08/10/1981 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Carol Brewster, 137 North Lawrence Street, said that the neighborhood group had . asked for help with an unsafe situation for children and senior citizens, with preserving the integrity of Skinner Butte Park, and with having the council follow through on policy statements. Now, staff is recommending no diverter and no further analysis. This has not been a popular project. There should be one overall traffic plan to get from the Ferry Street Bridge to River Road. People opposed to the diverter are not necessarily opposed to traffic cpntrol, just this solution. John Schumaker, 41 North Lawrence Street, talked about preserving the quality of life in that inner-city neighborhood. There are green spaces to recreate and to walk free with recreation opportunities. The park is healthy and the community - should safeguard it. The Police Departm~nt says this is no longer a drive-through, and now it has many uses. Safety has improved. It has restored East and West Skinner Butte neighborhood. This is the first step in reconnecting those two neighborhoods, and they are now more livable. This was a move to revitalize an inner-city neighborhood. Julie Schumaker, 41 North Lawrence Street, No.1, said that people-oriented concerns are the most cost-effective because they are for the people. Repaving or changing the road has never worked but the diverter has. As a taxpayer, she abhors any further misuse of sites like Skinner Butte for such traffic uses. She read a letter from a senior citizen, Violet Marstellar, who stated that since the diverter has been placed in the west end of the park, there has been obvious improvement with the park area more enjoyable and safer. Ms. Marsteller feels it also has cut down on smog and fumes. The letter went on to say that there are some advantages in unrestricted traffic through the park and . adjoining streets, but they are outweighed by the many disadvantages they caused the neighborhood. Margaret Cormier, 90 North Lawrence Street, stated that the diverter has worked. The neighborhood is on the edge there with lots of vacant houses and rentals and the diverter has created less traffic with more room for people to walk around and ride their bikes. Wes Cleveland, 90 North Lawrence Street, stated that they want to keep the diverter because kids like to play in the street a lot. Mar arita Vielma, 90 North Lawrence Street, agreed with the previous speakers and sald thlS has cut own on pol ution and traffic. James Chaudoir, 91 North Lawrence Street, said that he would like the Traffic Engineering Division to take a more highly motivated approach to solving this problem. Dennis Urso, 445 Clark Street, said he is more pro-traffic control than pro- diverter, but until a better solution can be reached he would like to see the diverter remain in place. He quoted Ms. Miller as having stated at the December 8 meeting that this could be a start to the solution. There were other sug- gestions mentioned at the meeting that were not in the report, such as stop . MINUTES--Eugene City Council August 10, 1981 Page 7