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<br />audit to identify impediments to achieving higher density, mixed use development and redevelopment <br />downtown.” She was unaware of any audit in forming the proposed amendments. The process should be <br />audit first, identification of impediments, and then development of a proposal based on audit findings. Staff <br />findings stated “the proposed code amendments assist private developers to invest downtown by removing <br />impediments in the land use code.” She said the statement was not supported by facts and the record <br />provided no data based on information establishing what the impediments were. The findings failed to <br />address the applicable TransPlan related Metro Plan nodal development policies. She urged the City <br />Council to reject all Downtown Code Amendments until the proposed Chapter 9 amendments to encourage <br />downtown development were based on factual information. <br /> <br />Gary Wildish, <br />2424 Quince Street, supported a vibrant, active downtown. Not much had happened in <br />downtown during the last seven years as most people would have wished. He suggested verifying how <br />many dollars of permitted work had been allowed in the downtown area and comparing it with the amount <br />of commercial development that had occurred outside of the downtown area. He opined everyone would be <br />disappointed in the significance of development going other places, such as Coburg Road and Delta <br />Highway. He encouraged the Council to support the Planning Commission and staff recommendations. <br /> <br />Bruce Mulligan, <br />3056 Hendricks Hill Drive, Ward 3, supported the Planning Commission’s recommenda- <br />tions for the MCAs, which was one of a two stage process. He said the proposed .65 FAR change would <br />increase actual FARs in the area which were currently approximately .25 FAR. He had been briefly <br />th <br />involved with the WestTown on 8 project which had received a waiver from the City Council for <br />development purposes. That low-income housing project would meet .65 FAR and was an asset to the <br />community. It was necessary to create an easy way for people to invest in Eugene in great projects. The <br />changes recommended by the Planning Commission would enhance the capability of Eugene to attract those <br />dollars and see the projects we want to see happen. Some of the lowest land values in the community were <br />in the downtown core, whereas they should be some of the highest values. He supported the Planning <br />Commission recommendations and looked forward to the recommendations that would come from the <br />second stage of the land use code changes evaluation process <br /> <br />Kevin Matthews, <br />P.O. Box 1588, President, Friends of Eugene, cited several State of Oregon legislative <br />bills regarding greenhouse gas emissions and local sustainability issues, and how they related to downtown. <br />The DLCD sent the City of Eugene a letter regarding reducing downtown density. Construction in <br />downtown reduced vehicle miles traveled (VMT) for the metropolitan area, while construction in the <br />perimeter of the UGB increased VMT. He suggested the City Council should ask staff for documentation <br />of how building permits changed when the land use code was changed and do the regulatory audit called for <br />in the Downtown Plan. <br /> <br />Dan Montgomery, <br />66 Club Road, Ward 5, said in the most active real estate market in this area ever, very <br />few if any new private buildings had been built in the Transit District Overlay (/TD) area. Adjustments <br />needed to be made and for that reason he supported all of the proposed Downtown Code Amendments <br />before the City Council. He recalled the amendments were included in the staff recommendation on code <br />changes eight years ago. The current parking maximum of 20 spaces was not workable and an adjustment <br />review process needed to be available for all properties within the /TD overlay zone. The current code had <br />been a failure and had forced development to go to suburban areas and Springfield, causing more use of <br />more fuels and more emissions. Approving the Downtown Code Amendments would be a step in the right <br />direction. <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Eugene City Council June 16, 2008 Page 15 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br />