11/28/1977 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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transportation available, residents do have access to virtually any . commercial uses that might be included in the proposed complex. He cited the abundance of C~2 zoning land in the area and urged the City Council to consider the need to reduce this R~3 zoning to commercial use. He also noted housing rehabilitation money has been earmarked for the area, allowing the residential flavor of the neighborhood to be preserved. He said the zone change makes sense only when a person looks at the existing zoning map. If Council were to look at the actual land use in the area, then the argument that the zoning is appropriate because it's surrounded by C~2 zoning dissolves. He said, in fact, the actual land use shows that existing zoning does not indicate accurately the actual land use which is predominantly resi~ dential along both sides. The only intrusion is the Xerox commercial structure which provides no neighborhood service. He felt by changing to the C~2 zoning, it would seriously intrude on the predominantly residential character of the neighborhood. He also noted that if this zone change were approved, it could put pressure on other properties in the area to request C~2 zoning which would result in even greater reduction in the current residentially zoned land. He continued, since City Council is firmly committed by policies to prevent erosion of residential land close to the downtown area; since neither public need nor the zone change need can be upheld; since the Planning Commission recommendation was much less than unanimous; and staff recommendation was very tentative, the City Council should deny the request. e Roscoe Cairn, 1008 West 3rd, could not see any way that the zone change would contribute to the character of the neighborhood, an area that is largely residential and small businesses. Public hearing was closed, there being no further testimony presented. Mr. Saul wanted to clarify in this particular case the staff recom~ mendation was not tentative, but quite straightforward; that the property should be rezoned because, in staff's opinion, this property did constitute an extremely unique situation and that it would not create a precedent for other property in the area. He also noted the development of commercially zoned property on all three sides. Mr. Bradley raised the question of vacancy statistics on professional office spaces in the downtown area, the Westside area, and the entire City. Mr. Saul did not have the exact figures and felt un~ comfortable with making a guess. Mr. Bradley said he was under the impression there was an abundance of office space in Eugene. Mayor Keller said such a request would require looking at many different types of office spaces, and as he understood, this was going to be an extension of the Xerox office space. Mr. Bradley was not sure that was the intent and said it could be quite an array of various office spaces under C~2 zoning. - 11/28/77 ~ 7 877