02/27/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Bradl ey questi oned whether the drai nage patterns on the property could be an off-site consideration, as those on-site patterns affected ~ other property. Mr. Saul said consideration of on-site drainage ~ is legitimate at this time. Whatever number of units are proposed will have implications for the size of the stream drainage faCility to be installed on that property. However, he did not feel Council could consider the off-site impact of drainage back down to Amazon or where it drains into Fern Ridge. He did not feel Council could sustain a position that this development would result in an overload of the Amazon Channel. He said that problem transcends this parti- cular development as it effects the whole southeastern area of Eugene. Assistant Manager said staff and Council certainly shared the concern with the testimony as to the geological conditions which mayor may not exist on the site. However, he cautioned Council may be compounding the problem, noting whether or not Council was qualified to pick between geological experts. In the past, Council has requested response on technical issues from staff. He said if Council delays action on this matter because it wants more evidence from geologists, he wondered how Council could decide between expert testimony as there would be many diverse expert opinions. The Hearings Official had recognized this and had set as a condition there must be satisfactory geological information presented before the final approval and construction can occ u r. Mr. Lieuallen felt the Hearings Official should have had a geolog- ical report in front of him to suggest problems and how they could be dealt with. The Hearings Official has required a report from ~ the developers and that report could conclude that the site is not buildable. The approval by the Hearings Official says that the only purpose of the report is to show how to locate the structures, not whether they should be built at all. He said it could be the conclusion of the geological report that the site could not be built upon. Assistant Manager said this evidence must be presented and the project would not go ahead without the evidence that the condi- tions set forth by the Hearings Official could be met. In his rebuttal, Mr. Knapp noted Ms. Butler and Mr. House would prefer Council make a decision tonight and were not in favor of a delay. In response to Mr. Saul's statement that the City can ensure adequate inspection, Mr. Knapp wondered how. He said one of the Hearings Official's conditions was the application of Chapter 70 of the UBC which he felt had already been violated. Also, he commented on the Hearings Official rejection of testimony because he was not a qualified geologist. He questioned whether or not an ordinary citizen, through study, could not understand technical matters. Regarding overloading Amazon, he said this site is one of many in this particular area and has to be evaluated as such. He had questioned the City Engineering staff as to how many houses had already been approved for that area and not yet been built. The City staff had no number to give. He questioned how much run-off would accrue in the next few years as a result of this building. He - 2/27/78--10 t 3't