Planning Commission Recommendation 6-24-19

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As part of the draft code amendments, changes are proposed to expand the temporary parking allowed in the current code. The proposed amendments would expand the allowance for temporary parking throughout the S-DR zone, with a recognition that: 1) the majority of the site is already paved and has historically been used for parking and for storage of equipment at the former EWEB maintenance yard; 2) parking availability in the downtown area is already very limited, and will be especially constrained and challenging to provide on the subject site over the next few years as the site develops; and 3) there is a need to anticipate and accommodate possible City-sponsored events such as the 2021 World Games and re-development of the Steam Plant with new uses. The Planning Commission considered this issue closely, due to the proximity to the Willamette River and with the interest of possibly restricting the allowance to ensure greater protections against possible pollution entering the water from parked vehicles. Upon further discussion, and reassurance from Public Works staff that a variety of existing protections remain in place to prevent surface pollution from entering the river, the Planning Commission voted 3:2 in favor of keeping the expanded allowance for temporary parking as currently drafted. See draft code at EC 9.3165(2). 2) Public Accessways to Riverfront Park. As part of the proposed subdivision, and as required by the draft code at EC 9.3160, public accessways are proposed to the new riverfront park from the ends of local streets. These are proposed as 14-foot wide public access easements, to be built with 12-foot wide paving and to connect with the new multi-use path along the river, consistent with the City’s typical public improvement standards for public accessways that accommodate bicycles and pedestrians. Some commissioners expressed concern about the permanence and full public rights for access, and a desire to require these public accessways be dedicated as public rights-of-way, rather than public access easements. Staff provided additional clarification about the legal effects of easements versus rights-of-way and about the process and criteria for vacation of easements and rights-of-way, and the extremely unlikely possibility that these new public accessways would ever be vacated given their importance in providing critical public connections to the new riverfront park. As part of the discussion, staff emphasized the clear code requirements in the S-DR zone for these connections to exist at EC 9.3160 (See pages 160 and 163 of the City Council’s June 24 packet). The result was a split 2:2 informal straw poll vote, resulting in no recommended change to the proposed public access easements. Attachments A: Planning Commission Recommended Revisions