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for an arena was not reserved in the plan at the direction of the Planning Commission Plus Three, <br />although one was not precluded. Mr. Fart thought a arena would be a great addition to the <br />courthouse area as it would bring people there for events held at the arena. He expressed <br />interest in pursuing the possibility of an arena. <br /> <br />Ms. Nathanson was pleased with the plan and concerned about the financial feasibility of <br />accomplishing it. She did not want to close off any options and wanted to have flexibility in <br />implementation. She suggested that some options might be best explored with regard to their <br />implementation as opposed to that implementation being dictated by the City. For example, some <br />of what might be accomplished might happen on land owned by someone else. She cited the <br />property owned by the Eugene Water & Electric Board and the University of Oregon as examples. <br /> <br />Ms. Nathanson offered a statement of some thoughts she had on the plan: Character will be <br />influenced by early developments. Achieving the vision of a vibrant downtown neighborhood that <br />is connected to downtown and neither drains downtown nor withers in isolation will depend on <br />financial feasibility as well as community and private sector interest. That zoning and design <br />decisions should strike a balance between amenities and development potential, and other <br />competing objectives that are stated in the plan. We should explore partnerships with the federal <br />government, other local agencies, and private parties, to achieve the vision, to achieve high- <br />quality development, and to provide special features. <br /> <br />Ms. Nathanson said she did not think the City needed to accomplish the plan on its own. She <br />circulated her statement. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly thanked staff and the Planning Commission Plus Three. He said there was much to like <br />in the plan. He was very pleased with the courthouse design, which would bring distinctiveness to <br />the area. He was pleased that the daylighted Millrace was integral to the plan and hoped it <br />remained in the plan. Mr. Kelly said there were many opportunities for redevelopment of the <br />privately owned land south of 8th Avenue. He pointed out, however, that the area in question was <br />quite small, and the public needed to keep the scope of the project in perspective: it was not <br />going to transform the city. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly suggested that before the council adopted the final plan, the colored concept maps <br />provided by Ms. Laurence be incorporated into it. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly said through plan implementation, he wanted to ensure that the opening of the Millrace <br />was pursued on an aggressive time line. He hoped the new overlay zone also went forward in a <br />timely fashion to guide future development. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor said she continued to be concerned about maximum riverfront protection. She wanted <br />to minimize pavement in the area, facilitate easy pedestrian and bicycle access, and protect the <br />existing downtown merchants. She did not think the council should rush to develop the area and <br />did not want to make the project a roadway project. Ms. Taylor wanted to open the Millrace. <br /> <br />Although she acknowledged the public input that had occurred, Ms. Taylor called for more time for <br />public comment and publicity of the plan. She believed that people needed a chance to comment <br />when projects were nearly done because it took so long to get the broader public aware of what <br />was going on. She cited Broadway Place as an example of her concern. <br /> <br /> MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 17, 2002 Page 2 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />