Ord. 20613 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Vacation Findings The following findings demonstrate that vacation of Pearl Alley, located between East 5th Alley and East 5th Avenue, and Pearl and Oak Streets, is in the public interest. This determination is based on the conclusion that vacation of this alley will provide efficient use of land and will not negatively impact the transportation system, surrounding neighborhoods or emergency access. Additionally, future development opportunities of the adjacent lands can be enhanced through the consolidation of the site. As a result, vacation of the requested alley will be in the public interest. Detailed findings to support this conclusion are provided below. The applicant is currently developing the southern half of the block bounded by Oak Street, 5th Avenue, Pearl Street and 6th Avenue as part of the $75 million Market Expansion project consisting of three new buildings, which includes retail/office, hotel, and a mixed-use building with residential apartments. The changes to the southern half of the block required the removal and relocation of the public utilities in that area. The construction in the southern portion of the block will also require the removal of the sanitary sewer within the northern portion of Pearl Alley. The proposed redevelopment is part of an agreement between the developer and Lane County, who owns the southern half of the block. This project, in conjunction with an affordable housing project by Homes for Good, was selected by Lane County Board of Commissioners for redevelopment of their existing surface parking lots—a site identified in the City's 2004 Downtown Plan as the first on a list of "Development Opportunity Areas." Obie Companies' proposal to expand the 5th Street Market District on the Lane County property has the potential to achieve the following Downtown Plan objectives: • Redevelop one of the identified Development Opportunity Areas; • Expand the 5th Avenue Area (a Special Place and a Great Street in the Downtown Plan); • Strengthen the pedestrian connection between the downtown core and activity on 5th Avenue, and ultimately to the planned Riverfront Park and the Willamette River; • Contribute to the Envision Eugene goal of 1,000 new multi -family homes in the downtown core. Analysis from Public Works staff confirms the surrounding street network is a traditional blocked street grid, which provides ample street connectivity as required by Eugene Code and negates the need for an alley as a secondary public thoroughfare. City Council previously approved the vacation of the southern half of Pearl Alley, along with East 5th Alley per City Council Ordinance 20601. As a result, those areas no longer have any transportation benefit to the public and are privately owned. The proposed vacation will not impede or modify on-site circulation. To the north is East 5th Avenue and to the west is Oak Street, both local City streets and fully improved with paving, curb and gutter, bike lanes, sidewalks and street lights. Pearl Street is to the east and is a major collector, and East 6th Avenue to the south is a major arterial. The surrounding street network provides ample transportation facilities for all users Exhibit C: Findings Page 2 of 3