BERG-JOHANSEN Erik <br />From: sjcarkin@comcast.net <br />Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2017 5:55 AM <br />To: BERG-JOHANSEN Erik <br />Subject: Comments on the proposed development at 32nd & Hilyard <br />Dear Mr. Berg, <br />I've reviewed the TIA and plans for the proposed residential/retail building at 32nd & Hilyard. As a <br />resident of SE Eugene and frequent walker in that area, I have a few concerns: <br />1. That the utilities for this complex be underground and that underground positioning be extended to <br />nearby residences as far as possible. EWEB and the City of Eugene need to address the gross <br />overburden and profusion of above-ground, criss-crossing, multi-layered power lines whenever there <br />is an opportunity to do so, and a new complex provides that opportunity. Especially along Hilyard and <br />the Amazon Parkway, the power lines are a blight and a danger in that EWEB and the City do not <br />have the capacity to maintain this high-maintenance power infrastructure, especially given our value <br />for trees. <br />2. The TIA seems naive in relation to my experience. I am a daily commuter to LCC and a near-daily <br />walker of that area in summer and spring, walking to Albertson's, Hideaway, Mazzi's, and <br />occasionally the Peace Health Clinic. Crossing Hilyard on foot or trying to turn south from 32nd to <br />Hilyard is a dangerous activity. I find traffic jams and congestion at each Amazon and Hilyard <br />intersections between 7:30 and 8:15 am most weekday mornings. On a related note, there is much <br />bike traffic and families with children on bikes and with bikes in this area, moving to Tugman Park as <br />well as the dog park farther north. Their safety must be addressed through safer and more bike <br />lanes. Most of the time families on bikes share sidewalks with pedestrians. <br />3. Does Eugene not have some kind of minimum solar energy requirements for new buildings? It <br />was disappointing not to find such an allowance in the plans. <br />4. The height of the building is beyond anything seen in the residential neighborhood in which it is <br />propsed to be built. I strongly advocate for a 3 story maximum structure. Even the Peace Health <br />Building and Albertson's are no more than 1+ or 2 stories. A five-story building in this area is out of <br />step with the neighborhood. <br />Finally, I want to recognize what is functional about this plan. It does begin the transition to a more <br />mixed-use development, which I support. However, I cannot tell whether the building is designed for <br />more permanent residential use or to accommodate Lane Community College <br />students/commuters. If the renter focus is largely students, much more mitigation for bicycles should <br />be undertaken. Underground parking is also a good feature of the design, keeping cars out of <br />roadways that need clearing and out from under electrical wires and trees that have been falling <br />lately. <br />Thank you for taking my concerns into consideration. <br />Sincerely, <br />