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3. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Amending the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan <br /> Area General Plan Diagram and the Fairmount/University of Oregon Special Area <br /> Study Diagram and Text; Amending Section 9.5700 of the Eugene Code, 1971; Adding <br /> New Sections 9.4200, 9.4205, 9.4210, 9.4215, and 9.4220 to that Code; Adopting a Sever- <br /> ability Clause; and Providing an Effective Date. <br /> <br />Allen Lowe of the Planning Division explained that the University of Oregon had recently completed a <br />process to update its East Campus Development Policy, an element of its long-range development plan. <br />He said the University was seeking the necessary land use approvals, which included amendments to the <br />Metro Plan Diagram, the Fairmount/University of Oregon Special Study, and to Chapter 9 of the Eugene <br />City Code. He stated that the Metro Plan amendment would redesignate land, now zoned high-density <br />residential (HDR), medium-density residential (MDR), and low-density residential (LDR) to Government <br />and Education. He stated that proposed amendments to the Fairmount/University of Oregon Special Area <br />Study include plan policy, plan text, and land use diagram changes, expanding the area designated for <br />institutional use in the plan and the creation of a new land-use category called limited high density <br />residential/limited institutional. He said the proposed amendment to the Eugene Code would create a <br />new overlay zoning category called the East Campus Overlay Zone, which would establish a height limit <br />for uses in the identified transition area to help mitigate the impacts of institutional development on <br />nearby residents. <br /> <br />Mr. Lowe stated that, since February 17, letters had been received on the matters before the hearing from <br />the following people: Sally Weston, Emily Toomey, Fred and Saundra Austin, and John Mosely, from <br />the office of the Vice President and Provost of the University of Oregon. <br /> <br />Mayor Torrey opened the public hearing. <br /> <br />Steve Gab, 1818 Villard Street, thanked the council for its service to the community. He thanked the <br />University of Oregon for stepping up and negotiating with the neighborhood and he thanked, in <br />particular, Kristen Taylor and Jeff Nelson for their work on behalf of the neighborhood association. He <br />likened the situation the neighbors had faced to a frog in the boiling water that does not know when to <br />jump out. He noted that a number of years prior, a planned unit development (PUD) had been put in a <br />few houses away from his residence. At that time he felt a few more cars down his alley and street would <br />not make a difference. Since then, he said, the University built its new Law School and a new Child Care <br />Center. He conveyed his chief concern that traffic and parking mitigation had not occurred. He asserted <br />that, while the City may believe that Agate Street has the capacity for increased traffic, the neighborhood <br />does not. He felt this to be an opportunity for the City to be proactive and prevent the sorts of problems <br />other neighborhoods adjacent to the campus area had experienced. <br /> <br />Mary Ann Holser, 2620 Cresta de Ruta Drive, conveyed her thanks to the people who had worked on <br />the mediation process. She was in general agreement with the proposed plan and its amendments. She <br />asked that historic dwellings be preserved, calling them an asset to the City. <br /> <br />Ms. Holser advocated for prioritization of the two recommended traffic studies. She asserted that Agate <br />Street did not function as an arterial, causing through traffic to use adjacent streets. She felt pedestrian <br />overpasses by the dormitories would "look beautiful" and solve the problem. She suggested funding for <br />such a project come from a partnership of the University and the City, noting that the Public Works <br />Department could use gas tax moneys that were unaffected by Ballot Measure 30 or other State cutbacks. <br /> <br />Ms. Holser expressed concern that allowing the University to have a PUD on three adjacent lots could <br /> <br /> <br />