CC Minutes - 02/23/98 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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D. Public Testimony Alan Wagner, 2650 Chuckanut Street, stated that he was a nearby resident of the proposed project and that he supported the application. He said he believed Costco needed a larger capacity parking area and he encouraged the council to "go easy" on landscaping requirements. Jack S. Frank, 999 Lake Drive, Issquah, Washington, stated that he represented the applicant, Costco Wholesale Corporation. He expressed appreciation to City staff who, he said, had treated the application with courtesy and professionalism. He described the property in question and the remodeling project it would support. He explained that remodeling the current Costco facility was needed to meet its desire for business expansion and effectiveness. He said Costco had 56,000 members in the Eugene area. Mark Vandehey, 610 SW Alder, Suite 700, Portland, stated that he represented Kittelson and Associates, the firm which had performed the Transportation Impact Analysis submitted with the application. He distributed copies of a document entitled "Transportation Summary--Costco Metro Plan Amendment (MA 97-4)." He reviewed descriptions of existing conditions, project impact, and parking needs contained in the document. He stated that recommendations had been made to improve traffic in the Coburg Road/Chad Drive intersection area. E. Council Deliberation Ms. Nathanson said she questioned the finding on page 11 of the Planning Division Staff Report dated December 24, 1997, which suggested the application was "consistent with the principles of compact and sequential growth..." because it proposed horizontal expansion. She asked when parking structures would be financially feasible for commercial developments. Mr. Yeiter replied that staff had found the application was consistent with compact growth because it enabled the applicant to remain in its present location and not develop a larger second site elsewhere in the City. He said issues related to parking structures had been discussed by the Planning Commission in its deliberation regarding the application. Ms. Nathanson asked if expansion of the size of Costco did not imply an increase of customers which would again push parking limits to undesirable levels. Mr. Vandehey replied that current peak parking lot usage was at 90 percent and that the parking lot expansion was calculated to be able to provide peak usage at 85 percent, with customer growth factored into the calculations. In response to questions from Ms. Nathanson regarding parking lot maximum sizes, Mr. Yeiter explained that the proposed expansion was within TRIP limitations. He noted that a major portion of the business of Costco was with wholesale customers and that the applicant had submitted studies which showed that customers at warehouse-type stores stayed a longer period of time than in normal retail outlets. Mr. Meisner stated that Planning Commission and council action adopting growth management policies had led him to be sensitive to negative public concepts for "big box" retail stores. He said he was pleased to learn that Costco encouraged employees to use bicycles and public MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 23, 1998 Page 5 7:30 p.m.