Ordinance No. 19749 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY QF EUGENE QRDINANCE N0. E~HYBZT B CQMPREHENSTVE PLAN CQNSISTENCY FINDINGS I. ~ntroductinn Voter approval of City of Eugene ordinance No. I will allow the reopening of various streets in the Downtown Pedestrian Mall to traffic and reconstruction of the Mall in accordance with the Downtown Design in the Downtown Design Project Summary Report of July 29, 1991. Although the authorization in this regard is conditional upon voter approval, these actions, if undertaken, are legislative "land use decisions" under state Iaw and must be consistent with applicable comprehensive plan provisions. The City Council finds that the legislation allowing these changes is generally consistent with all applicable standards in the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan Metro Plan), the Downtown Plan, and TransPlan. The rationale far this land use decision is summarized in the findings to City of Eugene Resolution No. ,the resolution calling a special election to refer to the voters the subject ordinance. The findings to this resolution are incorporated herein by reference. As set forth in the resolution findings, downtown development is essential to compact urban growth, which is one of the fundamental principles of the EugenelSpringfield Metropolitan Area General Plan. The current pedestrian mall is deteriorating physically. There has been a lack of significant private reinvestment in buildings fronting on the pedestrian mall. That portion of the mall which was reopened to motor vehicle traffic has had a significantly reduced vacancy rate for leased space. Mall businesses are experiencing a continued decline in their share of the area's retail and office market. Na new market space has been built in the downtown area since the early 1980s. The last two remaining department store anchors for the pedestrian mall relocated in shopping centers in 1989 and 1994. Fallowing the departure of The Bon in 199, other stores in that area have closed, and remaining stores report a decline in foot traffic and sales. The reopening and redesign of the Downtown Mall as contemplated will increase its ability to recruit and retain quality retail shops. This conclusion is based in part on the determinations of the Retail Task Force, the Downtown Design Committee, the Planning Commission, the Downtown Commission and consultants hired by the City, and the public response in the workshops, open house, public forums and questionnaire distributed by the Downtown Design Committee. The City Council recognizes that a difference of opinion may exist as to whether the proposed redesign and reopening of certain streets to motor vehicle traffic will be beneficial to the downtown area. Moreover, Transportation Element Policy ~ of the Metro Plan contains policy Exhibit B -Page 1