Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/04/1985 Meeting A .~-, 1~ M I NUT E S e Eugene City Council Work Session Council Chamber--City Hall December 4, 1985 11:15 a.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Cynthia Wooten (11:25-12:20 p.m.), Richard Hansen, Emily Schue, Freeman Holmer, Debra Ehrman, Ruth Bascom, Roger Rutan, Jeff Miller. His Honor Mayor Brian B. Obie called the work session to order. 1. DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR WEST 11TH AVENUE-GARFIELD STREET--FLORENCE-EUGENE HIGHWAY (commonly known as the 6th/7th Extension West of Garfield) Dave Reinhard reviewed background information on the 6th/7th Extension. He said the need for an east-west arterial became apparent during preparation of the T-2000 Plan in the mid-1970's. The Roosevelt Freeway and the Amazon Parkway were rejected as major east-west facilities, in favor of the 6th/7th corri dor. He said the extension of the urban growth boundary when the Metro e Plan was adopted in 1982 increased the need for the east/west arterial. Mr. Reinhard said members of the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Eugene Public Works and Planning Departments, and a Citizen Advisory Committee considered several alignments for the 6th/7th Extension and decided the corri- dor should be between the Southern Pacific Railroad and West 11th Avenue. Although it did not show on the aerial map he was using, Mr. Reinhard said there is development just south of the Southern Pacific Railroad which would preclude an alignment along the tracks. He pointed out that Roosevelt Boule- vard has been improved as an arterial street from Highway 99 to Beltline, and will eventually extend east to the Chambers Connector and west to Terry Street. Answering a question from Mr. Gleason, Mr. Reinhard said a new bridge across the Wi11amette River is recommended in the TransP1an. It will decrease traffic in the 6th/7th-Washington/Jefferson area by providing an alternative route between southwest Eugene and the Valley River Center area. Mr. Reinhard summarized the testimony received at the public hearing on the 6th/7th Extension. Responding to questions from Mayor Obie and Mr. Hansen, Mr. Reinhard said the Bertelsen Slough has been designated a natural resource area in the Metro Plan. The 6th/7th Extension will receive Federal funds and Federal regula- tions indicate the impact of highways on wetlands must be mitigated. The Lane County Audubon Society favors Alternative #1 to protect the wetlands. - Mr. McKinley said the Environmental Impact Statement documented that large numbers of people go to the slough each year to watch wildlife. Mr. Reinhard MINUTES--Eugene City Council Work Session December 4, 1985 Page 1 said the EWEB substation west of Bertelsen Road, along with the Bertelsen - Slough, dictated the northerly shift in the alignment of Alternative #1. The highway would have an impact on the slough even if a bridge was built over it. Mr. Hansen was concerned about the businesses that will be disrupted by the highway. He suggested a 5th/7th one-way couplet as the eastern part of the highway. Jim Gix of the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) responded that some business owners testified that they could not survive on such a couplet. Mr. Gix said those owners would have to relocate. Eventually, other kinds of businesses would locate there, but there would be a great change. Mr. Gix said ODOT hoped to protect the capacity of the 6th/7th Extension and, eventually, have grade separations. A couplet would not do that. He thought couplets work well when the streets are close to each other, but there is a big distance between 5th and 7th. Some business owners would have to drive a mile to get from one side of a business to another. Answering questions from Councilor Bascom, Mr. Gix said the council recommen- dation is important because it indicates community support. However, if the recommendation is very specific, the design of the highway may not be able to conform to it. Advisory statements in the recommendation are appropriate. He said ODOT agreed to consider a grade separation at the east end of the project when the Planning Commission discussed the extension. Ms. Bascom suggested the project be modified somewhat to make it a parkway from Seneca to Green Hill roads. It could be called the Fern Ridge Parkway, and there could be plantings along the highway shoulders. Such a change would e comply with attempts to make the entrances to the city more attractive, she said. Mr. Gix said it was a good suggestion. The plantings must not cause unsafe conditions, however. Responding to a question from Councilor Ehrman, Mr. Gix said State law about billboards would apply. If the City does not want billboards along the high- way, it might have to buy the rights. Answering a question from Councilor Holmer, Mr. Gix discussed freeways in other parts of the state. He said ODOT representatives consider the 6th/7th Extension a "people mover." There will still be some problems because of cross streets. Future access points in the western section can be worked out by ODOT. Discussing the process, Mr. Gleason said the council will chose an alignment for the arterial and ask the voters to approve it. The design will be com- pleted later. Mr. Miller wondered about the impact of eliminating the limited access aspect of the highway for six or seven blocks on the eastern end. He hoped that 11th Avenue will be widened. He wondered if it, Roosevelt Boulevard, and 18th Ave- nue will lessen traffic enough so that the 5th/7th couplet would be suffi- cient. Mr. Gleason responded that much of the community's future growth has been shifted to the western part of the city. Traffic volumes will increase. The road system being built now will be used for 60 or 70 years. If not enough right-of-way if obtained now, other businesses will be negatively e affected in a few years. MINUTES--Eugene City Council Work Session December 4, 1985 Page 2 Ms. Wooten said the loss of jobs caused by the project is frightening. Never- e the1ess, she felt the project should be pursued. Mr. Hansen asked the staff to interview the people who indicated they would be damaged by a 5th/7th couplet. Perhaps conditions had changed. Responding to a question from Mr. Hansen about the capacity of 5th and 7th avenues, Mr. Gix said the 6th/7th Extension was designed for the traffic 6th and 7th avenues can handle for ten years. Then, more lanes might be needed. Projects should include an ability to expand their capacity, he said. Answering a question from Ms. Ehrman, Ms. Anderson said the Planning Commis- sion considered the 5th/7th couplet, but decided that the elevated section would solve some problems. Ms. Schue wondered if the damages to businesses in the eastern part of Alter- nate #1 could be mitigated. Mr. Gix discussed the cost of an elevated section of the highway for about four blocks. He said the ground under the elevated section could be used for parking and storage. He emphasized that the align- ment will affect some businesses wherever it is put. Mr. Gix said the right-of-way on 5th and 7th is sufficient for a four-lane highway without parking lanes. The change to a four-lane highway would damage some businesses, and the State could not compensate the owners because addi- tional right-of-way would not have been purchased. Responding to a question from Mr. Hansen, Mr. Reinhard said Alternative #1 was e recommended because it would cause less impacts on businesses, the Stewart Pond, and the Bertelsen Slough. Responding to a comment from Ms. Bascom, Mr. Gix said ODOT would construct the couplet if it is supported locally, but it might create a system which cannot be changed later. ODOT can only pay for alterations to business buildings and damages to business property. Often the damages to businesses are greater than that. Several directions were given to the staff. Mr. Rutan suggested the staff prepare a matrix which would indicate the advantages and disadvantages of the options. Mr. Holmer asked the staff to discuss the questions raised at the TransP1an public hearing about population projections. Mayor Obie directed the staff to present alternatives to the council. Mayor Obie adjourned the work session at 12:20 p.m. R~~ Michea1 Gleason Ci ty Manager (Recorded by Betty Lou Rarick) e 1921 C MINUTES--Eugene City Council Work Session December 4, 1985 Page 3