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

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transportation to come to work, but he noted that few customers could likely use such alternate modes of travel. He said he was concerned by the inconsistency of testimony regarding wetland issues and industrial zoning recently received by the council and the current staff findings regarding industrial zoning and commercial activity. Mr. Yeiter said the inconsistency identified by Mr. Meisner was the major question to be decided by the council and had contributed to the split vote supporting the recommendation of the Planning Commission. He explained available industrially zoned land was less than had previously been judged to be in excess of that needed and that a review of recent Chad Drive development had showed that most projects were requesting subdivision into parcels of one acre or less. Mr. Meisner suggested that the Planning Division revisit the Industrial Lands survey. Ms. Taylor asked what benefit the proposed project would provide to the City of Eugene. Mr. Yeiter stated that a Planning Commission recommendation pointed out that the application met established development criteria and that if it was approved, TRIP standards would allow beautification of parking lot landscaping. He said that a very sizeable number of Eugene residents were members of Costco and would benefit from the proposed development. Mr. Tollenaar said that he agreed with Mr. Meisner that there was vocal objection to "big box" retail stores, but that the project in question did not propose any development of an additional such facility. He said he agreed with Mr. Meisner that testimony received regarding wetland issues and commercial development issues and industrial land zoning had been inconsistent, but he pointed out that the testimony had been received from different sources. He asked if the applicant for the Metro Plan amendment and zone change was the owner of the property in question. Mr. Frank replied that Costco was not the owner of the property, but had established a contract to purchase it contingent on approval of the amendment and zone changes. Mr. Farr said he did not believe very many people objected to "big box" retail stores because of their popularity with customers. He said such stores provided a service not available elsewhere. Mr. Laue pointed out that the proposed project was not a nodal development discussed in urban planning policies, but that it would have significant impacts on transportation patterns. He asked how it was possible for the existing Costco store to have been built on industrially zoned property. Mr. Yeiter explained that the existing Costco store was identified as commercial property in a list in the ordinance adopting the Willakenzie Area Plan, but that it had not been included as a commercial site in a Metro Plan ordinance chart. Mr. Laue said he supported the application because he believed it was preferable for Costco to expand in its current location than to force it to relocate elsewhere. Mayor Torrey stated that if the council vote on the ordinance resulted in a tie, he would vote to support the application for a Metro Plan amendment and zone change. Ms. Nathanson stated that her primary concerns about the application were the loss of industrially zoned land and that the proposed project was not consistent with the growth MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 23, 1998 Page 6 7:30 p.m.