CC Minutes - 04/12/00 Work Session

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Bob O' Brien, 3525 Gilham Road, Eugene, noted that the West Eugene Wetland Plan criteria have changed very little since 1992. He added that twice the Eugene and Lane County Planning Commissions have designated the Hyundai site to be protected and restored and not developed. He noted that it echoed early findings by the Army Corps of Engineers and the Oregon Division of State Lands. He urged the elected officials to abide by those rules. He quoted from the Sierra Club Newsletter about wetlands. Deborah Michaels, 1193 Van Buren Street, Eugene, stated she thinks it is a citizen's responsibility to follow issues that affect the legacy for children. She said the West Eugene Wetlands represent that because they are unique. She added the wetlands require stewardship and children will receive inspiration from them. She urged all political leaders and agencies involved to spend time in the wetlands. She urged the elected officials to not allow a "play our way or we will leave tactic" or feel pressured or bullied in decision making. She added that no one wins if loopholes are used and rules are viewed as a whittling project to slowly change, or if special exceptions are granted again and again. Jan Spencer, 1266 W. 5th, Eugene, stated that Hyundai is not a citizen as it does not live and breathe as a person does. He said the people who work at Hyundai are citizens. He noted that only 1% of the Willamette Valley Wetlands prairie remains and compared it to forest clear cuts. He said these wetlands should be protected and restored. He added only the people who have a direct financial benefit to the factory gain anything. He urged the Board to maintain the direction to protect and restore the wetlands. Jim Reed, 37370 Wallace Creek Road, Jasper, stated he has a Masters in Fresh Water Biology and moved to Jasper to live on a wetland. He said the Hyundai site is relatively isolated from others because roads and streets have dissected it. He said it is adjacent to existing developments that are served by streets. He added the site has frontage on major highways or streets. He said the protection criteria is interrelated, and if it is a valuable wetland, it is in the floodplain and has unique wetland plants. He asked the elected officials to use common sense and stop the destruction of the last remaining wetlands in the valley. Mike Farthing, P.O. Box, 1147 Eugene, stated he represents the owner of the speedway site. He requested the record remain open for two more weeks as the amount of material was voluminous. He added they want to put their comments in summary fashion in a written response. He said they are generally supportive of the staffs recommendation for the speedway property but there are still a few problems. He said it is important to get the plan adopted as there is a need for certainty for the West Eugene Wetlands Plan and the mitigation banking program. He noted the new criteria as applied to the speedway are subjective. He said the present recommendation jeopardizes one of the two approved access points onto West 1 lth. He said the ribbon driveway and the speedway itself are not wetlands and are developable properties. He said they were concerned about jeopardizing the access point because it is a valuable property right. He added that ODOT needs to issue a new road access permit for increased development. He noted on page 8, of Exhibit B, Statewide Goal Findings, there is discussion of the impact of commercial lands inventory which indicates that 10 acres will be removed by protection of wetlands in the amendments. He stated that they support acquiring and restoring the actual speedway sites and working with the various regulatory agencies to do that. Phil Scoles, P. O. Box 3558, Portland, stated he was a consultant for the owner of the Eugene