09/26/1977 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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. development that has been there. The third issue centered around the question of public need, whether or not to retain the existing e commercial zoning. He said there is not a need to so retain, saying there is an excess of commercially zoned property in this area. Studies indicate a strong public need for rezoning to encourage high-density housing. In calling for ex parte contacts or conflicts of interest, Mr. Bradley noted that at one time he owned property in the area and so had always abstained from discussion and voting. Although he no longer owns the property, he said he would continue to abstain from discussion and voting on this issue. No other Councilors expressed conflicts of interest. Staff Notes and minutes of August 15, 1977, were received as part of the record. Public hearing was opened. Vernon D. Gleaves, 975 Oak, an attorney representing property owners Turnbull, Pietka, and Ellis, supported the zone change as recommended by the Planning Commission, but said he would be opposed if Council deviated from that recommendation. He noted the recommendation was a compromise, with only one Planning Commissioner voting against-- Dr. McKinnon, who was not opposed to the zone change but opposed because the change did not go far enough in regard to existing commer- cial property. He urged Council to adopt the Planning Commission's recommendations and requested the opportunity to respond further e if City Council should change the ordinance. Jon Stafford, 1060 Madison, representing the Neighborhood Advisory Group of the Westside NIP, said the City will have invested in excess of one-million dollars over a three-year period to revitalize and enhance the area bounded by 7th and 13th ~venues and Charnel ton to Chambers Street. He felt this program was consistent with the City of Eugene's Community Goals and Policies and represents the City's commitment to eliminate blight, deterioration, and harmful public policies in order to concern and stabilize the older central residen- tial neighborhoods. The neighborhood advisory group (NAG) has worked to set the tone for the allocation of these funds and desires to insure that future action in developments are consistent with the intent of these projects. To this end NAG favors the concept of the Mixed-Use District for the Downtown Westside area. He ci ted the unresolved conflicts existing between zoning and the 1990 Plan and the existing land use in the area, saying the Blayney study was made to assess a possible and probable future for the Eugene Downtown Westside area. One of the conclusions of this study was that if C-2 zoning persisted, the area would very slowly convert to commercial use. He said housing rehabilitation was a major program of the Westside NIP, and the mixed-use zone would allow that housing reha- bilitation programs be extended to this area. The group asked that residential developments at R-4 density be made "conditional uses" e 9/26/77--2 '12..5