CCMinutes - 04/12/04 Mtg - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

generated by the WOW Hall would not be compatible with neighbors. Kathy Saranpa, 3015 Friendly Street, said quaint, circuitous roadways in a hilly forested area character- ized the Crest Drive neighborhood. She opined that nothing was gained by reclassifying the street as a %ollector." She felt this was a one-size-fits-all approach to a unique neighborhood. She opposed City engineers' recommendation to redesignate streets. She opined that the decision, made without citizen input, was akin to taxation without representation. She noted the plaque at the back of the wall stated that the people are the City. She asked the City Council to follow through on this ideal and support the neighbor- hood opposition to this street reclassification. Davy Ray, 276 North Grand, declined to speak as he was unable to trim his testimony to a two-minute version. Charles H. Spencer, 3390 Honeywood Street, spoke on behalf of the Eugene/Springfield Solidarity Network, the local affiliate of Jobs with Justice. He urged the council to pass a moratorium on develop- ment of large-scale retail facilities over 15,000 square feet. He suggested the community, the council, and the Eugene Planning Commission needed time to identify reasonable long-term solutions to the problems highlighted by Wal-Mart's plans to build a %uper center" in Eugene. He submitted 70 cards signed by residents who agree that Wal-Mart should not be allowed to do so. He commented that, like many citizens of Eugene, he was worried about Wal-Mart's impact on the community. He stressed that Wal-Mart stores were anti-competitive and once local stores closed, Wal-Mart stores often raised prices. He underscored the need to develop viable standards, the need to reconsider zoning strategies, and to claim a role in determining what happens within the community. Don Neet, 3436 Storey Boulevard, related that he had attended a Goal 5 meeting in 2002 and had been told, at that time, that the Crest Drive was unique and needed to be kept safe. He noted there were approximately 3,500 acres within the urban growth boundary (UGB) that were designated at wildlife habitat. Most of this land was in undeveloped areas, but Storey Boulevard and Crest Drive were considered wildlife and riparian corridors. He felt the change in classification for the street ran counter to preservation of the riparian corridor. He stated that the neighborhood would not benefit from the designation of Crest Drive as a collector. Virginia Starling, 3302 Storey Boulevard, stated that the Planning Commission would be forwarding its recommendation to the council that Crest Drive, Storey Boulevard, and Friendly Street be designated as collector streets in her neighborhood. She urged the council, on behalf of herself and her neighbors, to oppose this designation. She opined that the hilly and curving streets would provide significant road construction problems that would be costly and also injurious to abutting properties. She also felt the effects of such a project on the riparian streams in the area would cause irreparable damage. She added that the council and Mayor had a reputation for being sensitive to citizen opinion. She wished to share the neighborhood's desire to keep the area pristine in nature and unmarred by free-flowing traffic made up of cars passing through from one area of the city to another. She thought there were more efficient ways to ease traffic into the downtown area and emphasized that the neighborhood would not benefit from approval of the reclassification. Debra E. McGee, 29755 Lusk Road, spoke in favor of sustainable development that supported local businesses. She said local businesses enrich the civic fabric of the community as local merchants care about the communities they were a part of. She added that local ownership meant that profit circulated within the community as opposed to national chain stores. She opposed Wal-Mart's plans to build a %uper center." She alleged that such stores sell food products below cost to undermine other smaller stores. She felt the stability of the local existing business districts was undermined resulting in an increase in empty store fronts. Noting that some people would say the community would benefit from an increase in