02/09/1976 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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A short recess was taken, after which Councilwoman Shirey was not present. 2. Planning Commission denial of code amendment to allow ambulance stations in residential zones under conditional use permits (Leonard) Planning Commission at its January 6, 1976 meeting on a 3-3 vote recom- mended denial of the code amendment. e' II-A-I Jim Saul, planner, explained that the ambulance service~ proposed in the South Eugene area by Oregon Emergency Transportation Services (Eugene-Springfield Ambulance) because of a requirement to meet Federal regulations of a five- minute response time, were allowed only in the central business district, M-Z, and M-3 zones, and permitted only as a conditional use in C-2 zones. In the South Eugene area, properly zoned property is not available for a satellite ambulance station, leaving the option of seeking C-2 property and applying for a conditional use permit or requesting a code amendment to allow such stations as a conditional use in residential areas. He said that staff recommended the code amendment because it "made more sense." Ambulance services are similar to other types of emergency services such as -fire and police stations, etc., which are now permitted as outright uses in all residential zones. Also, treating ambulance services as a conditional use would be preferable to out- right rezoning of a specific site in a residential area. The standard con- ditional use procedure calls for public hearings and adoption of findings with regard to whether a particular site would be suitable for such use and whether it would have a detrimental effect on surrounding properties. Mr.Saul said the Planning Commission, after two public hearings on the issue, con- sidered a motion to approve the amendment; however, the motion failed on a 3-3 tie vote, and this appeal was submitted from that action. He added that technically there is no provision for appeal from denial of a code amendment. In effect, Mr. Leonard, president of the Transportation Services, is request- ing the Council to consider this legislation. - . In response to Councilman Keller, Mr. Saul affirmed that Mr. Leonard was not interested in any particular parcel as such, only in a code change. He said there was extensive testimony in Planning Commission hearings with regard to one property, but that was not the question in this request. This is whether, generally, residential districts may accommodate ambulance stations. If the code is changed, he said, the parcel discussed in Planning Commission meetings may become the subject of a hearing latter on. Public hearing was opened. Bill Leonard, president of the Emergency Transportation Services, supported the planning staff in its recommendation. He explained that the site at 29th and Mill, the subject of Planning Commission discussions, had been abandoned as a possible location for ambulance services unless there is a change of public. sentiment against its use for that type of facility. He said other sites in the South Eugene area will be considered if the amendment is adopted. Speaking against the proposed amendment were Richard Grimes, 2880 Mill Street; Floyd Summers, 2860 Mill Street; Merle Cole, 2885 Mill Street; and F. L. Gifford, 2855 Mill Street. Mr. Grimes said he was concerned with the Friendly Area neighborhood as well as the city at large and encroachment of commercial type activities into residential areas. He also expressed concern for the number of children attending schools who would be confronted with the in- creased traffic. He thought consideration should be given to previous sug- gestions for allowing ambulance services adjacent to or as part of existing fire facilities. Mr. Summers,was opposed specifically to use of the site at . 2/9/76 - 8 '70