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alleged that the items were presented to the Planning Commission on a consent calendar, the commissioners <br />pulled them from the consent calendar, and then amendments were brought to a public hearing. He claimed <br />there had never been a general explanation of where these items came from. He said in some cases <br />explanations of where these code amendments came from did not even contain complete sentences. He <br />related that the Friends of Eugene asked repeatedly for a comprehensive list so that they could work on them <br />and get more people involved in the process. He stated that he was not provided with a list and was told that <br />a list could not be made until the hearing before the Planning Commission. He asserted that staff had a list <br />and was “doling them out 10 or 12 at a time.” <br /> <br />Mr. Matthews requested that the record remain open for seven days. <br /> <br />In closing, Mr. Matthews averred that “probably half of these items” would allow development or expansion <br />that would not have otherwise been allowed. He was uncertain how this would interface with Ballot <br />Measure 37, but he called the statement that only three of them would influence property values “specious.” <br />He found the findings for the package of 81 code amendments “equally specious.” He asserted that the <br />amendments were a “solipsistic package of backroom dealing.” <br /> <br />Mayor Piercy closed the public hearing and called for councilor comments and questions. <br /> <br />Councilor Kelly echoed Councilor Bettman’s request for feedback to her questions at the present meeting. <br />He said the majority of the amendments “felt” minor and he was comfortable passing nearly all of them. He <br />expressed concern that the amendment to 9.121(1), to allow recreational vehicle sales in areas zoned C-2, <br />would fall under the category of amendments that could potentially increase property values. <br /> <br />Councilor Kelly also took issue with the amendment to 9.2173(10)(c), which changed the code to allow <br />walls with loading docks to be excluded from the requirement to have windows. He felt it was too broadly <br />written and could allow a 100 foot long wall with a small loading dock to be built without windows. <br /> <br />Councilor Kelly echoed Councilor Bettman’s concerns with the proposed amendment to 9.2761(6). He <br />thought because the language was changed from ‘shall’ to ‘may,’ a four-plex lot that was larger than the <br />minimum lot size could be developed with a single-family house on it. Mr. Nystrom affirmed this and said <br />the amendment needed additional work. <br /> <br />Councilor Kelly also agreed with Councilor Bettman that the amendment to 9.2761(6) needed some way of <br />ensuring that the exception to the R-1 maximum lot standard to protect natural resources would continue to <br />protect those natural resources through subsequent ownership. <br /> <br />Councilor Papé, seconded by Councilor Poling, moved to keep the record open for seven <br />days. Roll call vote; the motion passed unanimously, 8:0. <br /> <br />Councilor Bettman recalled that when the initiative to look at minor code amendments had originally been <br />taken, the council was assured that outreach to the community and groups that represented the public would <br />be asked to provide input. She said to her knowledge this never occurred. She averred that the list of <br />amendments “represented an industry wish list” and many of them rolled back provisions. She stressed that <br />when looking at major land use amendments, the public process should be emphasized. She referred to her <br />list of questions and asked Mr. Nystrom for his responses. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Eugene City Council October 24, 2005 Page 6 <br /> Regular Session <br /> <br />