting now. Mr. Chenkin added that these issues in addition to some others the Commission mayor may not be willing to accept would be resolved only through the plan refinement within the community deveLopment proces~. 4/14/75 - 14 l CoCo