CC Minutes - 10/22/03 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Papd asked where the limitations on redevelopment of the current PeaceHealth campus lay. Mr. Klein clarified that redevelopment of the existing property would not be constrained under the ordinance, but no development outside of the current site could occur without the CUP process and an amendment to the refinement plan. Mr. Coyle said the net effect of the ordinance would allow PeaceHealth to do redevelopment work within their existing pad, absent going through a CUP. He stressed that nothing in the code went beyond this to usurp the goals and policies of the refinement plan. He explained that the recommendation was based upon the review of numerous hearings the PeaceHealth organization had been through over a number of years. He assured the council that PeaceHealth was amenable to the ordinance as it had been set forth. Regarding whether there was urgency in passing the ordinance, Ms. Nathanson stated that it was timely. She commented that six months earlier the council had proclaimed that it wanted to address the hospital situation proactively and lay the foundation to welcome a hospital and to ensure that the zoning code was prepared for the facilitation of locating a hospital. She averred it was important to make sure a hospital could locate in Eugene, stating that the City should ensure that it was not faced with a situation in which it did not have a hospital. Ms. Nathanson opposed redefining a hospital. She said technology was dynamic and it was uncertain how medical care would evolve. She also opposed defining elective surgery. She felt people sometimes opted for surgical measures to improve mobility and other aspects of life that, while not necessarily addressing life- threatening conditions were, nonetheless, extremely important to the individual. Mr. Taylor echoed Ms. Nathanson's remarks. He noted that, while the City had made great expressions of the desire to have the hospital and had conducted due diligence around the specifics of the change, the ordinance represented a degree of commitment and certainty and responded to specific requests from the communities of interest. He felt this alone would help to change the perception of whether the City was ready for this type of large development. Mayor Torrey said there was no question the council had determined it wanted a hospital in Eugene and wanted it within the confines of the area in which the council was prepared to provide incentives for siting. He voiced his support for the ordinance. He pointed out that the ordinance offered additional areas in which to consider locating but no incentives were provided for these areas. He averred this offered the hospital the flexibility to make the necessary choices to be successful in our community. He felt speed to be extremely important, as property values were escalating. He urged the council not to be lulled into a false sense of confidence that this would be the only area in which a hospital would consider locating. He asserted that the Glenwood area and the City of Springfield would both prefer the hospital locate there. In addition, Mayor Torrey approved of the PeaceHealth campus maintaining 45 beds, stating that this provided citizens on the south side of the river with access to medical care in the event of a disaster. Regarding clinics, Mayor Torrey asked Mr. Coyle to look into how expeditiously the clinic issue could be addressed. Mr. Kelly agreed there was urgency in giving the health care providers the ability to site a hospital promptly. He reiterated his concern that this ordinance might not be the best vehicle to accomplish this. Mr. Kelly disagreed with Mr. Pap~ on whether the City could dictate to private enterprise what they did with development funds, calling this the fundamental basis of zoning. MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 22, 2003 Page 6 Work Session