CC Minutes - 05/29/02 JEO - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

that the ballot measure was intended to end the controversy over the 1986 vote. Voters were not told the vote was nonbinding. Mr. Montgomery said the community should take advantage of the 20 years of planning that went into the parkway and proceed with the project. The project was identified in many planning documents, and the need for the parkway was established in several technical documents. He noted the support voiced for the parkway by the Lane County and Springfield advisory bodies, and the funding for the first phase included in the STIP. In the absence of the parkway, congestion would continue to be a problem on West 11th Avenue. He said that if the amendments were not approved the investment made to this point would be lost. Scott Crawford was not present when called on to speak. Lisa Kennedy was not present when called on to speak. Misha Seymour, 1313 Lincoln Street, Apartment 306, opposed the parkway because of its impact on the wetlands. He called for spending on affordable housing and for free buses. He asked that the amendments be rejected. Terry Connelly, 1401 Willamette Street, Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, spoke in support of the amendments and urged the adopting officials to approve them. He said the staff findings were thorough and compelling. Speaking to the TransPlan amendment, he agreed with the Eugene commissioners' decision that the community vote represented a new or amended community policy. He said that the amendments were the logical by-product of a new community policy, which was the result of the council going to the voters. He did not think the goals and policies of TransPlan needed to be changed to accommodate the parkway. He said that TransPlan was adopted with full knowledge the entire parkway would be constructed. The project was intended to be a phased project. The amendments were consistent with the plan's goals and policies. He noted the inclusion of the parkway in acknowledged adopted plans. Dean Bishop, 28335 West 11th Avenue, opposed the parkway because of the direct impact it would have on his property and the impact it would have on the entire community and future generations, particularly children, through the loss of wetlands. He spoke of the benefits of open spaces to children. He said that there were also funding questions to be considered. David Hauser, 2168 Elkhorn Drive, Eugene, representing the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, encouraged the adopting officials to approve the proposed amendments. He supported much that had been said in support of the parkway. He said the findings developed by staff supported the amendments. He noted calls for a LUTRAQ process and stated that the solutions used in Portland were not appropriate for Eugene. He pointed out that light rail was vital to that solution. He said that in terms of the close nature of the vote, the competing ballot measure asked the voters if they wanted to pursue the LUTRAQ approach, and they overwhelming rejected it. Mr. Hauser said that contrary to testimony, the projects not included in the TransPlan list were not cancelled, they were postponed. He said that all projects could be considered by the OTC when it considered the STIP again in two years. None of the projects postponed had the public input the parkway enjoyed. He suggested that the community work together to find funding for those projects. Robin Levine, 115 Crocker Lane, said she never owned a car and was proud of that fact. She said cars were not healthy for the community. She maintained that cars contributed to cancer and asthma. She called for a new approach to community building. She said that people come to Eugene for its greenness, and to breath the fresh air. She called on older adults to take classes about the value of the environment, and what affects pollution had on all people. MINUTES--Joint Adopting Officials May 29, 2002 Page 13