05/20/1981 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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. e e VIII. MULTI-UNIT PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION PROGRAM--INITIAL PRESENTATION Mr. Gleason introduced Greg Byrne, Department of Housing and Community Conser- vation. Mr. Byrne indicated that this was the initial presentation of a redraft of the tax exemption program for newly constructed rental units in Eugene's central area. A public hearing on the item had been scheduled for May 27, 1981. Mr. Byrne said that the program had been in force in Eugene since 1977. The current proposal for revisions had resulted from changes in the State legislation which required the City to amend its program, as well as from adoption by the City Council of the Downtown Housing Policies, which require changes in the boundaries of the program. The changes are recommended by the Joint Housing Committee, and the Eugene Renewal Agency has reviewed the recommendations and concurs. The District 4-J School Board will review the recommended changes for the second time May 20, 1981, and will make a recom- mendation in time for presentation to the council at the hearing on May 27. Mr. Byrne said that he, Robert Linz, chair of the Joint Housing Committee, or Ms. Schue, who is a member of the committee, would be glad to respond to ques- tions from councilors. Ms. Miller noted that the proposal called for elimination of the Project Advisory Committee, which had formerly dealt with the issue of public benefit. Mr. Byrne responded that the basic reason for eliminating this group was to speed up the application review process. Both of the two projects built in the City under the existing program had run into extensive time problems and efforts were therefore being made to speed the process. Mr. Byrne said that while the elimination of the Project Advisory Committee does to some extent reduce public review of the program, the recent expansion of the Joint Housing Committee to create a majority on the committee of appointed citizens-at-large, including a representative of a chartered neighborhood organization, would offset this by assuring continued public involvement in the review process. Mr. Byrne said that the process itself had also been altered so that the Joint Housing Committee now reviews the applications considerably earlier in the process. The meeting was adjourned to May 26, 1981. Respectfully submitted, ~~- Micheal D. Gleason City Manager (Recorded by Darcy Marentette) MDG:DM:ky/CM23b14 MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 20, 1981 Page 13