CC Minutes - 07/14/03 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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constraints, such as natural resources or a lack of access, as well as to the rate of land use absorption during the 1990s, which exceeded the projected rate of use. Mr. Duncan's findings indicated that Eugene had a greater shortage of commercial land than of industrial land. Mr. Arnold noted John Tamulonis of the City of Springfield presented information to the board indicating that there was a substantial supply of industrial land in that community, although not all was immediately available. However, Springfield was short of commercial lands. Mr. Roberts noted his membership on the Governor's Industrial Lands Task Force, which was examining the issue of the industrial lands supply on a statewide basis. Four metropolitan areas in the state had identified problems with their land supply. The remainder of the state had the same problem as the rural areas of Lane County; there was plenty of land, but no services or infrastructure to serve them, and no demand for their development. He discussed the different approaches taken by Portland, Salem, and Bend to addressing their land supply problems. The fourth community, Eugene-Springfield, had taken no steps to address its land supply issue. Mr. Roberts said that the task force had expected that the testimony it received would identify impediments to the land use system as an obstacle to maintaining an adequate land supply, but that was not the case. Most of the problems that were encountered were the results of the community's failure to use the land use system appropriately. He believed the task force would recommend that all jurisdictions do an inventory of their buildable lands and address any shortfall in the supply within the parameters of existing law. Mr. Roberts outlined a recommendation from the Metro Partnership for the City's support for commencing a process to evaluate whether the Eugene-Springfield area currently had an adequate supply of industrial and commercial land. That process would involve a consultant. Mr. Roberts suggested that such an evaluation was a way for the community to 'get ahead of the curve.' He said that he had consulted with Terry Moore of EcoNorthwest regarding the work to be done, and Mr. Moore had indicated it would not be a major undertaking, and that the effort would likely cost less than $50,000. Mr. Roberts asked that the council consider funding a portion of a consultant's work. He said that the partnership was meeting with the Eugene and Springfield councils and the Lane County Board of County Commissioners to see if there was interest in making the evaluation happen. He was hoping to see the three bodies take positive action on the request in September 2003 so the elected officials could determine locally how best to meet the requirements of the law and the needs of the community and economy. Mr. Pap~ invited council questions. Mr. Meisner said that it was difficult for him to consider the issue of land supply without also considering the broader questions of industries and jobs. He said that he frequently saw underused industrial land in the community, or sites zoned industrial and occupied with a retail store and where people lived as well. He asked if the evaluation proposed to look at both supply and use. Mr. Meisner said that the economy was changing. He asked if, in the context of looking at its land supply, the community also needed to look at its definition and lists of industrial uses. He asked if the community was putting the right uses into its industrial zones, or would it merely increase the land supply and see that squandered. Mr. Meisner asked if the City's basic zones-residential, commercial, and industrial-were still correct, and how their use was related to their availability. He noted that many of the uses in the MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 14, 2003 Page 8 Work Session