CC Minutes - 02/10/99 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ms. Taylor asked what percentage of the jobs in the park came from other areas of Eugene. She asked what the fifth building in the Silva sector would be for, and if the zebra fish program facility was dependent on yet-to-be constructed infrastructure. Mr. Kelly noted his long-term support for the University of Oregon and university/business partnerships. However, he said in his own experience at the Massachuset Institute of Technology, a research park was not necessary for such partnerships to be successful. He suggested that the council separate the issue of university/business partnerships from how the park itself promoted those activities. Mr. Kelly noted the fact that companies from within Eugene had relocated to the park, meaning that the park did not create new jobs that would not have necessarily existed otherwise. Mr. Dyke said that the economic development lever from the park was that the companies involved had elected to remain and grow in Eugene. One company had seriously considered leaving the state. Mr. Kelly asked if Mr. Giunta was aware of any situations where the park had hurt an existing commercial business park; for example, Percon relocated from another business park because of the substantially lower rent in the research park. Mr. Giunta responded that the case was just the opposite; the park itself would act as an incubator, and as companies outgrew those facilities they could relocate in commercial business parks in the area. Regarding the subject of proximity to the campus, Mr. Kelly questioned whether it was necessary to have the research park so close to the University. Mr. Giunta said that proximity was vital. He said that professors working with companies not located in the park, such as Molecular Probes, complained that it was difficult to travel so far to reach the company and vice versa. He said that it was important to build a critical mass of companies, the University, faculty, and staff to facilitate the exchange of ideas and concepts. Dr. Palmer said that the University had few students working in jobs related to their majors, which was another reason the research park was needed. The University did not have the same opportunities offered by MIT to its students, and needed to do more to create them. Mr. Rayor asked for an overview of the urban renewal district and how the park fit into the district in terms of funding. He asked about existing overlay zones in the park and how those zones would be affected if the City eliminated its support for the park. He requested a percentage breakdown of open space north and south of the tracks, the percentage of paved areas, and the percentage of building footprint occupying the park. He wanted to know if streets were counted as open space. Mr. Rayor suggested that the council needed a revised master plan showing a 100-foot setback from the river and the location of parking garages. He noted his concern over the potential loss of open space along the river front. Mr. Rayor requested a history of the former pole yard. Mr. Rayor noted his dislike for Percon's building, saying it was a danger signal for him and he wanted more information about whether the park's site standards were relaxed to allow that construction type. Ms. Nathanson asked what documents would the City need to change if the University decided to change its development plans for the park. MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 10, 1999 Page 5 11:30 a.m.