07/14/1975 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Recommended by the Planning Commission on June 10, 1975 that this area is suitable for high-density residential use and that policies for implementation of that use be adopted. ~ Assistant Manager noted that opinion from Stan Long, assistant city attorney, was previously distributed to Council members indicating that in his judgment this was a legislative ~ssue and that the Council could conduct the hearing outside the Fasano regulations. He suggested that rather than dopting a resolution at this meeting implementing the action, the better action would be to direct staff after hearing public discussion to prepare the appropriate resolution for later consideration. Jim Saul, planner, said the question involved amendment to the General Plan with regard to about a five-block area in the Whiteaker neighborhood and adoption of a refinement study for that area. He noted present medium-densith residential zoning in the area and the Commission's thinking in considering past requests to rezone to high-density that the existing sewer system would not be adequate. Other requests for changing to high-density were delayed pending a study of the north central area which was never adopted. Finally, the 1990 General Plan was adopted in which this area was designated medium-density based on existing R-2 zoning. Since then, he said, the sewer system in the area has been upgraded and development of the Washington/Jefferson Park formed a western boundary of the area under consideration. Mr. Saul continued that objectives considered in determining whether high-density use would be suitable for the Whiteaker area were (1) that it would provde a com- pact urban growth form; (2) a high-residential area would be provided adjacent to the metropolitan area; (3) the exi~t:ing neighborhood would be protected; (4) public services and facilities are available; (5) the central location of the area next e to downtGlTl would minimize traffic impact. He added that to provide a. more defini- tive text in the General Plan with regard to high-density use, the Commission reco-mended adoption of a refinement study to include (1) limitation on the maximum number of units to 24 per acre; (2) maximum building height of three stories un- less parking is provided underneath a building, in which case the maximum would be four stories; (3) maximum area to be considered for high-density rezoning would be one-quarter block of contiguous properties to eliminate potential high- density use on single lots between existing single-family properties; (4) requests for high-density rezoning would be conisdered on a case-by-case basis. Mr. Saul said it was also recommended that owners and occupants of single-family residences be encouraged to request rezoning to R-l. However, when t~at re~ommendat~on was included state legislation had not been adopted that provIded SIngle-famIly prop- erties i~ commercial or high-density areas would be assessed as single-family rather than commercial or high-density potential use. The Commission, he said, also sug- gested that the refinement study review the traffic system, paying particular at- tention to the problem of through traffic in Skinner Butte Park. ~e referred the Council to Planning Commission minutes of June 10 for further detaIls. Public hearing was opened. TT-B-3 Gary Spivak, 1350 Bailey Ave~ue, presi~ent of the ~hiteaker Neighborh~od Council, said that group supported and felt deSIrable a POlICY that would provl~e low- income housing for the elderly. However, the neighborhood gen~rally.dld not want to see apartment development in the area. He a~ked for reco~slderatlon ~f the recommendation to extend buildings to four storIes when parkIng was provIded on 4It the ground floor. Doris Johnson, 309 Clark Avenue, felt the proposed change would be unfair ~o other than property owners in the area; that it would benefit for the most part Inv:stors who wanted to developed properties there. She thought the quarter~block reqUIre- ment to effect rezoning to high density would penalize owners of SIngle lots. Also, that the height requirement~27~ have to be modified. 7/14/75 _ 11