Item 4: Ordinance Concerning State Motor Pool Site

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Relationship to adjacent properties and EWEB master planning process: 4. Council asked what relationship this proposal has to, or what impact it may have on, the EWEB master planning process: Staff response: The Oregon Motor Pool site is located across High Street from the EWEB riverfront site. Both the Motor Pool site and the EWEB parcels are identified in the Downtown Plan as adjacent "Development Opportunity Areas." However, the Downtown Plan treats the Oregon Motor Pool site as unrelated to the EWEB site. For instance, the Motor Pool property is not subject to the Downtown Plan requirement for a master plan, as is required for the EWEB property. If the council approves the proposed plan amendment/zone change in February, the change will likely take effect before any decisions have been made regarding the disposition of EWEB parcels. A change to a Commercial plan designation and zoning is not likely to preclude future redevelopment of the Oregon Motor Pool site in a manner that is compatible with the EWEB master planning process. There is not currently a development proposal for this site. (See also the response to Question #5 below.) "Right of first refusal:" 5. Council asked whether public agencies have the right to acquire property from the State before the State can sell the property to private owners. Staff response:When a state agency decides it no longer needs real property, the agency first must check to determine if other state agencies need it. If not, then state statutes require the State to give local governments the first opportunity to acquire, purchase, exchange or lease real property to be sold or disposed of by the State of Oregon. The state agency responsible for selling or transferring the property may require at the time of the sale or transfer that any state real property sold or transferred to a local government be for use for a public purpose or benefit, and not be for resale to a private purchaser. This parcel has not yet been declared surplus by the State. Riverfront Urban Renewal District: 6. Council asked whether the parcel falls within the Riverfront Urban Renewal District. Staff response: The parcel is not within the Riverfront Urban Renewal District. That boundary starts just to the east, across High Street. The parcel is not located within Downtown Urban Renewal District. Relationship of approval criteria to "public benefit" criteria: 7. Council asked whether it might deny the request if it had no benefit to the public. Staff response: Eugene Code specifies the approval criteria applicable to this request. The criteria for approval of the Metro Plan amendment are found at EC 9.7730(3), while criteria for the zone change approval are found at EC 9.8865. Essentially, these approval criteria require that the request be consistent with Statewide Goals, adopted Metro Plan policies, and refinement plan policies. Findings in the November 20, 2006 City Council packet addressed the required approval criteria, and concluded that the requests meet all applicable criteria. However, it is within the purview of City Council to evaluate the potential impacts of the proposed change relative to all Metro Plan and refinement plan policies, and to amend the findings as needed. Additional Information For additional information, please contact Ann Siegenthaler, Associate Planner, at 682-5452 or via email at ann.siegenthaler@ci.eugene.or.us.