Ordinance No. 20437 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ATTACHMENT 3 - - DLL 11. A. Eugene - Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan (Metro Plan) Text Amendment and Exception to Statewide Planning Goal 15 Willamette River Greenway for Construction of a Bicycle/Pedestrian Viaduct Beneath the Willamette River I -5 Bridge. He was employed by a construction company that could potentially bid on the project Mark Metzger, City of Springfield staff, explained there had been an error in the meeting location in the original public meeting announcement for tonight's meeting. The error had been corrected by sending out new written notices and e-mail notices and hand deliveries to interested parties. Additionally, a advertisement had been placed in the Register Guard with corrected information. A sign was posted at Harris Hall, the site originally published, indicating the location time and location change. This matter would be addressed by the Joint Elected Officials (JOE) on approximately'September 22, 2009, and any member of the public could address the JOE at that time. He noted there were only two occupied businesses or residences within the 300 foot notice area. There was a longer list of contacts who received information. Mr. Metzger explained this was a quasi- judicial hearing, and asked that those testifying focus on the criteria for approval of Metro Plan text amendments. He said an exception tdPlauning Goal 15 was under consideration. Goal 15 dealt with the Willamette Greenway. He referred to a chart on the wall that explained the process for exceptions to Statewide Planning Goal 15. Mr. Metzger provided the staff report as outlined in the agenda packet The Eugene - Springfield area had one of the largest networks of riverfront bicycle and pedestrian facilities in the state. The cent connection between Eugene and Springfield was limited to the north side of the Willamette River. The extensive south bank Willamette River path system in Eugene ended at Interstate 5 (1 -5) because of the physical barriers created by both the existing I -5 bridges and the proximity of Franklin Boulevard (OR 126B) to the Willamette River. Users traveling between the two cities along the south side of the Willamette River must cross to the north side of the river near the 1 -5 bridge or divert to the shoulder, of Franklin Boulevard (OR 126B), a high speed arterial street Many planning documents, including the Central Lane MPO Regional Transportation Plan, TrEmplan, the Glenwood Refinement Plan and Willamalane Park and Recreation District comprehensive Plan, call for the continuation of the Willamette River "South Bank Path° firm Eugene through Glemvood to Springfield. Construction of the South Bank Viaduct is essential to the continuation and development of the South Bank Path. Combined, the viaduct and path will provide safer, more pleasant opportunities for recreational and commuter bicyclists and pedestrians traveling between Eugene and Springfield. The proposed South Bank Viaduct would be about 16 feet wide and 1,100 feet in length. It would connect to the South Bank Path at the point where it currently diverted away from the river. The viaduct would elevate the bilre/pedesfrian path and move it away from the steep bank near the I -5 bridge, and return to the riverbank at a point where the South Bank Path could continue. The proposed viaduct structure would hug the shoreline, minimizin its impact on the river. Some fill or suppin-Eng columns may be placed in the river to support the viaduct as it bypassed the slope barrier. The final design far the viaduct structure was still being completed. An ODOT Transportatlon Enhancement Grant of approximately $1 million, along with $250,000 in Oregon Transportation Investment Act (OTIA) funds and approximately $140,000 in donated materials would be used to fund the South Bank Viaduct project The timing of the project would allow reuse of multiple concrete box beams from the Willamette River detour bridge on the viaduct project As the 1-5 MMMS —Joint PlanningC -- September 1, 2009 Paget City of Eugene, City of Springfield, Lane County ATTACHMENT - DRAFT