05/23/1977 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Following the slide presentation, Mr. Davis expressed several points of consideration in regard to the proposed development in the Skinner . Butte area. He was opposed to the development, saying there was concern that it would seriously mar the view, and access to the area should be carefully considered before allowing the development to proceed. He recognized the need for a solution to the housing problem, but questioned the planning process with regard to this particular development. He believed the development had been approved and encouraged by the City Council without adequate public input. The basic point Mr. Davis wished to make was that he felt the planning process had failed. He suggested a motion be passed by City Council that the building permit be delayed until adequate investigation of the impact on the Skinners Butte area be made. He continued he would like to see open discussion on the matter and a motion to delay development until a full investigation on the impact had been made. He entered into the record a petition containing 150 signa- tures of voters of Eugene for the City Council to purchase the remaining private properties in the Skinner Butte area. Michael Arnold, 1715 Cardinal Way, agreed with previous testimony in preserving the historic value of the Skinner Butte area. He said what happened to the area was in the Council.s hands and he hoped for the right decision. Kathe Wright, 2063 Kincaid, entered written testimony regarding concern for the Skinner Butte development. Dorothy Dole, 930 East 21st Street, felt Eugene had three geographical features which made it a special place: the Willamette River, Spencer's Butte, and Skinner's Butte. She felt Skinner's Butte was the most inttegbral part odf theshCityk, adndf WOUldthconsidhertidt a wfatsthe tOt~lloWSk~t to ~ no e preserve. e as e or a oroug s u y 0 e en lre lnner Butte area before any action was taken by Council. Martha Filer, 235 East 3rd Avenue, reviewed for Council what, in her consideration, was the overuse of the existing park space in the Skinner's Butte area. She said recently the Parks and Recreation Department had pointed out to the neighborhood group that the Skinner Butte area was already overused as a park, and there were no plans for future growth. Thus, she said it made sense that making sure the entire Skinner Butte area was saved would seem even more necessary. With no further room for park space to expand in the area, she felt the additional purchase of the two lots by the City would not be much to ask to maintain park areas for people living in the Skinner Butte area. Mayor Keller asked for a show of hands of those concerned citizens in the audience, about 10 persons indicating their concern in regard to preserving the Skinner Butte area. Mr. Delay asked City Attorney if it would be possible to establish a con- struction moratorium on property physically contiguous to public property around the Butte whil e the questi ons were addressed by the Pl anni"9 Commission. Stan Long, City Attorney's office, replied with a qualified 5/23/77-- 6 . ~Ol