Item 6: PH - Ordinance Renaming 3rd/4th Connector

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tion to the City Council based on EC 9.8485, Street Name Change Approval Criteria which states: The Planning Commission shall recommend, and the City Council shall approve, an application for a street name change upon determining that a proposed renaming is in the best interest of the City. Ms. Colbath stated that testimony and evidence presented must be directed toward the specific approval criteria and failure to raise an issue with sufficient specificity to allow the Planning Commission and parties to respond would preclude appeal on that issue. Ms. Colbath opened the public hearing and noted that speakers would be allowed three minutes each. She called for testimony. Ray Wiley, 2100 Shields Avenue, Eugene, spoke as a member ofthe Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House Board and said he had been involved in the street renaming issue for a number of years. He emphasized that Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House Board members wanted to recognize Dr. Shelton as a significant member of the community during the last half of the 19th century. He provided a short biography of Dr. Shelton and his family and described his achievements and contributions to the community. He explained the history of the Skinner Butte site, Dr. Shelton's acquisition of the property and construction of a home. Ms. Colbath determined there was consensus to extend Mr. Wiley's testimony time to six minutes. Mr. Wiley said the original road to the summit of the butte was named Shelton Boulevard. He said the recent improvements of the 3rd/4th Connector to one of the finest boulevards in Eugene at the heart of the historic district made it fitting that one of the City's most significant pioneers be honored by naming the street Shelton Boulevard. He pointed out that the City had almost two dozen boulevards that ranged from a narrow one-block long street to major streets such as Franklin Boulevard. He said the 3rd/4th Connector was very distinguished with landscaping and planted islands and deserves to be named a boulevard. Mr. Hledik asked if the Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson Board would be opposed to incorporating or substituting the McMurphey name. Mr. Wiley replied that the board initially selected McMurphey Way as a name because of information that a Shelton Avenue already existed. He said that subsequent research had revealed at least 115 duplicate names in the City. For instance, the word "Bailey" is used in at least five different street names in Eugene, he said. He said the board preferred Shelton Boulevard, particularly since that name had existed on the butte for over 70 years and might have existed at the time that Shelton Avenue was named. Mr. Wiley submitted his testimony into the record. Hahn Neimand, 1535 Ranchwood Drive, Eugene, president of the Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House Board, thanked the Commission for considering naming the street for Dr. Shelton. She said that Dr. Shelton and his wife lived in the house for just a few years before his death, and his daughter Alberta married Mr. McMurphey shortly thereafter. She said they raised their family in the house and were prominent in civic affairs. She said that Dr. Johnson had purchased the house in the 1950s and eventually donated it to Lane County, which ultimately gave the house to the City. She said the Board discussed the McMurphey name but wanted to honor Dr. Shelton. She acknowledged that the Commis- sion's choice would be difficult and if it was not possible to honor Dr. Shelton she noted that the McMurphey family had actually resided in the house for the longest period of time. She said Shelton- McMurphey is an historic alternative name that could be considered. Bob Hart, 189 Brae Bum Drive, Eugene, executive director of the Lane County Historical Society, MINUTES - Eugene Planning Commission Public Hearing March 14,2006 Page 2