Planning Commission

SUMMARY MINUTES Regular Meeting Eugene Planning Commission Sloat Room—The Atrium—99 West 10th Avenue February 12, 2007 11:15 a.m. PRESENT: Rick Duncan, Vice President; Jon Belcher, Phillip Carroll, Randy Hledik, Ann Kneeland, John Lawless, Anthony McCown members; Allen Lowe, Susan Muir, Kurt Yeiter, Planning and Development Department; Rob Inerfeld, Gary McNeel, Public Works Department; Tom Brennan, David Knowles, Marcy McInelly, project consultants; Melanie Rios, Norbert Schoener, Artemio Paz, Jr., Mary Weber, Mike Bauer, David Sonnichen, Chuck Harrison, Terry Connolly, Eric Gunderson, Tom Schwetz, George Rode, Jeanne Wagenknecht, Tom Connor, Jr., George Morris, Shannon Connor, Sarah Kuchner, Kayla Nelson, Lauren Joyner, Sheena Shook, Jessee Golden, Diony Lopez, Kelsey Jensen, Mark Gillem, Zachary Vishanoff, Kevin Matthews, guests. ABSENT: Mike Sullivan, ex officio. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS I. WORK SESSION: WALNUT STATION—FRANKLIN BOULEVARD REDESIGN Staff: Allen Lowe, 682-5113 Mr. McCown, seconded by Mr. Lawless, moved to endorse for modeling the adoption of the design options and move forward in the process. Mr. Belcher offered a friendly amendment, “…to move to endorse for modeling the adoption of the design options as described in the above chart, and move forward in the process.” Both Mr. McCown and Mr. Lawless accepted the friendly amendment. The motion passed unanimously, 7:0. II. ITEMS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF A. Other Items from Staff B. Other Items from Commission MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission February 12, 2007 Page 1  MINUTES Regular Meeting Eugene Planning Commission Sloat Room—The Atrium—99 West 10th Avenue February 12, 2007 11:15 a.m. PRESENT: Rick Duncan, Vice President; Jon Belcher, Phillip Carroll, Randy Hledik, Ann Kneeland, John Lawless, Anthony McCown members; Allen Lowe, Susan Muir, Kurt Yeiter, Planning and Development Department; Rob Inerfeld, Gary McNeel, Public Works Department; Mike Bauer, Tom Brennan, David Knowles, Marcy McInelly, project consultants; Tom Schwetz, Lane Transit District; Melanie Rios, Norbert Schoener, Artemio Paz, Jr., Mary Weber, David Sonnichen, Chuck Harrison, Terry Connolly, Eric Gunderson, George Rode, Jeanne Wagenknecht, Tom Connor, Jr., George Morris, Shannon Connor, Sarah Kuchner, Kayla Nelson, Lauren Joyner, Sheena Shook, Jessee Golden, Diony Lopez, Kelsey Jensen, Mark Gillem, Zachary Vishanoff, Kevin Matthews, guests. ABSENT: Mike Sullivan, ex officio. Mr. Duncan convened the Planning Commission. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS Mark Gillem, 1799 Fairmont, thanked the Planning Commission for considering the multi-way boulevard. He said all teams represented at the American Institute of Architects AIA150 charette conducted on February 2 and 3 proposed a variant of the multi-way boulevard for the Franklin corridor. He noted general agreement for the concept from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 150 project, property owners and neighborhood groups. He pledged the support of the Urban Design Studio to work collaboratively with staff and consultants on the Walnut Station—Franklin Boulevard project. George Rode, 1917 Franklin Boulevard, identified himself as the owner of Euro Asian Automotive for over 25 years. He expressed his concern for moving from three to two lanes, and had been assured that the proposed change would allow the same amount of traffic flow. He said the City of Eugene had done an incredible job of keeping Franklin Boulevard moving quickly. He stated he was not opposed to change, but he did not want it to have a negative effect on his business. Artemio Paz, 86950 Cedar Flat Road Springfield, represented the AIA 150 project in conjunction with its 150th anniversary celebration. The AIA 150 project, Blueprint for America, that articulated the development of urban centers nationally, supported by $900 million for visioning processes for local communities. The local chapter had received the only grant issued for the State of Oregon for visioning process that would review the future character of the Franklin Corridor and the riverfront from the federal courthouse to the City of Springfield. Over 120 people attended a recent charette, in which the idea that a multi-way corridor was important MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission February 12, 2007 Page 1 for the efficient and aesthetic development of the corridor and its commercial, institutional, and industrial development. Melanie Rios, 882 Almaden Street, expressed her support of the multi-way boulevards, as a small step to prevent global warming by increased tree plantings that helped create oxygen and sink the CO2 , provided shade and made beautiful streets where people were likely to congregate for retail shopping and housing. These actions took the pressure off the farm land. Norbert Schoener, 2025 Franklin Boulevard, identified himself as an owner of the German Auto Services and German Auto Sales for over 40 years. He had a problem with street widening dramatically affecting his business. He was not against change or development, and supported Mr. Gillem’s plan that did not involve taking away people’s property and did not eliminate the curb cuts used to access his business. Zachary Vishanoff, Patterson Street, distributed a handout entitled, War of Words Over Sports, and said the community would benefit if Planning Commission meetings were on the air. He said the Fairmount Cultural Resource Survey had not been updated. He expressed concern about new road projects when there was a backlog of road maintenance projects. Kevin Matthews, P.O. Box 1588, representing Friends of Eugene, said it was clear that there was not sufficient environmental information about the Willamette River and what types of development could occur along the river. He said the multi-way boulevard was a great concept. He added there was problem with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes in the middle which took up 22 percent of the right-of-way (R-O-W) while carrying 4 percent of the traffic. Mr. Belcher arrived at 11:32 a.m. I. WORK SESSION: WALNUT STATION—FRANKLIN BOULEVARD REDESIGN Mr. Lowe said the purpose of today’s meeting was to provide direction on the Franklin Boulevard design. Staff and consultants were required by the conditions of the TGM grant to develop a concept for design and to review those concepts with the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission is required to provide sufficient direction on the future design that would enable staff and consultants to move forward with modeling the street. Mr. Lowe distributed and entered into the record additional letters that had been received subsequent to mailing of the agenda packet: • Art Paz, American Institute of Architects. • Frances Dyke, University of Oregon. • Larry Hirons, Hirons Drugs. • Donna Corwin, Lane County Farm Bureau. • Tom Connor, Spring Development Group. • Tom Schwetz, Lane Transit District. Alan Harper, Dutch Brothers Coffee, had indicated he intended to submit testimony, although it had not been received. Mr. Lowe introduced David Knowles from the projects consultants, David Evans and Associates, MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission February 12, 2007 Page 2 Inc. Mr. Knowles introduced other team members. Mr. Knowles said the goal for today’s meeting was to reach a conclusion on the following elements: • Function of the boulevard • Level of private property access. • Number of through lanes. • On street parking. • Number of BRT lanes. • Change to City level of service standards. Mr. Knowles said the Planning Commission should think about the identified goals in terms of what could be done pre-development, or what could be done today, and what could be done post- development as blocks changed and redeveloped in the future. Mr. Knowles reviewed the agenda for today’s discussion: • Recap of January 29, 2007 Planning Commission meeting. • Goals for today’s meeting. • Preferred design components and issues. • Discussion and direction. • Next Steps. Mr. Knowles summarized the conclusions of the Planning Commission at its prior meeting: • General consensus to move towards a multi-modal boulevard. • Should be two protected through lanes, provided that additional information demonstrates that the ability to handle the future capacity for automobiles was not severely damaged. • On-street parking would be okay provided that driveway access was preserved. • Design refinements needed to be thought about on a block-by-block basis with the understanding that the two through-lanes for automobiles set the template for the four block stretch. Mr. Brennan distributed and reviewed a February 9, 2007 memorandum to Allen Lowe, Subject: Franklin Boulevard Estimated Intersection Operation. In response to Mr. Belcher, Mr. McNeel said the model included synchronization of EmX through traffic. Mr. Brennan explained lane capacity was based upon theoretical capacity based upon national standards, noting that both City of Eugene and ODOT standards were generally not to exceed standards. In response to Mr. Belcher, Mr. McNeel explained the ODOT exemption process. He said ODOT was concerned that the ramp terminal point for I-5 north bound traffic at Walnut Street and Franklin Boulevard create safety or capacity problems. He opined the design submitted would meet with approval because it addressed those issues. Mr. McNeel added a travel time study of alternate routes for local traffic had indicated Franklin Boulevard would continue to be used because those alternative routes took more time. Responding to Mr. McCown, Mr. Schwetz said although Lane Transit District (LTD) had not developed forecasts through 2025, it intended to use two lanes of Franklin Boulevard for EmX. MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission February 12, 2007 Page 3 MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission February 12, 2007 Page 4  Mr. Knowles and Ms. McInelly reviewed phasing options and facilitated a discussion using diagrams posted on the walls: • Walnut Station Mixed Use Center—Franklin Boulevard Multiway Boulevard: Existing Condition Plan. • Walnut Station Mixed Use Center—Franklin Boulevard Multiway Boulevard: Phase I Plan. • Walnut Station Mixed Use Center—Franklin Boulevard Multiway Boulevard: Phase 2 Plan. • Walnut Station Mixed Use Center—Franklin Boulevard Multiway Boulevard: Gillem/UO Plan. • Walnut Station Mixed Use Center—Phase I Aerial View. Mr. Knowles summarized the Planning Commission discussion in the following diagram: DESIGN INSTRUCTIONS PHASE 1 PHASE 2 PRE-DEVELOPMENT POST-DEVELOPMENT Function of the street Toward multi-modal Multi-modal Two protected through lanes Yes Yes Preserve driveways Yes Reduce number of driveways (may not be possible in all developments) Local access lanes North side only Both sides On street parking on local access lanes North side opportunity, not required Yes both sides, not required Preserve room for two BRT lanes Yes Yes Change in local service standards Meet level of service (LOS)E Meet LOS E In response to Mr. Belcher, Mr. Lowe said a start up day for Phase 2 was uncertain, with funding to be determined in the future. Mr. Lowe said he would return in six to eight week with modeling information. Mr. McCown, seconded by Mr. Lawless, moved to endorse for modeling the adoption of the design options and move forward in the process. Mr. Belcher offered a friendly amendment, “…to move to endorse for modeling the adoption of the design options as described in the above chart, and move forward in the process.” Both Mr. McCown and Mr. Lawless accepted the friendly amendment. The motion passed unanimously, 7:0. II. ITEMS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF A. Other Items from Staff B. Other Items from Commission Mr. McCown asked if recordings could be provided digitally rather than by tape. He asked if live tape feed of Planning Commission meetings could be provided. Mr. Duncan announced that Lisa Gardner had been selected as the Planning Director. MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission February 12, 2007 Page 5 Mr. Duncan adjourned the Planning Commission meeting at 1:45 p.m. (Recorded by Linda Henry) m:\2007\planning and development department\planning division\planning commission\pc070212.doc MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission February 12, 2007 Page 6