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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/28/1987 Meeting (2) M I NUT E S e Eugene City Council Council Chamber--City Hall October 28, 1987 12:25 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Debra Ehrman (12:25 p.m.-12:37 p.m.), Freeman Holmer, Emily Schue, Cynthia Wooten (12:25 p.m.-12:37 p.m.), Ruth Bascom, Roger Rutan, Jeff Miller, Rob Bennett. The adjourned meeting of October 26, 1987, of the City Council of Eugene, Oregon, was called to order by His Honor Mayor Brian B. Obie. r. ITEMS FROM COUNCIL. MAYOR, AND CITY MANAGER A. Appointments to Board of Directors of Eugene/Springfield Metropolitan Partnership Ms. Bascom said the City Council appointed three people to the Board of Directors of the Eugene/Springfield Metropolitan Partnership on October 26, 1987, and indicated they would like to talk with the appointees. She said the councilors also discussed staggering the terms of the appointees. She asked about the process for staggering the terms. e Mayor Obie said the bylaws of the Partnership dictate the length of terms of the directors. Consequently, the Partnership bylaws will have to be changed before the terms of Eugene appointees can be staggered. Ms. Bascom suggested the appointees be informed of the councilors' wish to staggered the terms of office. B. Public Plaza In EWEB Master Plan Ms. Bascom said she would like the council to review the design of the public plaza being constructed near the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWES) Headquarters Buildings with EWEB officials. Ms. Wooten said the Downtown Commission is reviewing the project. She suggested the commision also report on it to the council. C. Governor's School Funding Reform Commission Ms. Schue said she will serve on a subcommittee of the Governor's School Funding Reform Commission. The subcommitte will address taxation and finance. She said she may ask the council for advice because changes in property taxes will affect the City. Mr. Miller said he will also serve on a subcommittee of the commission. The subcommittee will address equalization. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 28, 1987 Page 1 D. National Council on Public Works Improvement e Mr. Holmer said he will attend a meeting of the National Council on Public Works Improvement in Washington, DC, next week. E. Testing for Drugs Ms. Ehrman said she received a letter from James Walsh concerning an ordinance that would prevent drug testing in the city. She wondered if other councilors wanted to pursue the matter. No one commented. F. Public Meetings Concerning Schools Ms. Ehrman said the councilors received invitations from the League of Woman Voters for a public meeting on Thursday, October 29, 1987. The meeting will concern methods of financing public schools in Oregon. Mr. Holmer said he would like to endorse the meetings. Ms. Ehrman moved, seconded by Mr. Holmer, that the City Council endorse the SCHOOLS Project meetings sponsored by The League of Women Voters to be held on October 29, 1987, in Eugene and elsewhere at other times and encourage people to attend the the meetings. The motion carried unanimously, 8:0. G. Lighting on City Tennis Courts Ms. Ehrman asked for a report from the staff about when lights go on at the e City.s tennis courts and which courts are lighted. II. COUNCIL ACTION ON METROPOLITAN PLAN AMENDMENT REQUESTS Assistant City Manager Dave Whitlow introduced the item. Ms. Ehrman said she di d not attend the public hea ri ng on the proposed amendments to the Metropolitan Area General Plan. Consequently, she will not participate in the discussion or vote. She left the dais at 12:37 p.m. Ms. Wooten said she did not attend the public hearing either but she toured the sites and was briefed on the written material. However, the City Attorney advised her not to participate in the discussion or vote because the minutes of the public hearing were not available for her to read. She left the dais at 12:37 p.m. Jim Croteau of the Planning Department reviewed the process for considering proposed amendments to the Metro Plan. A. Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission Request Assistant City Manager Dave Whitlow introduced the item. Mr. Croteau reviewed the background materi a 1. He said the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC) initiated the amendment. Approval of it would extend EWEB e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 28, 1987 Page 2 water service to the sludge disposal site outside the urban growth boundary. Approval would not permit extension of EWEB service to any other additional e sites. The Eugene, Springfield, and Lane County Planning Commissions recommended approval of the request. CB 2997--An ordinance amending the Eugene-Springfield Metro- politan Area General Plan. Mr. Holmer moved, seconded by Ms. Bascom, that the bill be read the second time by council bill number only, with unanimous consent of the council, and that enactment be considered at this time. The motion carried unanimously, 6:0. Council Bill 2997 was read the second time by council bill number only. Mr. Holmer moved, seconded by Ms. Bascom, that the bill be approved and given final passage. Roll call vote; all councilors present voting aye, the bill was declared passed (and became Ordinance No. 19511). B. Banfield Request Assistant City Manager Dave Whitlow introduced the item. Jean Hahn of the Planning Department gave the staff report. She revi ewed the background information. She said the request is for the redesignation from Medi urn Density Residential to Commercial for 10.4 acres on the north side of Green Acres Road east of Delta Highway. The main issues concern noise and traffic. The noise from a Eugene Sand and Gravel facility west of the property has made e residential development of the property questionable. The applicant submitted a study by JRF Transportation Engineering, which indicates that commercial development of the Banfield property would not increase traffic more than residential development. Answering questions from Mr. Miller, Dave Reinhard of the Public Works Department said a traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of Green Acres Road and Delta Highway this winter or spring. Other improvements to Green Acres Road will probably be concurrent with development. The cost of most of the widening of Green Acres Road will be paid by the developer. City costs for the improvements would be paid from the Systems Development Fund. A traffic signal is planned on Green Acres Road when the City decides traffic warrants it. The developers will pay for the signal. Mayor Obie said the Delta Highway/Green Acres Road intersection is very hazardous now. Answering his questions, Planning Director Susan Brody said site review procedures probably will be requested when an application for a zone change is submitted. Mr. Croteau said the criteria for a zone change include adequate public services. A record of the council's concern about traffic signals on Green Acres Road probably would result in an evaluation of the need for traffic signals when a zone change request is processed. Mayor Obie said he is not just concerned about a traffic signal. He is concerned about all the problems. He wou 1 d 1 i ke deve 1 opment to proceed e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 28, 1987 Page 3 without compounding the traffic problems. He empha sized that the De lta Highway/Green Acres Road intersection is not safe now. City Attorney Tim - Sercombe said the council could initiate an amendment to the text of the Metro Plan that would limit development until the intersection is improved. Ms. Brody suggested the counci 1 provide a legislative history about the traffic problems rather than initiate another Metro Plan amendment. She said Metro Plan policies are broad and she recommended aga in st initiating a detailed one for a specific site. She said the Hearings Official reviews legislative history when considering zone change requests. Mr. Holmer moved, seconded by Ms. Bascom, that the council indicate to the Hearings Official that traffic problems at the Delta Highway/Green Acres Road intersection and the Delta Highway/Beltline Road intersection should be addressed during consideration of a zone change request for the Banfield Properties. Answering questions from Mr. Bennett, Mr. Reinhard said a traffic signal will be installed at the Delta Highway/Green Acres Road intersection before July 1988. Improvements to Green Acres Road are in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) but they are not scheduled. They would be scheduled if additional development occurs. Improvements to the Delta Highway/Beltline Road intersection wi 11 have to be included in the Oregon Department of Transportation Six-Year Plan. Mr. Bennett said he would not want to approve the amendment and then limit development because street improvements are not funded. He said the e background material on the proposed amendment does not indicate a traffic hazard. Mayor Obie said Lane County officials are working on improvements to the Beltline Road bridge and they are working with State officials on the Delta Highway/Beltline Road intersection. He emphasized he does not want additional development to make the traffic problems worse. Replying to questions from Mr. Bennett, Mr. Reinhard said the report from JRH Transportation Engineering indicated that the commercial designation will not generate any more traffic than the existing residential designation of the properties. Discussing the motion, Mr. Rutan said the zone change process and site review procedures will address Mayor Obie's concerns. Responding to his question, Mr. Holmer said approval of the motion would indicate to the Hearings Official that rezoning the Banfield properties should be subject to transportation improvements. Mr. Miller said it would not be fair to limit development until the State Highway Division improves Beltline Road. Ms. Schue sa i d the amendment should be approved because the property is within the urban growth boundary and the City is responsible for services in the area, the change will not increase traffic, and the council should send comments to the Hearings Official. However, she did not think the council should make development on the propert; es dependent on State action. Ms. Bascom said she is a 1 so concerned about making development dependent on State action. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 28, 1987 Page 4 Responding to a Mr. Bennett's request, Mr. Holmer restated and reworded the motion. Ms. Bascom agreed to the rewording. The motion is: e Mr. Holmer moved, seconded by Ms. Bascom, that the council indicate to the Hearings Official that adequate direction should be given during consideration of a zone change for the Banfield properties to assure two traffic signals and an .,' expansion of Green Acres Road. The motion carried unanimously, 6:0. CB 2998--An ordinance amending the Eugene-Springfield Metro- politan Area General Plan. Mr. Holmer moved, seconded by Ms. Bascom, that the bill be read the second time by council bill number only, with unanimous consent of the council, and that enactment be considered at this time. The motion carried unanimosuly, 6:0. Council Bill 2998 was read the second time by council bill number only. Mr. Holmer moved, seconded by Ms. Bascom, that the bill be approved and given final passage. Roll call vote; all councilors present voting aye, the bill was declared passed (and became Ordinance No. 19512). C. Harry Ruth Request Assistant City Manager Dave Whitlow introduced the item. Terry Jones of the e Planning Department gave the staff report and reviewed the background material. She said the amendment requests a change from the Light-Medium Industrial designation to the Commercial designation for 16 acres on the northeast corner of Bailey Hill Road and West 11th Avenue. She sa i d the app 1 i cants i ndi cated that there were two changes in circumstances which justified the request. The changes are a need for additional commercial land unanticipated at the time the Metro Plan was adopted and two major transportation improvements. The transportation changes are construction of the West Eugene Parkway and improvements to Bailey Hill Road which the applicants say make the property undesirable for industrial use. She said the Lane County Planning Commission recommended denial of the amendment, the Springfield Planning Commission recommended approval, and the Eugene Planning Commission recommended denial as a result of a 3:3 tie vote. Answering a question from Mr. Bennett, Ms. Jones said the Eugene Planning Commissioners discussed the topography of the land. The commissioners who favored the amendment indicated commercial development was appropriate and pressure for it will continue. CB 2999--An ordinance amending the Eugene-Springfield Metro- politan Area General Plan. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 28, 1987 Page 5 Mr. Holmer moved, seconded by Ms. Bascom, that the bill be read the second time by council bill number only, with e unanimous consent of the council, and that enactment be considered at this time. Mr. Miller said the proposed change probably would result in much traffic on the dangerous part of 11th Avenue that has only four lanes. He said the entire road should be five lanes or left turns should be restricted on the four-lane section. Ms. Schue said the Ruth property rises close to West 11th and is level along Ba il ey Hill. Consequently, commercial development will occur along Bailey Hill and may not be compatible with industrial development farther north on Ba i 1 ey Hi 11 . She said additional commercial land may not be needed on that corner because there is vacant commercially zoned land on West 11th that could be deve loped. She will oppose the motion because she does not favor commercial development north of 11th on Bailey Hill Road. Ms. Bascom reviewed the comments of the Planning Commission. She said circumstances have changed because the construction of the Eugene Parkway and improvements to Bailey Hill were not anticipated so soon when the Metro Plan was developed. She said testimony about the disadvantages of industrial trucks on West 11th was important. She said she will support the motion. Mr. Rutan said previous councils indicated commercial development on the north side of West 11th should stop at the Fred Meyer Center. However, circumstances have changed and commercial development on the Ruth property seems appropriate. He said approval of the amendment probably will result in e commercial development on Bailey Hill Road but there is both commercial and industrial development on Bailey Hill south of West 11th. He said there is industrially designated property west of Bailey Hill Road on West 11th. Mayor Obie said he sold the property he owned on West 11th west of Bailey Hill Road. He said the community needs to preserve excellent industrial sites and the Ruth property is an excellent industrial site. He said the property is only a marginal commercial site because of its impact on West 11th. He cautioned against permitting development that will result in West 11th becoming like Highway 99 North which, he said, is not a pleasant entrance to the city. He said a development similar to the Lane Electric Cooperative headquarters would be a benefit to West 11th. Therefore, he opposes the motion. Mr. Miller reiterated his concerns about the dangers on the four-lane section of West 11th. He di scussed ways to address his concerns. Mr. Sercombe pOinted out there was a motion on the floor. Mr. Holmer withdrew the motion with the concurrence of Ms. Bascom. e MINUTES--Eugene City eouncil October 28, 1987 Page 6 Mr. Miller moved that the council direct that development of the property in the Harry Ruth (MA 87-4) Metro Plan e amendment be contingent on development of five lanes on West 11th from Garfield west. Mr. Sercombe discussed the criteria for zone changes. Ms. Brody said approval of both the mot ion and the amendment woul d make any development on the property very difficult because the widening of West 11th to five lanes is a very long-range project in TransPlan. Mr. Miller withdrew the motion. Mr. Holmer emphasized the need to consider moving the improvement of West 11th up in the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) if the amendment is approved. Mr. Miller reiterated his opinion that additional commercial development should not be permitted on West 11th until all of the street is five lanes. Ms. Bascom said West 11th cannot be widened until some rights-of-way are obtained and that will probably be expensive. Answering her question, Mr. Reinhard said commercial development of the Ruth property probably would generate more traffic than industrial development. Mr. Rutan said the amendment should be denied if development on the property is subject to the widening of West 11th but it is appropriate to indicate that traffic should be considered during the zone change process. He said some buildings probably will have to be removed when the four-lane section of West 11th is widened to five lanes. e CB 2999--an ordinance amending the Eugene-Springfield Metro- politan Area General Plan. Mr. Holmer moved, seconded by Ms. Bascom, that the bill be read the second time by council bill number only, with unanimous consent of the council, and that enactment be considered at this time. The motion carried unanimously, 6:0. Council Bill 2999 was read the second time by council bill number only. Mr. Holmer moved, seconded by Ms. Bascom, that the bill be approved and given final passage. Roll call vote; the motion carried 4:2 with Councilors Holmer, Bascom, Rutan, and Bennett voting aye and Councilors Schue and Miller voting nay. The bill was declared passed (and became Ordinance No. 19513). D. Iverson, Smith, Belknap, et al Request Assistant City Manager Dave Whitlow introduced the item. Jim Croteau of the Planning Department gave the staff report. Reviewing the background material, he said the amendment requests a change in designation from Medium-Density Residential to Commerci a 1 for about two acres on South Willamette Street between 23rd Avenue and 24th Place. He said the applicants indicate the area e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 28, 1987 Page 7 is a transition one. They want to apply for a zone change to GO General Offi ce. He sa i d the Eugene Planning Commission recommended den i a 1 , the e Springfield Planning Commission recommended approval, and the Lane County Planning Commission deferred to the Eugene commission. Mr. Holmer moved, seconded by Ms. Bascom, to deny the plan amendment for Iverson, Smith, Belknap, et al and adopt negative findings. Mr. Miller said he will oppose the motion because residential use on Willamette Street does not seem the highest and best use. He said south of Civic Stadium is an appropriate place to begin residential use. Ms. Schue sa i d she is concerned about the traffic commercial use would generate on Willamette Street. She said the street is narrow and left turns are d i ff i c u 1 t . She said redevelopment for commercial use on large parcels with parking lots might be good, but the amendment would permit commercial use on small lots. Ms. Bascom said the proposal will not solve the problems. She agreed wi th Ms. Schue. The motion carried 5:1 with Councilors Holmer, Schue, Bascom, Rutan, and Bennett voting aye and Councilor Miller voting nay. Mayor Obie adjourned the meeting at 1:30 p.m. e (Recorded by Betty Lou Rarick) mncc1028 e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 28, 1987 Page 8