05/08/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e Gary Spivak, 1350 Bailey, referred to Planning Department's recom- mendation of two conceptual schemes involving historical quality and increased housing densities in the East Butte residential area. He said they were not drawn up as part of the Urban Refinement Plan used in the East Skinner's Butte area and were never discussed by Whiteaker Community Council before being presented to the Planning Commission. He felt they were not consistent with the refinement plan goals. He said they were not achievable and, for that reason, could be very misleading. They would require the kind of control the city is not used to and would be very difficult to implement. He said if the property were to be developed to 30 units per acre, a developer probably would not consider the historical value. He felt the East Skinner's Butte area to be a vital neighborhood and wished to have it maintained as an historical area which would show the manner in which the city had developed over a period of time. He was not in favor of high-density new structures, and noted he was afraid that would happen if the residential development were to occur quickly. The Whiteaker neighborhood felt the area should be limited to 20 units per acre and should be developed slowly to preserve the fragile quality of the historical value. Denyse McGriff, 1087 East 19th, represented South University Neighbor- hood Association. Her group believed another neighborhood association in the city should be supported when it is being pressed to have a plan put upon it by the Planning staff. Her group had a great stake in the area. People pass through the area on the way to the park and they feel very strongly about the historical preservation of the area. A letter from the South University Neighborhood Association was read into the record. It supported Whiteaker Alternative 1 with a density of no more than 20 units per acre in the three-block East Skinner's Butte area. It noted the Whiteaker Community Council had compromised by increasing high-density in other areas of its neighborhood; it recognized site review process would not protect the unique quali- ties and complexities of historical areas; and it recognized the East Skinner's Butte area as a unique area of Eugene and part of its historical heritage which is an irreplaceable resource and should not be altered or destroyed. Edward Hostick, 660 Hughes Street, represented Active Bethel Citi- zens, which was concerned that the Planning Commission and Planning Department staffs might be insensitive to growth and concerns of the citizens. They expressed the concern that both the 1990 Plan and the 1974 Community Goals statements were being whittled away by attempts to plan for housing in Eugene for citizens who have not yet arrived. They were concerned regarding the lack of a work- able plan to deal with growth. They noted the refinement plan was a long-term effort and included a vast number of volunteers. The plan addressed high density and it was felt the East Skinner's Butte area should not be included in that high density. ABC said Eugene does not have historical landmarks and the City policy should, and must, reflect the needs of the citizens. ABC asked that City Council accept the refinement plan to increase the density to 20 units per acre to the East Skinner's Butte area, as that is what the people desire. e e 5/8/78--5 32~