CC Minutes - 04/04/01 JEO - Laserfiche WebLink

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Carol Heinkel, Project Coordinator, LCOG, entered into the record two letters, one from the Eugene Water and Electric Board and the other from Oregon Communities a Voice in Annexations by Jerry Ritter. Geor.qe Grier, 13421/2 N. 66th Street, Springfield, was concerned about the public process for siting urban facilities outside of the urban growth boundary. He noted the focus was policy G 29. He said siting urban facilities on resource land is new, with not a lot of processing. He said it was appropriate to consider the siting of urban facilities on resource lands not as a director's decision but an opportunity to have something heard before the planning commission or hearings official. He noted the urban facilities process would have to be run through Lane County. On storm water system improvements (page 102), he said there are a series listed for Cedar Creek and the East Springfield area. He said that carrying capacity for Cedar Creek did not meet current build out and would not meet anticipated build out. He said those problems needed to be addressed. He added if this was the land use decision for the projects, there wasn't a lot that the public could provide testimony about. He noted these involve projects on private land where the property owners had not been notified. He said when these items come back in a more detailed form, the public has the opportunity to have public hearing. Grier said the projects that are anticipated by the policy change occurred at the legislature (HB 2865, referenced in staff notes and in responses to his previous testimony.) There were several attempts at the legislature to address the potential to site urban facilities on resource lands and the version that was passed wasn 't clear. He stated the language said that a utility facility was necessary for public service but it wasn't clear whether an urban storm water detention or treatment facility would be allowed. He added there was an application for a build out in an area adjacent to a floodplain and the developer proposed storm water detention and treatment offsite. Grier explained if this wasn 't discussed, an application would come to Lane County where it is the director's decision (and discretionary use) and could be approved without a public hearing. He said these facilities are sited in the floodplain, agricultural or forestland and they could impact the way people live. He said there are serious issues that affect people who live adjacent to the urban area. He said it would be a good opportunity for the people in the neighborhood to interface with the design process so any unanticipated consequences could be mitigated. He asked for a public hearing when an urban facility is to be sited on rural resource land. There being no one else signed up to speak; Mayor Torrey closed the Public Hearing for the City of Eugene.