Ordinance No. 19749 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

development of the Downtown Mall in the 1964's. The downtown area no longer has major department stores. Retail uses are now specialty stores requiring greater community visibility. 4. The experience in Eugene with respect to pedestrian malls is similar to other communities. As more particularly set forth in the findings to Resolution No. ,pedestrian malls in American cities over the past two decades have largely been unsuccessful. Most pedestrian-only malls built ~0 to 20 years ago have been removed or significantly changed. Mails with linear design, intercepted by traffic streets, or malls with shared automobile ar transit access are ones that have continued to have same success. The City Council finds that the deterioration of retail activities in the downtown area has partially been a function of the extensiveness of the current pedestrian mall. 5. Although the question is not free from doubt, the implementation of the proposed Downtown Design will require amendment to TransPlan. The proposed Downtown Design affects alive Street, Willamette Street and East Broadway. The portion of 41ive Street affected by the Downtown Design serves as a collector, would have three or fewer lanes and can be considered in the future as a proposed amendment to TransPlan "not of regional significance." The portion of Willamette Street affected by the design serves as a local street and does not require an amendment to TransPlan. The designation of alive Street as a designated bicycle route can be considered in the future as a proposed amendment "not of regional significance." Any futher role of mass transit in the Downtown Design can be addressed in future amendments to TransPlan, depending upon decisions on transit routing. The introduction to TransPlan (page 2~ suggests "that modifications to TransPlan not requiring amendments will be reflected at regularly scheduled updates to keep TransPlan an effective public information document." The relevant portions of the Downtown Design requiring amendment will be submitted as an amendment to TransPlan before the design is implemented. other improvements not requiring amendments will be reflected in TransPlan as part of future updates. ether applicable policies in TransPlan are discussed below. As set forth therein, the proposed Downtown Design is consistent with the policies of TransPlan. TransPlan street project listings will need amendment before reconstruction of the mall as set forth in the proposed Downtown Design. G. Policy 2a is satisfied. implementation of the Downtown Design will encourage growth of downtown Eugene as a commercial, residential, civic and employment center. The Downtown Design has been referred by the Council to the voters because of the Council's conclusion that the introduction of automobile traffic to portions of the Downtown Mall and the redesign of various areas of the downtown will act as a catalyst to retail and commercial activities in the downtown core. Under Policy 2f, it is appropriate to encourage this development and redevelopment in the downtown area which is well served by Lane Transit District, the existing public transit system. The existing public transit station is on ~Oth Avenue bordering the area of the proposed redesign. Exhibit B -Page 5