Planning Commission

SUMMARY MINUTES Regular Meeting Eugene Planning Commission Sloat Room—Atrium Building—99 West 10th Avenue December 3, 2007 11:30 a.m. PRESENT: PRESENT:Rick Duncan, President; Randy Hledik, Vice President; Phillip Carroll, Heidi Beierle, Ann Kneeland, John Lawless, Anthony McCown, members; Neil Björklund, Jason Dedrick, Lisa Gardner, Lydia McKinney, Kurt Yeiter, Planning and Development Department; Gary McNeel, Public Works Department; Tim Shinabarger, Terry Connolly, Mike Eystey, Diane Wiley, Chris Ramey, David Sonnichsen, guests. ABSENT: Mike Sullivan, ex officio. PUBLIC COMMENT I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Hledik, seconded by Mr. Lawless, moved to approve the August 29 and October 18, 2007 as submitted, and the September 10, 2007 minutes as corrected. The motion passed 4:0:1, with Ms. Beierle abstaining. II. WALNUT STATION VISION CONTINUED AND DESIGN REVIEW OPTIONS Staff: Jason Dedrick, 682-5451 and Lydia McKinney, 682-5485 Mr. Hledik, seconded by Mr. McCown, moved to endorse for the purpose of public review the preferred alternative for the Walnut Station Mixed Use Center project incorporating the issues and concerns raised in today’s collective discussions on November 19 and December 3, 2007. The motion passed unanimously, 5:0. III. ITEMS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF A. Other Items from Staff MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission December 3, 2007 Page 1  B. Other Items from Commission MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission December 3, 2007 Page 2  MINUTES Regular Meeting Eugene Planning Commission Sloat Room—Atrium Building—99 West 10th Avenue December 3, 2007 11:30 a.m. PRESENT: Rick Duncan, President; Randy Hledik, Vice President; Phillip Carroll, Heidi Beierle, Ann Kneeland, John Lawless, Anthony McCown, members; Neil Björklund, Jason Dedrick, Lisa Gardner, Lydia McKinney, Kurt Yeiter, Planning and Development Department; Gary McNeel, Public Works Department; Tim Shinabasger, Terry Connolly, Mike Eystey, Diane Wiley, Chris Ramey, David Sonnichsen, guests. ABSENT: Mike Sullivan, ex officio. Mr. Duncan convened the meeting. He welcomed Heidi Beierle as a new member of the Planning Commission. Staff and Commissioners introduced themselves. PUBLIC COMMENT There was no one wishing to offer public comment. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES--August 29, September 10, and October 18, 2007. Mr. Duncan noted a public apology had been offered prior to the meeting to Minutes Recorder Linda Henry for an erroneous statement made by Ms. Gardner regarding timeliness of minutes. August 29, 2007—no corrections. September 10, 2007 Mr. Lawless offered the following corrections to the Summary Minutes, page 1, paragraph 1, and to the Minutes, page 1, paragraph 9: Mr. Hledik, seconded by Mr. Lawless Belcher, moved to approve the minutes of April 30, May 7 and June 11, 2007, as written; and to approve the minutes of May 14, 2007, as amended. Mr. Duncan offered a friendly amendment that Mr. Belcher Lawless, who was not present at today’s meeting, be able to offer amendments to the minutes at the next meeting at which he was present. The friendly amendment was accepted by MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission December 3, 2007 Page 1  Mr. Hledik and Mr. Belcher. The motion passed unanimously, 6:0. October 18, 2007—no corrections. Mr. Hledik, seconded by Mr. Lawless, moved to approve the August 29 and October 18, 2007 as submitted, and the September 10, 2007 minutes as corrected. The motion passed 4:0:1, with Ms. Beierle abstaining. II. WALNUT STATION VISION CONTINUED AND DESIGN REVIEW OPTIONS Mr. Dedrick provided the staff report. He noted today’s discussion was a continuation from November 19, 2007. Referring to the Summary of Staff Recommendations included in the Agenda Item Summary (AIS) from the November 19 meeting, he said issues 1 through 3 had been discussed on November 19, leaving issues 4 through 11 for today’s discussion, with issues 8 through 11 being the more significant issues. He would address questions submitted electronically by Mr. Carroll during today’s discussion. He opened the floor to comments and questions from Commissioners. Mr. Dedrick distributed a document entitled: Revisions to Agenda Item IV—Walnut Station Mixed Use Center Update—Eugene Planning Commission Meeting—December 3, 2007, which included revisions to items 8 and 9. • 4—Future EmX Lane o Mr. Dedrick affirmed that Lane Transit District (LTD) had been contacted and was supportive of the recommendation. • 5—Bicycle Circulation—no comments. • 6—Mid-Block Connection (14th Avenue) o Keep topic open for future discussion; do not be too specific for pedestrian/bicycle use. o Allow creativity in design; do not be too restrictive. o Stakeholder concerns related to impact on the area and vehicle access needed to be clear as they related to the 15th Avenue edge. o Need for comments in both support and opposition from affected property owners. • 7—Orchard Street Connection o Potential design feature to make the alley more attractive. o Building orientation a primary consideration. • 8—15th Avenue Edge o Mr. Dedrick directed Planning Commissioners to two revisions iterated on the handout distributed earlier in the discussion. Ms. McKinney explained the difference between building height and number of stories in buildings. Definitions were forthcoming as the form-based code language was developed. MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission December 3, 2007 Page 2  o Revision to UO bullet did not eliminate the curb cut concern. Minimizing curb cuts would be encouraged while providing vehicle access to buildings in the area; could be addressed in form-based code. o Ownership issues in superblocks—could this be seen as a “taking” issue. o It may be prudent to consider removal of height maximum away from the edges. o Design review process would address height issues. • 9—ODOT Site o Mr. Dedrick directed Planning Commissioners to a revision on the handout distributed earlier in the discussion. o ODOT was a property owner in the area and had been contacted early in the process. o Similar concerns to those of 15th Avenue Edge. o PUD process allowed flexibility with development standards related to building height and setback, and to some degree uses. Commercial uses were not allowed in R-2 unless the commercial use limitations in the code were met; uses were limited by code. o R-2 would allow for UO to develop university scale development including residence halls and academic structures. University uses permitted outright in R-2 with conditional use permit. • 10—Millrace o Need for further investigation of UO ownership of water rights. o UO owns Millrace water rights but not the river. o Ownership of land under water needs to be clarified. ƒ10.1—Millrace—Revitalization as Public Open Space and Recreational Amenity—no comments. ƒ 10.2—Millrace—Millrace Design Treatments • Limited parallel parking would be part of the public way on the south side of the Millrace for access to the buildings; pedestrian and bicycle access would be encouraged. ƒ 10.3—Millrace—Development Intensities Along the Millrace • Stepping back measures and reducing height to reduce intrusion of shadow zone on areas to the north could be considered “taking”; strong sentiment from neighborhood regarding significantly limiting building height. • Commercial property owners in the area want to maintain C-2 designation with up to 120 feet. ƒ 10.4—Multi-Use Path—no comments. ƒ 10.5—Habitat Enhancement • Vary set backs from the water, with a larger set back for City owned property and less for privately owned property. ƒ 10.6—Stormwater • Treatment system within the riparian zone. • 11—New Parks o Neighborhood parks defined as 1.7 acres per 1000 residents. MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission December 3, 2007 Page 3 Additional comments: • Vision statement needs additional language to include influence of the UO, impact Franklin Boulevard had on the area, significance of MUC on the broader community and the region. • Reservations on multi-way boulevard concept; more appropriate where residential/neighborhood or commercial/retail development already existed; concerned about impact on hospitality businesses in the area. • Consider completely separating pedestrian and bicycle traffic from motor vehicle traffic, specifically bridging Franklin Boulevard. • Big box concerns—term not used consistently; needs to be defined; need strong implementation strategy. Mr. Hledik stated he was prepared to endorse the proposal for public review purposes, but he was not prepared to endorse the preferred alternative. Mr. Lawless added he was comfortable endorsing the proposal to move it forward for public review if it included the Commission’s discussion elements. Mr. Duncan said he supported moving the proposal forward for public review, but still had concerns regarding water rights. Mr. Dedrick concurred with the recommendation that staff get a legal analysis on the water rights issues. Mr. Hledik, seconded by Mr. McCown, moved to endorse for the purpose of public review the preferred alternative for the Walnut Station Mixed Use Center project incorporating the issues and concerns raised in the collective discussions on November 19 and December 3, 2007. The motion passed unanimously, 5:0. III. ITEMS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF A. Other Items from Staff Ms. Gardner reported the City Council had approved the Planning Commission work plan including completion of a comprehensive lands assessment of all land types, and had scheduled a work session on H.B. 3337 in January 2008. The City Council discussed at length putting the Growth Management Policies (GMP) into the City Code, and directed staff to return with specifics about how to include GMP in the criteria for land use applications. The next Planning Commission meeting was scheduled for January 14, 2008. Upcoming agenda topics included scheduling a winter retreat, election of officers, and updating contact information and City Council buddies. Mr. Duncan looked forward to a review of the bylaws. MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission December 3, 2007 Page 4  B. Other Items from Commission Mr. Hledik reported that the Opportunity Siting task team met last week. It was a terrific group and moving quickly. He had attended new commissioner orientation. Ms. Gardner added staff would conduct a Planning Commission specific training. Mr. Lawless reported the Infill Compatibility task team was an energetic, diverse group of inspired people. Mr. Lawless welcomed Ms. Beierle to the Planning Commission. Mr. Duncan adjourned the meeting at 1:30 p.m. (Recorded by Linda Henry) m:\2007\planning and development department\planning division\planning commission\pc071203.doc MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission December 3, 2007 Page 5