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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/28/1987 Meeting M I NUT E S e Eugene City Council Dinner/Work Session BJ's Restaurant--44 East 7th Avenue September 28, 1987 5:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Debra Erhman, Freeman Holmer, Emily Schue, Ruth Bascom, Roger Rutan, Rob Bennett, Jeff Miller. COUNCILORS ABSENT: Cynthia Wooten Mayor Brian B. Obie called the work session to order. I. EUGENE CELEBRATION Mayor Obi e and several counci lors congratul ated the Ci ty staff for its organization of the Eugene Celebration last weekend. City Manager Micheal Gleason thanked Mayor Obie for his participation in many Celebration activities. Mayor Obie suggested the staff provide councilors an opportunity to critique the Celebration. II. METRO PLAN AMENDMENTS e Ci ty Manager Mi chea 1 Gleason introduced consideration of five proposed amendments to the Metropolitan Area General Plan. Susan Brody, Planning Director, said the amendments were citizen-initiated. She revi ewed the process for considering the amendments. She also reviewed the criteria to be used. Later in the meeting, Mr. Croteau of the Planning Department reminded the councilors that consideration of the amendments is a quasi-judicial procedure and conflicts of interest and ex parte contacts will have to be declared. A. Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (87-06-83) Request for a Metro Plan text change to allow for the extension of water service (EWEB) to the sludge management site. The site is along the north side of Awbrey Lane, west of the Northwest Expressway. Jim Croteau reviewed the background material. He said a significant well and water treatment system at the site will be needed if the amendment is not approved because school-age children and others will tour the site. He said the Eugene, Springfield, and Lane County Planning Commissions recommended approval of the amendment. If the amendment is approved, the council will be asked to revise the City's water extension policy. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council Dinner/Work Session September 28, 1987 Page 1 B. Sycan B. Corporation (87-06-03) e Request for redesignation of .37 acres of community commercial and 5.78 acres of low-density residential to medium-density residential. Mr. Croteau reviewed the background information. The amendment was submitted to the Springfield Planning Department. He said access to the property and the traffic impact of the development are important concerns. Access is from Beltline Road and residents of the area are concerned about traffic on Colonial Drive and Raleighwood Avenue. The Springfield Planning Staff recommended that a larger area be included in the amendment but the Eugene, Springfield, and Lane County Planning Commissions recommended denial of the amendment. Answering questions from Ms. Ba scom and Mr. Holmer, Mr. Croteau said the applicant could submit another amendment during the Metro Plan Update. He sa i d there is some vacant land around the proposed development. The Springfield City Council has not indicated when it will act on the amendment. Mr. Bennett and Mr. Holmer said it would be helpful if the Springfield City Council took action on the amendment before the Eugene council does. Ms. Brody suggested the Eugene councilors discuss the amendment with the Springfield councilors after the public hearing on October 14, 1987. Answering a question from Mayor Obie, Mr. Croteau said the planning commissions recommended denial because of transportation problems and the proximity of the proposed medium-density development to existing low-density e development. Ms. Ehrman said the application was not very informative. C. Banfield Properties, Ltd. (MA 87-3) Request for redesignation of 10.4 acres from medium-density residential to commercial. The site is on the north side of Green Acres Road east of North Delta Highway. Jean Hahn of the Planning Department reviewed the background information. She said the City changed its noise standards for residential property after the Metro Plan was adopted. The property in this request is near the Eugene Sand and Gravel rock crusher and the rock crusher may create too much noise for residential development on the property in the amendment. Ms. Hahn said the Eugene, Springfield, and Lane County Planning Commissions recommended approval of the request. Ms. Hahn distributed copies of a September 28, 1987, memo to Susan Brody, Planning Director, from Dave Reinhard, Transportation Engineer, concerning "Tra ffi c Impacts of Proposed Metro Pl an Amendments. II Ms. Hahn sa i d the traffic impact of the deve 1 opment is an issue. Mr. Rei nhard revi ewed conclusions in a Traffic Impact Analysis completed by JRH Transportation Engineering. e . MINUTES--Eugene City Council Dinner/Work Session September 28, 1987 Page 2 Answering questions from Mayor Obie, Mr. Holmer, and Mr. Miller, Mr. Reinhard said the Delta Highway/Green Acres Road traffic signal probably will be e installed within a year. He said another traffic signal on Green Acres Road probab ly wi 11 not be installed for some time. Some improvements to Green Acres Road and Beltline Road are in the CIP. Green Acres Road wi 11 have bicycle lanes when it is improved. The City probably will not know until next year when the State wi 11 provide funds to improve the Delta/Be It 1 i ne interchange or wi den the Belt 1 i ne Bridge over the Will amette River. He doubted the improvements will include sound barriers. He said new development in the area could exacerbate the need for road improvements. Replying to questions from Ms. Bascom and Ms. Ehrman, Mr. Reinhard said Green Acres Road now has three lanes. It will be improved to five lanes. Ms. Hahn said the property in the amendment is now zoned R-2/PD Limited Multiple-Family Residential with Planned Unit Development Procedures. Fifteen units per acre are permitted in the R-2 zone. Ms. Bascom asked about the size of the commercial node in the area. Ms. Hahn said the commercial development would be about 55 acres if the amendment is approved. Valley River Center is undivided by streets and is about 70 acres. The total commercial development in the Valley River area is about 100 acres. Responding to Mayor Obie's question, Ms. Brody said the Commercial Lands Study was incorporated into the Economy Working Paper for the Metro Plan Update. She said the staff recommendation for approval of the amendment was based on a change in circumstances because the City's residential noise standards were changed after the Metro Plan was adopted. e D. Harry N. Ruth (MA 87-4) Request for redes;gnation of 16 acres from light-medium industrial to commercial. The site is on the northeast corner of West 11th Avenue and Bailey Hill Road. Terry Jones of the Planning Department reviewed the background material. She also reviewed past zone change requests in the area as well as Resolution No. 3862 and an attached map that established an end to commercial development on West 11th Avenue. She said the property in this request was not discussed during consideration of Resolution No. 3862 because the property is clearly designated in the Metro Plan for industrial development. Ms. Jones said the issues in the request include the Metro Plan commercial land allocation and future road improvements that may make the property less desirable for commercial use. She said the Lane County Planning Commission recommended denial of the amendment, the Sprigfield Planning Commission recommended approval of the amendment, and the Eugene Planning Commission recommended denial as a result of a tie vote. Answering questions from Ms. Bascom, Ms. Jones said some developers may prefer flat land for industries but the type of development determines the kind of 1 and needed. She said the Lane Rural Electric Cooperative development was permitted on industrially designated land because it includes most of the Lane Electric Cooperative industrial operations as well as offices. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council Dinner/Work Session September 28, 1987 Page 3 Replying to questions from Mayor Obie, Ms. Jones said the applicant has indicated that the traffic flow on West 11th will change when the West Eugene e Parkway is completed. Through traffic will use the parkway and West 11th Avenue will be more suitable for commercial development. Ms. Brody added that the staff does not necessarily agree with that statement. Ms. Brody said the commercial land allocation in the Metro Plan may not be sufficient. The Metro Plan anticipated commercial development by redevelopment in the downtown and other areas. Commercial development also was expected in special light-industrial sites and in C-2 nei ghborhood commercial sites. Those kinds of commercial development may take place before the yea r 2000. Mr. Gleason and several councilors discussed the rezoning requests of Fred Meyer, Cowboy Country, and Moyer Theater in the early 1980's that culminated in Resolution No. 3862. Mr. Gleason said Tax Lots 1111 and 1201 were excluded from Resolution No. 3862 because the council did not want to encroach on industrial site s. Mr. Bennett said the council indicated that it wanted commercial development to end at the Fred Meyer Center and the Planning Commission considered adoption of Resolution No. 3862 very important. Ms. Schue said the council approved Resolution No. 3862 because it wanted to preserve the industrial sites farther west. Mr. Rutan agreed with Mr. Bennett and Ms. Schue but he pointed out the applicants for the Metro Plan amendment stated that circumstances have changed since Resolution No. 3862 was passed. Mr. Holmer said the council discussed properties north and east of Fred Meyer more than properties west of Fred Meyer. He said he would like to consider the proposed development which will not be a strip development. I t will be a commercial node. It E. Iverson, Smith, Belknap, et al (87-06-03) Request for redesignation from low- and medium-density Residential to commercial for two acres on both sides of Willamette Street between 23rd and 24th avenues and on the east side of Willamette Street between 24th Avenue and 24th Place. Mr. Croteau reviewed the background information. He said the applicants want the zoning on their properties changed to GO General Office. The area is a transition one but there is no transition designation in the Metro Plan. Consequently, the applicants requested a Metro Plan commercial designation in order to be eligible for the GO zoning. He said traffic on Willamette Street and the character of the neighborhood are issues. The Eugene Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend den i a 1 of the amendment, the Springfield Planning Commission recommended approval of the amendment, and the Lane County Planning Commission deferred to the Eugene Planning Commission. Mr. Croteau said the area of the amendment was included in the Central Area Transportation Study (CATS) but CATS evaluated existing Metro Plan designations. e . MINUTES--Eugene City Council Dinner/Work Session September 28, 1987 Page 4 Answering questions from Ms. Ehrman and Ms. Bascom, Mr. Croteau said most of the properties in the area are investment properties and are rented. The e City's GO zone could be applied to the properties if the Metro Plan amendment is approved. Ms. Brody said the council referred the South Willamette Study in CATS to the Planning Commission for additional consideration of an area farther north on Willamette Street. Replying to questions from Mayor Obie, Ms. Schue said the Willamette Street "Gut" impacts residential development more than commercial development. She said houses ,on Wi 11 amette Street in this area are not very desirable residences because of the traffic but there must be rental properties somewhere. Mr. Croteau said the IIGutll was not studied as a significant issue when the amendment was analyzed. Ms. Bascom said the houses in the area are run down. III. SOLAR ACCESS REGULATIONS Mr. Croteau said the council held a public forum on July 22, 1987, on the proposed solar access regulations and consideration of the regulations is on the council's agenda for its 7:30 p.m. meeting this evening. Some opposition to the regulations was voiced during the forum. Later, Mr. Miller met with representatives of groups interested in the regulations and attempted to find a compromi se. Mr. Miller reviewed compromise suggestions. e 1. Calculate slope adjustments at six percent increments instead of three percent increments. Mr. Miller and Mr. Croteau agreed the suggestion was approved by most interested people. 2. Guarantee a 26-foot house height instead of a 24-foot height. Answering questions from Mr. Holmer and Ms. Schue, Mr. Miller said the 24-foot height allows a two-story house and most two-story houses are between 24 and 26 feet high. Mr. Bennett said the height is determined by the slope of the roof. Ms. Bascom read from the analysis of the suggestion by Les Tumidaj, a Planning Department consul tant, in the September 28, 1987, memo concerni ng IIAna lysi s by EWEB and Consultant on Proposed Changes to Solar Access Ordinance.1I 3. Use January 21 to calculate solar access instead of December 21. 4. Raise the solar fence from eight to ten or twelve feet for small lots. Mr. Miller said an eight-foot fence can be used for large lots. He said Home Builders Association representatives would 1 i ke to combine the 1 ast two suggestions and use January 21 and a ten-foot solar fence. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council Dinner/Work Session September 28, 1987 Page 5 Discussing the changes, Ms. Bascom sa i d a change to January 21 is not significant and would be appropriate, but Ms. Ehrman said the change would e have a significant impact. Mr. Miller discussed the effect of the change to January 21 and a ten-foot solar fence and Mr. Bennett discussed the difference in heating energy between the December 21 and the January 21 dates and said it does not seem significant. Answering a question from Mr. Bennett, Mr. Miller said a ten-foot solar fence and January 21 is a reasonable compromise. Ms. Bascom said raising the eight-foot solar fence does not protect south walls sufficiently. Mr. Mi 11 er responded that current insulation requirements are such that raising the solar fence will have no impact if there are no windows on the south wall of a house. Mr. Gleason stated that EWES representatives have indicated that raising the solar fence would make an important difference in the solar energy available. Replying to a question from Mr. Holmer, Mayor Obie said implementation of the existing regulations will be delayed if the council wants to consider Mr. Miller1s suggestions. A public hearing on the suggestions will probably be scheduled. Ms. Bascom said some of Mr. Miller's suggestions do not seem to be major changes. Responding to her suggestion that some of the changes be incorporated into the existing ordinance tonight, Mr. Gleason sa i d the council1s tradition is to hold a public hearing before making changes to an ordinance. Mayor Obie and Ms. Ehrman said some people have not been involved in the recent discussions and another public hearing would provide an opportunity for e them to be heard. Mr. Miller said he would like to achieve a consensus so that people in the building industry will favor the solar access regulations. Answering questions from Mr. Bennett, Mr. Croteau said insulation requirements now negate solar energy reception on a wall that has no windows. However, EWEB representatives say they do not know what technology will be available in ten or twenty years and solar access should be protected for the future. Most windows are three feet above grade and, if solar access is protected at that level, the amount of solar energy achieved will not be changed. Ms. Bascom said the solar access ordinance creates a new property right which is the right to a minimum amount of sunlight. Replying to a question from Ms. Schue about Bonneville Power Authori ty conservation measures, Mr. Croteau said EWEB must conserve a certain amount of energy to avoid a ten percent surcharge and EWEB will have to conserve the energy in several ways. Any loss in the energy savings anticipated with the solar energy protection regulations will have to be made up elsewhere. Mr. Miller said the ordinance should include a statement about "infilling" so that houses bui 1 t in existing developments can be compatible with the e . MINUTES--Eugene City Council Dinner/Work Session September 28, 1987 Page 6 neighborhood. He said the City encouraged small lots before the solar access ordinance was approved. Mr. Croteau responded that there are problems only on e very narrow lots and the existing ordinance permits houses to be in character with the neighborhood. Mr. Holmer said he would like to exempt subdivisions approved before the solar access ordinance was enacted. Mayor Obie suggested Mr. Miller's suggestions be considered individually by the council when it votes on them. Ms. Bascom emphasized that the council could enact some of the regulations later this evening. She said the counci 1 seems to be "backing off" the regulations. Mr. Bennett said he was on the Planning Commission when it spent much time considering the regulations. He said Home Builders As sod at ion representatives did not give much input and the existing regulations are not a compromise. He said he would like to hear comments of the association now. Ms. Brody cautioned the council about the cumulative impact of the changes suggested by Mr. Miller. She said the Planning Department and EWES recommend implementation of the existing regulations. The work session was adjourned at 7:08 p.m. e ~~ *~ Micheal Gleason City Manager (Recorded by Betty Lou Rarick) mnccse28 e MINUTES--Eugene City Council Dinner/Work Session September 28, 1987 Page 7