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allowed most uses, and the process added several uses, so he thought that created a net increase in due <br />process which allowed for the mitigation of impacts. <br />Mayor Piercy closed the public hearing. She thanked all those involved in the planning process, <br />particularly the FAN. She said the council was deeply concerned about protecting neighborhoods and the <br />lessons from the process would assist the City in other tasks that lay ahead. <br />Councilor Zelenka thanked those who offered testimony and those who collaborated in the planning <br />process. He also commended the staff work of Ms. McKinney. He said the plan was an experiment in <br />two areas new to Eugene, the fact of the first MUC and the first deployment of a form based code. He <br />suggested it was important to get things right the first time because of the City's hope to have more such <br />MUCs in more areas. <br />Councilor Brown also thanked those who testified. He referred to page 3 of the plan, which referred to the <br />opportunity to protect the existing Fairmount Neighborhood. He asked how the plan would protect the <br />neighborhood in a way that current codes did not. Ms. McKinney suggested that one major emphasis was <br />the 15` Avenue transition edge. The existing zoning was C -2, General Commercial, or PL, Public Lands, <br />for the most part, which allowed 120 feet in height with no setbacks and a broad range of commercial <br />uses. Rather than creating an abrupt edge between the two uses, planners looked at how to mitigate <br />impacts, such as height limits that stepped up and more design standards for buildings along the edge. <br />Responding to a question from Councilor Brown, Ms. McKinney described the scope of new apartment <br />development in the area. <br />Councilor Poling thanked all those who were involved in the planning process and the commitment they <br />demonstrated. He thought the plan a good example of collaboration. He asked what the approximate total <br />length of the proposed multi -way boulevard would be. Ms. McKinney noted the extent of the boulevard, <br />which extended from Walnut to Onyx streets. She clarified that the improvements would not go the <br />length of Franklin Boulevard. <br />Councilor Poling asked the rationale for changing the appeal process. Ms. McKinney said that FAN <br />requested that process, and staff discussed that with the stakeholders group. It came up at the end of the <br />process, and originally staff thought that the process had more support from the other stakeholders. <br />However, they preferred the appeal going to the Hearings Official. The Planning Commission discussed <br />the issue and agreed that because the code was new and it had familiarity with it, it was the correct body <br />to hear such appeals. <br />Councilor Poling indicated his disagreement with the recommendation of the Planning Commission in <br />regard to the appeals process because the Hearings Official was specially trained to hear such appeals. He <br />would recommend a change in that element of the plan. <br />Councilor Clark congratulated Ms. McKinney and those involved in the successful completion of the <br />planning process. He believed the plan would help the community grow in a helpful way. He <br />acknowledged the concerns expressed by neighbors in regard to parking. <br />Councilor Clark questioned if the City had the appropriate processes in place to evaluate parking impacts. <br />He thought that parking was an area that could create conflicts in the future. He called on the City to do a <br />better job up front about being wise about parking impacts. <br />MINUTES— Eugene City Council June 21, 2010 Page 7 <br />Public Hearing <br />