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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/12/1990 Meeting e M I NUT E S Eugene City C~uncil BJ's Restaurant--44 East 7th Avenue March 12, 1990 5:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Emily Schue, Ruth Bascom, Shawn Boles, Bobby Green, Freeman Holmer, Roger Rutan. COUNCILORS ABSENT: Rob Bennett and Debra Ehrman. The regular meeting of March 12, 1990, of the Eugene City Council was called to order by His Honor Mayor Jeff Miller. I. REPORT ON VARIOUS DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS Abe Farkas, Planning and Development Department, summarized the process that would be followed for this session. Lew Bowers, Planning and Development Department, provided the council with a listing of the City's key downtown projects and a timetable for project completion. e A. Tiffany Building Mr. Bowers informed the council that the City has been in discussion with the owner of the Tiffany Building on a regular basis. He indicated that the owner is continuing negotiations with a variety of private developers and, although no specific time line has been set, the City is optimistic that project initiation will take place sometime soon in the future. Responding to a question from Mr. Holmer, Mr. Bowers said that the Tiffany Building is on the Historical Register, which may be a financial asset in terms of tax credit assistance for development and should not hinder any development opportunities. Mr. Holmer voiced concern that the investment needed to satisfy Federal requirements for historic preservation might be greater than the potential benefits gained in working through the process, and suggested that the City consider removal of historic preservation status, which seems to be an obstacle to redevelopment. Mr. Farkas indicated that historic preservation status does provide tax credits for historic renovation. The status does not prevent demolition if renovation is not possible, but does establish a rigorous review process before demolition can be approved. e Mr. Bowers explained that the City's first priority with this project is to work with the existing owner to stimulate private development on this site. The City could pursue condemnation, if the Urban Renewal Aging felt this to be the most productive route to building development. Mr. Boles expressed frustration with the amount of time the City has already committed to this MINUTES--Eugene City Council Dinner/Work Session March 12, 1990 Page 1 e project with seemingly little progress. He noted that this building is located on a very visible corner within downtown--another critical reason to begin building redevelopment as soon as possible. Mr. Gleason remarked that it might be necessary for the City to contact the building owner to communicate the Urban Renewal Authority's sense of urgency with project initiation. He noted that the City has received several complaints about this building from surrounding neighbors and said that at some point in the future, the City might have to take measures to secure this building on the grounds that it poses a health safety risk. Mr. Rutan said that the issue of site redevelopment should be separated from any action that the City may need to take to ensure that this building does not pose a potential health hazard. e B. Downtown Access and Public Space Design Process Mr. Bowers mentioned that this project is on this evening's council work session, at which time more discussion surrounding project time line will take place. C. Sears Building Mr. Bowers stated that the council will determine a time table for this project. Referring to issues raised at previous council work sessions, he said that according to legal counsel, parking is not prohibited on this site by the Urban Renewal Plan. This parcel is currently being used as metered parking while awaiting full development. Mr. Bowers said that Club Wholesale has plans to occupy the first floor of the building and has expressed a need for parking. The owner has requested that the City swap this parcel with an adjacent parcel and give the owner a long-term lease on the parcel or a long-term lease on adjacent parking. Staff recommends that the City ask the Downtown Commission and Council Committee on Economic Diversification (CCED) to make a policy recommendation on disposition and use of this site. Mr. Boles voiced concern that the proposed use being considered for this site by Club Wholesale is not consistent with the Retail Task Force's Tenant Mixed-Use Plan for this area. Mr. Holmer noted that the present time line for this project is too drawn out and urged that it be shortened to ensure that this process is completed in a timely manner. D. 8th/Willamette Site Mr. Bowers stated that the time line for project completion is contingent upon the ultimate use proposed for this site, which will vary depending on the voters' action with respect to the Urban Renewal Update ballot decision. Staff recommends the use of a Request For Proposal (RFP) process to consider disposition of the site. The general sense of the council was that it was comfortable with using an e RFP process for this site. MINUTES--Eugene City Council March 12, 1990 Page 2 Dinner/Work Session e E. Library Site Mr. Bowers indicated that the council has two work sessions planned to determine a library site. F. Retail Task Force Mr. Bowers stated that according to the Retail Task Force time line, it plans to make recommendations to the council on several aspects of the Tenant Mixed-Use Plan in July. Included on this agenda are suggestions for plan implementation, information concerning property owner agreements, incentives to assist in meeting this plan, and methods to enhance the quality of life in the downtown. Mr. Boles noted that the Retail Task Force is also planning to provide the council with specific policy recommendations on ways of ensuring compact urban growth in the downtown. Mr. Holmer pointed out that it appears that the Retail Task Force, which initially had jurisdiction for downtown, has extended its territory out to the urban growth boundary. Mr. Boles responded that the task force has an interest in any areas which will assist in development downtown. G. 11th/Willamette Site e Mr. Bowers indicated that the 11th/Willamette site project has taken on a more distinct housing focus, which has required changes in the development team. He noted that Greg Vik is negotiating with Lorig Associates, Inc. to become a new partner. Because of these changes, Lorig is asking for 30 days to perform viability analysis prior to making a commitment. Staff recommends approval of this request for time because it feels Lorig would bring beneficial urban housing experience to that team. He noted that assuming Vik and Lorig Associate, Inc. proceed, council is not likely to see details on this project before mid to late summer. H. Lane Transit District (LTD) Station Site Mr. Bowers said that extensive citizen involvement is scheduled for the LTD station site project in May 1990, which will culminate in a recommendation to the council on site selection in September or October. Ms. Bascom noted that lIimpact on the surrounding areall was not a criterion rated when considering site selection and asked for clarification. Richie Weinman, Planning and Development Department, stated that the Downtown Station Siting Committee considered this issue very important; site impact on the surrounding area would come under some technical review, but a more substantial, subjective review of impact would come from the public. Mr. Holmer expressed frustration with the length of this process and asked if there might be some way to shorten it. Mr. Boles indicated that Mr. Bennett's request to restructure the process and a decision to broaden the number of decision alternatives which came as a result of Citizen Involvement ~ Committee (CIC) recommendations lengthened the public process. MINUTES--Eugene City Council Dinner/Work Session March 12, 1990 Page 3 e J. Downtown Development District Task Force (DDDTF) Mr. Bowers said that the DDDTF is dealing with a number of issues including whether there is sufficient need for continued DDDTF existence, and if so, the services it should provide, a determination of who should pay for those services, and the most equitable way to pay for services rendered. He said that the council should receive recommendations on these issues in October. K. Downtown Plan Review Mr. Bowers indicated that the Downtown Plan, created approximately five years ago, was intended to be the major policy document for downtown. The Urban Renewal Plan is one major tool created to implement the Downtown Plan. Staff recommends that the Downtown Plan be reviewed after the May vote on the Urban Renewal Plan Update. This process should be initiated in the summer and recommendations should come before council early next year. e Mr. Rutan voiced concern with the overall length of this process. He commended staff for the excellent staff work involved in putting together project information, but emphasized that if council is to make headway on development downtown, it needs to place 1tself in a leadership role and, based on the information received thus far, make a decision. He suggested that a leadership committee composed of several councilors, two downtown commissioners, and one planning commissioner be formed with the charge of gathering information from committees and interested citizens and presenting the council with specific decision-making recommendations. Mr. Holmer agreed with Mr. Rutan about the need for efficient decision making, but said he felt decision making should be delegated to the City's staff, rather than committees. He added that in order to expedite this process, the council needs to set specific decision-making dates and adhere to them. Mr. Boles pointed out that the Retail Task Force was created to handle the concerns for which Mr. Rutan is speaking. He agreed with Mr. Holmer that the council needs to set date-certain decision parameters, but stressed that this does not eliminate the need for various commissions. Ms. Bascom agreed on the need for efficient decision making, but pointed out the need to hear both citizen and staff input which, by its nature, does take some time. Ms. Schue concurred with Ms. Bascom, and noted that council leadership entails reaching agreement within the community on what is desired for Eugene; if the council does not consult the public on important decisions initially, it will receive negative feedback afterward. She also felt that neither council decisions nor staff consultation should substitute for citizen input. Mr. Miller said that through input from various committees, the council is provided with a way to communicate its general direction to the community, an important aspect of continued council leadership. He agreed with Mr. Rutan that it would be beneficial to streamline the process. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council Dinner/Work Session March 12, 1990 Page 4 e General council consensus was that the council work plan should be more detailed, with decision dates highlighted and, whenever possible, a more compressed time line. Julie Aspinwall-Lamberts, Planning and Development Department, provided an overview of the downtown public space and access issues. She said that the Downtown Commission highlighted two major considerations behind the recommendations made for this process, including the need to draw from already existing groups and policies when making plans and the need to take a long-term view of what is planned for an entire cohesive downtown plan. Jan Bohman, Planning and Development Department, briefly summarized the time line which will be used to implement this process. She said that staff recommends that the council approve this process and noted that upon Planning Commission and council approval, the final task force report will come before the council at a joint City Council/Downtown Commission public hearing. Following that hearing, it is anticipated that the council and commission would appoint a "Downtown Design Team", a citizens' advisory group to focus on and oversee a participatory design process, in which any interested citizen could participate, a design competition, which would likely be targeted more at design professionals, or some combination of the two. e Ms. Bohman stated that the goal of the forum/competition phase of the process is to come up with one favored design for the downtown central core which has received much public review and comment and has a good deal of support. The Downtown Commission and the Planning Commission would then review the recommended design, hold a joint public hearing, and make a final recommendation to the City Council. The council would take action as the Urban Renewal Agency, and would then decide whether to refer the issue to the voters. Mr. Rutan reiterated his concerns with respect to the length of this process, and urged the council to make a decision on the direction of downtown development based on past design studies and Retail Task Force's recommendations. He noted that the Miles Study, in particular, could provide a very valuable deCision-making resource. Mr. Boles agreed with Mr. Rutan on the need to condense this process. He said that the Eugene Celebration would provide the perfect opportunity for council to receive public input and suggested that scale models of alternative development designs be present at the Eugene Celebration for citizens to view. Mr. Miller also agreed that in order to have construction by next year, design decisions need to be made this year. Responding to a question from Mr. Green, Ms. Bohman indicated that a national design competition would cost approximately $125,000. She thought a regional competition could be done for somewhat less. She said she had received an estimate that the five-day intensive Chavette process would cost approximately $30,000. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council Dinner/Work Session March 12, 1990 Page 5 e Mr. Holmer communicated his concerns for the concept of holding a design contest, and said he felt the type of public input being sought could be achieved just as easily through review of past studies. The council discussed the process followed in design competitions. The council directed staff to formulate a time line and a specific work plan which would enable the council to make a decision with respect to downtown development by early October 1990. Such a work plan might include the formulation of a design competition culminating in specific scale to be displayed at the Eugene Celebration. The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m. (Recorded by Traci Northman) mncc 031290-530 e ~ MINUTES--Eugene City Council Dinner/Work Session March 12, 1990 Page 6