CC Minutes - 11/10/03 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ms. Bettman said she would support the motion as the best way to ensure that replacement housing was of a better quality than the housing it replaced. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Meisner asked staff to provide an update on the status of the vertical housing code, which was rejected by Lane County. He said it appeared that Lane County did not have jurisdiction to disapprove the code. Mr. Weinman said the code had been submitted to the State and staff understood it had been approved. C. WORK SESSION: Millrace Alternatives and Financing Direction Planning and Development Director Tom Coyle said the issue before the council was a continuation of a policy discussion relating to implementation of the Courthouse District Plan. He said the plan cited the need for direction relative to improvement for a Millrace feature in the downtown area. He introduced Robin Hostick, a landscape architect with Public Works, who had developed two design options that would satisfy the goal of the courthouse district plan. He said the City had critical improvement projects related to the courthouse district that were pending resolution of the Millrace design issues. Mr. Hostick distributed maps and drawings for the two options for Millrace improvements. He said the first option was for full daylighting of the Millrace from the intersection of Broadway and Mill Street and continuing through the courthouse district to the river. He said the general nature of the improvement was that of a public amenity that was surrounded by development over time. He stated he had researched the opening of waterways in several other communities. He said the Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas was a good example of a successful project. He said factors that contributed to its success were: · It was developed over time · It was organic, with many different aspects · People were down next to the water rather than looking down into a water feature · It crossed through city blocks rather than being on the edge of a street · It included diverse activities generated by private enterprise Mr. Hostick illustrated on a map the proposed daylighted Millrace route through the blocks in the courthouse district and noted that another key to success was to provide access by lowering the area adjacent to the Millrace one building level. He said a building adjacent to the Millrace would have street level access and Millrace level access and lowering the level would also capitalize on pedestrian access from downtown by avoiding the need to cross streets. Mr. Hostick said that the second option, Millrace Waters, created public spaces in the redeveloped neighborhood that evoked the idea of the Millrace without fully daylighting it. He illustrated on a map the four locations where water features would lead to the river through the courthouse district. He provided examples of water features that evoked a gateway and human use of water. Mr. Meisner remarked that he had some concerns about the full daylighting option, but did not like the second option to create four water features. He said his concerns about the daylighting option were focused on the level of funding required and the loss of land, but was willing to support that option if a point was MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 10, 2003 Page 7 Work Session