CC Minutes - 11/22/99 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Farmer said that he hoped that the additional information provided councilors in their packets would help the councilors to take action so that the Planning staff could begin to adjust work items on the work plan in order to proceed with projects. He referred to the following three graphics on the wall of the McNutt Room: 1) a map showing the primary area of the downtown planning effort, the Riverfront Urban Renewal District excluding the Research Park properties, and the overlap of the two areas; 2) a summary of the types of projects being recommended and labeled Phase I, Phase II, the Franklin Boulevard/Willamette River Plan, and Placemaking Activities; and 3) a timeline for the downtown and Franklin Boulevard-Willamette River corridor planning. Mr. Farmer reviewed the policy issues contained in the staff report. He pointed out that Growth Management Policies 1, 3, and 17 all related to the studies that were being discussed. Mr. Farmer reminded councilors of the figures he had previously provided that indicated that there was much underutilized land in downtown and noted that Policy 1 referred to density and the use of vacant and underutilized land. Policy 17 had to do with natural areas and natural habitat. Mr. Farmer said that staff was looking at a balance between nature and development especially where downtown development met one of the defining natural features of this area, the Willamette River. He said that Policy 3 obviously related because it read "encourage a mix of businesses and residential uses downtown using incentives and zoning." Mr. Farmer continued his review of the following policy issues: · Renew the vision for downtown · Clarify City role in implementation · Identify resources and tools to implement future actions · Provide guidance for future improvements in the Franklin Boulevard-Willamette River corridor area Mr. Farmer said that vision was very important and that it was also important to make sure that the vision was achievable and realistic. He said that concrete steps were necessary to achieving a vision. Mr. Farmer reviewed the three options in the staff report: A. Proceed only with the Franklin Boulevard- Willamette River Corridor Study; B. Provide contingency funding for downtown visioning in conjunction with planning for the Franklin Boulevard-Willamette River Corridor. Include funding for Phase II in the FY01 budget; and C. Provide contingency funding for downtown placemaking in addition to planning for the Franklin Boulevard-Willamette River Corridor. He noted that options B and C could also be combined and implemented together. The staff recommendation was: Staff recommends the City Council, acting as the Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Eugene, allocate $175, 000 in funding for the Franklin Boulevard- Willamette River Corridor Study and, acting as the City Council, allocate $50,000 in the current year for the Phase I, the downtown visioning process and $25, O00 for the placemaking match. It is further recommended that funding for Phase II, the Comprehensive Development Strategy be considered in the FYO1 budget. Mr. Farmer also reviewed the suggested motions for the council. Mr. Rayor clarified that an amendment to the City Code had been prepared to limit building heights in the 5th Street Special District Area. Ms. Nathanson noted that this was included in the North End Scoping Group Report. Mayor Torrey noted that it was in the report without objection. MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 22, 1999 Page 10 5:30 p.m.