CC Minutes - 11/24/03 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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any circumstances. Ms. Riner replied that the asking price and gravel extraction were major obstacles. Mr. Meisner asked how the selected site rated using the evaluation criteria. Ms. Riner responded that the recommendations of the committee and consultants were to focus on the selected site and as the project proceeded assure that issues around transportation, land use, natural resource areas, and other community values and concerns were addressed. Mr. Meisner asked if any strong objections to the site were raised. Ms. Riner replied that there were strong cautions against moving forward without assurances that the issues she stated in her previous response were addressed in negotiations with the property owner. Mr. Kelly stated his reluctance to change the UGB unless it was absolutely necessary, but he was pleased that the proposal had a clear, broad public benefit through the creation of a park in an underserved area and there was not net change in developable land within the UGB. He said those aspects of the proposal should be memorialized in findings of any Metro Plan amendment that was considered. He agreed with the committee's concern that it was critical to obtain easements, or outright ownership, through the Laurel Hill site that assured connectivity to the Ridgeline Trail, parks, and trails. He supported developing further details of the proposal and continuing negotiations with the property owner. He asked what percentage of the Santa Clara area wetlands were within the potential park area compared to the potential development area and how the park area wetlands could be enhanced and those in the development area mitigated. Ms. Bettman concurred with most of the previous comments and asked if the Moon Mountain site would be protected as park land. Ms. Riner replied that there was no current recommendation under consideration for what would be done with that property. Ms. Bettman asked what type of development the property, which was currently zoned F-2, would eligible for once it was outside of the UGB. She said she did not feel the statement that there was no net gain in developable land was accurate because the park was an intense development that would attract more development in its vicinity. She said if the owner was a willing seller, a price would have been quoted for sale to the City, instead of the complex land swap that was proposed. She asked what the remainder of the Santa Clara site, which would be retained by the owner, be zoned once it was within the UGB. Ms. Riner said she thought there was an underlying residential zoning and the City would propose a refinement plan that would address the best mix of types of housing and transportation connections and allow for the practice of smart development principles. Ms. Bettman remarked that the land would be very intensely development, including commercial uses. Referring to the Region 2050 study of the impact of agriculture on the economy and the percentage of related employment, she asked for more information from the Region 2050 project, describing the magnitude of the loss of agricultural jobs as a result of the loss of prime farmland. She asked if the council recom- mended moving forward would it mean that the City would initiate the land use amendments and Metro Plan amendments. Ms. Riner clarified that the private property owner would come to the City to request the Metro Plan amendment, similar to any other property owner requesting a land use permit process. Mr. Poling echoed Mr. Kelly's comments regarding the Laurel Hill site and connectivity to the Rivers to Ridges concepts. He noted that the negotiation process could be terminated at any time prior to a final agreement should it not be in the City's best interests to proceed. He asked if a chart could be developed MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 24, 2003 Page 4 Work Session