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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2E: Call for PH on Alley and Street Vacations for UO ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Call for Public Hearing: Alley and Street Right-of-Way Vacations for the University of Oregon (VRI 08-1 & VRI 08-2) Meeting Date: June 9, 2008 Agenda Item Number: 2E Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Steve Ochs www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541/682-5453 ISSUE STATEMENT This item is a call for a public hearing, which is required by statute to formally set the hearing date on two separate right-of-way vacations proposed by the University of Oregon. The university is requesting City thth approval to vacate Villard Alley from East 15 Avenue north to East 13 Avenue, and a portion of East thth 13 Avenue at the intersection of East 13 Avenue and Franklin Boulevard. The City Council is asked to set the public hearing date for the two separate vacation requests. BACKGROUND As noted above and shown on the attached maps, the university’s requested right-of-way vacations thth include Villard Alley from East 15 Avenue north to East 13 Avenue (VRI 08-1), and a portion of East thth 13 Avenue at the intersection of East 13 Avenue and Franklin Boulevard (VRI 08-2). The university plans to build a basketball arena on the site which necessitates the alley and street vacations. Separate land use applications have been submitted by the university for the proposed basketball arena. These include a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA 08-4) and Adjustment Review (ARB 08-2), both of which are pending a formal determination of completeness by the City. Once complete, decisions on those applications will be rendered by the Planning Director. A request for Code Interpretation (CI 08-3) was also submitted by the Fairmount Neighbors Association regarding the interpretation of the arena as a permitted use, and was subsequently appealed by the neighborhood group. The Hearing Official’s decision on that appeal is expected in early June. In considering the requested call for a public hearing, it is important to note that the timing of the requested vacations is not specifically tied to the outcome or progress on these separate applications under procedural requirements of state statutes or local code. Additional background information regarding this request, including relevant application materials, will be provided in the agenda packet for a public hearing on this item. Staff analysis of the applications and whether they comply with applicable statutory and local code requirements will also be provided in conjunction with the hearing packet. RELATED CITY POLICIES The adopted refinement plan for the subject area is the Fairmount/University of Oregon Special Area Study. However, as this item is a request to set the public hearing date only and not to consider the merits of the applications, any relevant policy analysis will be provided in conjunction with the subsequent hearing packet. Z:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080609\S0806092E.doc COUNCIL OPTIONS The council may consider the following options: 1. Set the requested public hearing date for July 21, 2008. 2. Set a subsequent hearing date. 3. Postpone the requested call for public hearing. CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION The City Manager recommends that the council approve the following motion, to set a public hearing date for the requested right-of-way vacations on July 21, 2008. SUGGESTED MOTION Move to set a public hearing date on July 21, 2008, for consideration of the right-of-way vacation requests made by the University of Oregon. ATTACHMENTS A.Map of Alley Vacation Request (VRI 08-1) B.Map of Street Vacation Request (VRI 08-2) FOR MORE INFORMATION Staff Contact: Steve Ochs, Associate Planner Telephone: 541/682-5453 Staff E-Mail: steve.p.ochs@ci.eugene.or.us Z:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080609\S0806092E.doc