Planning Commission

SUMMARY MINUTES Regular Public Meeting Eugene Planning Commission Saul Room–The Atrium Building–99 West 10th Avenue June 14, 2004 11:30 a.m. PRESENT: Charles Rusch, President; Mitzi Colbath, Rick Duncan, Anne Marie Levis, Adell McMillan, members; Tom Coyle, Ex officio member; Denny Braud, Sue Cutsogeorge, Susan Muir, Mike Sullivan, Richie Weinman, Kurt Yeiter, Planning and Development Department staff; Greg Mott, City of Springfield staff; Susie Smith, Larry Thorp, Metro- politan Wastewater Management Commission staff; Dave Jewett, Metropolitan Wastewa- ter Management Commission attorney; Charles Biggs, Terry Connolly, guests. ABSENT: Jon Belcher, John Lawless, members. I. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS II. DISCUSSION/ACTION: METROPOLITAN WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT COMMISSION METRO PLAN/PUBLIC FACILITIES PLAN AMENDMENTS Ms. McMillan, moved, seconded by Ms. Levis, to recommend to the City Coun- cil the amendments to the Metro Plan to include the waste water elements in Chapter G and the Glossary for Definitions. The motion passed unanimously, 5:0. Ms. McMillan, moved, seconded by Ms. Levis, to recommend to the City Coun- cil the amendments to the Public Facilities Plan including the amendment proc- ess. The motion passed unanimously, 5:0. III. WORK SESSION/ACTION: DOWNTOWN URBAN RENEWAL Mr. Duncan, moved, seconded by Ms. McMillan, to forward the proposed amendments to the Downtown UR Plan to the Urban Renewal Agency Board and the Eugene City Council. The motion passed 3:1, with Ms. Colbath voting against the motion. IV. ITEMS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF A. Subcommittee Reports B. Other Items from Commission and Staff MINUTES – Eugene Planning Commission June 14, 2004 Page 1  Regular Public Meeting Eugene Planning Commission Saul Room–The Atrium Building–99 West 10th Avenue June 14, 2004 11:30 a.m. PRESENT: Charles Rusch, President; Mitzi Colbath, Rick Duncan, Anne Marie Levis, Adell McMillan, members; Tom Coyle, Ex officio member; Denny Braud, Sue Cutsogeorge, Susan Muir, Mike Sullivan, Richie Weinman, Kurt Yeiter, Planning and Development Department staff; Greg Mott, City of Springfield staff; Susie Smith, Larry Thorp, Metro- politan Wastewater Management Commission staff; Dave Jewett, Metropolitan Wastewa- ter Management Commission attorney; Charles Biggs, Terry Connolly, guests. ABSENT: Jon Belcher, John Lawless, members. I. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS Charles Biggs, 540 Antelope Way. Mr. Biggs thanked the Planning Commission for the recent tour of the nodes. II. DISCUSSION/ACTION: METROPOLITAN WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT COMMISSION METRO PLAN/PUBLIC FACILITIES PLAN AMENDMENTS Ms. Muir introduced the item, noting that there was not a quorum present at the May 24, 2004 Eugene Planning Commission meeting when the vote was taken on the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission Metro Plan/Public Facilities Plan Amendments, thus necessitating placing the item on the June 14, 2004 agenda. She noted that Greg Mott, City of Springfield staff and Susie Smith, Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission staff, we available to answer any questions. Mr. Rusch stated that according to the Planning Commission by-laws, a quorum consisted of five members rather than a simple majority. Mr. Rusch opened the floor for discussion. He said that Mr. Duncan and Ms. Levis had not been present for the discussion and vote at the May 24, 2004 meeting, and asked them if they had any questions. Both indicated that they had read the background materials and the minutes from the May 24, 2004 meeting, and that they had no questions. Ms. McMillan, moved, seconded by Ms. Levis, to recommend to the City Coun- cil the amendments to the Metro Plan to include the waste water elements in Chapter G and the Glossary for Definitions. The motion passed unanimously, 5:0. Ms. McMillan, moved, seconded by Ms. Levis, to recommend to the City Coun- cil the amendments to the Public Facilities Plan including the amendment proc- ess. The motion passed unanimously, 5:0. MINUTES – Eugene Planning Commission June 14, 2004 Page 1 Ms. Levis expressed appreciation to staff for responding to her questions about the proposed amend- ments. Mr. Mott, Ms. Smith and Mr. Thorp left at 11:44 a.m. III. WORK SESSION/ACTION: DOWNTOWN URBAN RENEWAL Mr. Weinman, Planning and Development Department, Community Development Division introduced the topic. He provided a staff presentation based upon the staff note included in the agenda packet. Mr. Weinman said the Planning Commission was asked to recommend amendments to the Central Eugene (Downtown) Urban Renewal Plan (Downtown UR Plan). He reported that on March 8, 2004, the City Council, acting as the Urban Renewal Agency Board of Directors, approved initial draft amendments to the downtown UR Plan. He added that the proposed projects and amendments were reviewed by the Planning Commission in 2003, and that the Eugene Redevelopment Advisory Committee (ERAC) recommended specific amendments to the Downtown UR Plan. Mr. Weinman said in January 2003, the City Council began a multi-step process to implement the vision for a Greater Downtown Eugene. He said that an updated Downtown Plan included adopting implemen- tation tools identifying Urban Renewal as a financing tool. He noted that since that time a new Down- town Plan had been adopted, two property tax exemption programs been put in place, and the Riverfront Urban Renewal Plan had been updated. Mr. Weinman stated that improving the viability of downtown had been a community and a City Council goal in some form for decades. He added that the adopted Growth Management Policies, the Vision for Greater Downtown Eugene, the Council’s 2001-2002 Vision and Goals Statement, and the new Downtown Plan all included policies or strategies to crate a more vital downtown. He noted there was a close relationship between urban renewal goals and those policies. The Downtown Plan included a policy to “use downtown development tools and incentives to encourage development that provided character and density downtown.” Mr. Weinman said the proposed Downtown UR Plan did not recommend a change in the boundary area nor reflect any changes to the “maximum indebtedness.” Mr. Weinman said staff recommended forwarding the proposed downtown UR Plan amendments to the City Council for a public hearing and adoption. Mr. Duncan indicated that he was the Planning Commission representative on the ERAC. In response to a question from Ms. Levis, Mr. Weinman identified the ERAC members as: Sarah Garrett, Greg Brokaw, Daniel Herbert, Alexis Garrett, Ginevra Ralf, Rick Duncan, and Hugh Pritchard. Mr. Weinman said the proposed Downtown UR Plan did not recommend a change in the boundary area nor reflect any changes to the “maximum indebtedness.” He added the proposal recommended extending the expiration date of the district to 2029, with reviews scheduled in 2009 and 2019. Mr. Weinman reviewed the Goals and Objectives cited in Section 400 of the June 3, 2004 Draft Urban Renewal Plan for Central Eugene Project, a copy of which was included in the agenda packet. MINUTES – Eugene Planning Commission June 14, 2004 Page 2 A discussion regarding the meaning of the terms blight, developer and redeveloper followed. Ms. Levis left at 11:50 a.m. In response to a question from Mr. Rusch regarding Section 1000, Non-discrimination, Mr. Weinman noted the statement in the document that said the City Attorney would review the language prior to the Plan going to the City Council to determine if it reflected current law and practice. Mr. Braud said the URA was a separate legal entity from the City of Eugene, and may be required to have its own legal language. Mr. Coyle noted that many of the changes were housekeeping issues. Ms. Cutsgeorge provided a brief historic perspective of the plan, and described the manner in which bonds were repaid, saying that the maximum indebtedness would be reviewed in 2009 and 2019. She explained how the financing for the Eugene Public Library was done through urban renewal funding. Mr. Weinman explained the manner in which the UR District would be expanded and the potential impacts of such action. Mr. Weinman said staff recommended forwarding the proposed downtown UR Plan amendments to the City Council for a public hearing and adoption. Mr. Duncan, moved, seconded by Ms. McMillan, to forward the proposed amendments to the Downtown UR Plan to the Urban Renewal Agency Board and the Eugene City Council. The motion passed 3:1, with Ms. Colbath voting against the motion. Mr. Braud, Ms. Cutsgeorge, Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Weinman left at 12:10 p.m. Ms. McMillan reported that the City Club would conduct a discussion on urban renewal in the near future. IV. ITEMS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF A. Items from Commission and Staff Ms. Muir asked Planning Commission members to check their summer schedules and let her know when they would not be available for Planning Commission business, and said she would send a schedule to them via e-mail. She said election of officers would take place at the June 28, 2004 Planning Commis- sion meeting, and the Historic Review Board (HRB) would join the Planning Commission for a joint meeting. She added that a definite date had not been scheduled for a joint meeting with the City Council. B. Subcommittee Reports Ms. McMillan reported that the HRB approved designating the Johnson-Moody house as a Historic Landmark and approved its workplan for the next year at its last meeting. MINUTES – Eugene Planning Commission June 14, 2004 Page 3 Ms. Muir said a walking tour would be included as part of the June 28, 2004 joint meeting with the Planning Commission. Mr. Duncan reported on several refill projects he was working on in the campus area. Mr. Rusch adjourned the meeting at 12:30 p.m. (Recorded by Linda Henry) m:\2004\planning and development department\planning division\planning commission\pc040614.doc MINUTES – Eugene Planning Commission June 14, 2004 Page 4