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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Comment (4)September 7, 2016 Erik erg-Johansen Lane County Public Service 125 East 8th Ave Eugene, Or 97401 Dear r, Berg-Johansen If the city does approve Laurel Ridge I would like to propose safety ridges plates on the road, such a are o Cascade Highway when approaching Highway 58. The alert drivers that they are corning to a change and to be alert. I don't think anyone would deny 30th Ave is heavily traveled now and adding to it would not be welcomed . I hope the city will consider the consequences of approving Laurel Ridge and its consequences on 30th Ave. Thank you, J ) III I/ J i Erik Berg Johansen Assistant Planner City of Eugene Planning Division erik.berg@cl.eugene.ci.eugene.or.us The End Of River View Street, north of 30th Avenue, west of Moon Mountain I am very pleased to receive your notice about the second Public Hearing to reconsider the boundary lines between the "low density residential zoning" 400 homes) and the Parks and Open Spaces area between The End of River View Street, north of 30th Avenue, and west of Moon Mountain. The new proposed subject site is a big improvement from the original development plan. My hopes are that you and your fellow City Planners will see the benefit of restricting the development sites to one specific area . Breaking up this beautiful wooded area will have devastating consequences on the surrounding environment. The plan of building "Low Density Residential Areas" in multiple places reminds me of clear cutting a forest and leaving a stand of three or four trees here and there. I have heard arguments from our cities Parks and Open Spaces department, that South Eugene has enough paths that lead to the Ridge Line Trail System, enough of their share of Parks and Open Spaces, too many compared to the rest of the city. This area is a beautiful geological fact. Everyone in Eugene, all of Lane County, and people visiting from other countries will remember and enjoy it. Personally I feel a sense of pride that it has remained. I thank the trees for being there, and sharing themselves with me. I say this out loud. People are losing their touch with the natural world. They don't care about it because they don't see it, don't touch it, don't smell it, and don't hear it. What a great experience it would be to show children how everyone can help save a little bit of nature in their own city. Maybe they would understand that woods and open spaces don't = development or _ Hopefully they will learn that this equation is not good for humanity. Not good for all living things. I have shared my feelings of the beauty and solitude of this area with many hikers, bikers, bird watchers, black berry pickers, every one who enjoys this gift. Each person is awe struck that this area is here in Eugene. When I tell these people that these forests will be divided and that there are plans to r s Georgiann Olsgard 3175 Potter St. Eugene, Oregon 97405 September 6, 2016 To: Erik Berg Johansen Asst. Planner City of Eugene Regarding the development end of River View St., North of 30th Ave. Moon Mountain development As a long time home owner and hiker of city and county trails, I feel it is important to keep the greenway. A continuous green belt for wildlife, hiking, and a way of living. The area has steep terrain, needs much infrastructure. I feel the density of housing should be closer to downtown. We are in a cul-de-sac due to the hills which are being denuded. I thought there was some ordinance prohibiting cutting of hilltop trees, and the longer I live here, the fewer trees. The few trees that are left, are vulnerable to winds. Increasing areas needing fire and police coverage, difficult accessiblity such as Moon Mountain, are not in the best interests of people that chose to live here. Again, why do we cater to out of state developers? Will they get a tax break? Will this be an eye-sore like Capstone which will be a slum in the future? (I call it the projects). Please think of urban sustainability. Think of your own mark on this beautiful land. Sincerely, Georgiann Olsgard i ~ ~ ~ 1 rF ! I ~ ~ ~ ~ t i . p o~~ EP Erik Berg Johansen Assistant Planner City of Eugene Planning Division Oregonians never see a Bob Cat in their life time! I feel proud that these elusive animals feel secure enough to stay. There is at least one spring I hear that flows all year round. I would like to ask every person on The City Planning Commission, all The City Commissioners, The Mayor and the out of state developers, (why is this happening?) to take an afternoon walk through this wild wooded area. I hope that they will understand the importance of this proposal. What will happen to the wild life if this area is broken up? The balance of nature will be effected. The deer and plethora of raccoon and opossum will over populate. Their natural predators will be forced to leave. Doesn't it make sense that people will report seeing a cougar in their back yard and deer eating their gardens? When habitat shrinks animals become pests to get rid of. Who was here first? Finally there is the very real danger of over burdening fire fighting recourses. Read the USDA Fire Fighting Resources. Saving homes has become as important, or more important than saving forest these days. "This fire is not contained, but so far no structures have been damaged." You hear it on the news almost every night during fire season. Every summer this problem grows and grows as the wild fires increase, the climate dries, and summers start sooner and end later. People, (usually with high incomes who can afford building or buying a home in the woods) want to build away from the city and look out their windows at the beautiful wooded landscape. There is some illogical thinking going on here. Even though many in Eugene no nothing of this proposal. After I explain it to them, they are outraged! I have not met a person who doesn't feel strongly that their voices must be heard. Something must change. Planners and developers must listen. Many in Eugene and surrounding areas are working very hard to convince the City Planners and Developers, that YES we can make changes ! Why do we find it so easy to hear plans of developing new buildings, new shopping areas, and more expensive student housing? Why don't we hear about the environment that surrounds us? The areas we all can enjoy? How about sustainability? Has any of our cities Planning Division communicated with Portland's Urban Sustainability Commissioners? Nick Fish, Amanda Fritz, Steve Novick, and Dan Saltzman? Why are the majority of these Developers from out of state? It's our city. It takes many voices to move a mountain of bureaucrats. We will be heard. Thank You Susan R. Ferris BERG-JOHANSEN Erik From: Marti G <martigerdes@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2016 7:20 AM To: BERG-JOHANSEN Erik Subject: Spring Blvd/Laurel Hill Valley/Mt. Baldy proposed development - re: Sept 21 meeting Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Flagged Hi Erik, I'm writing to urge the City to preserve (and grow) Eugene's trail system in South Eugene area and to prevent development where it will impinge on the area's rare and limited "wild" areas. I understand developers continue to try to build in the Spring Boulevard, Laurel Hill Valley and Mount Baldy areas. Eugene has few remaining natural areas, and none as truly wild-feeling as the areas along the Ridgeline Trail. I hike the Ridgeline frequently (at least weekly) and have volunteered for trail maintenance, so I take particular interest in seeing that we preserve natural areas like this where citizens can truly feel like they're out in the wilderness when they're still in the city. These areas especially benefit people who are carless or otherwise can't get out of town, or who simply don't want to add to the carbon footprint to hike out out of town so keep their footprints literally local.The Ribbon Trail, in particular, is a perfect getaway in this regard because a bus stop is so nearby. To add housing in this area would destroy what is now a delightful resource the City and all citizens should be incredibly proud of and work hard to preserve. Eugeneans are so fortunate to have a trail system like the Ridgeline so close; it's an uncommon perk of living here. I hope the City will continue to realize what a gem we have in the trail system and do all it can to prevent development that will change the nature of this rare trail environment. I can't attend the Sept. 21 meeting, but please include my support for continued preservation of the Ridgeline Trail system and its environment, which offers untold thousands of citizens many generations of enjoyment, rather than development that will line the pockets of just a few individuals or corporations while destroying a sense of nature that is all too rare in metropolitan areas like ours. This one-time decision has long-range consequences that, if the area is diminished through development, can't be reversed. Thank you, Marti Gerdes BERG-J JASEN Erik From: carolces@comcast.net Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2016 11:10 PM To: BERG-JOHANSEN Erik Subject: Laurel Ridge to Mt. Baldy Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Flagged I am a 40 year resident here and I am depending on you to DO THE RIGHT THING and help us save this pristine segment of our environment. You cannot know, nor can 1 put ii to words, the immense negative impact we all would suffer if this gem is lost. Please do not extinguish this beacon which we all need, thanks in advance- Carol T. Cesaletti 3065 Potter St. Eugene Oregon Erik Berg Johansen Hearing Official c/o Erik Berg Johansen Assistant Planner Assistant Planner City of Eugene Planning Division Eugene Planning Division erik.berg@cl.eugene.ci.eugene.or.us 99 West 10th Avenue Eugene, Or. 97401 The End Of River View Street north of 30th Avenue west of Moon Mountain I am very pleased to receive your notice about the second Public Hearing to reconsider the boundary lines between the "low density residential zoning" ( 400 homes) and the Parks and Open Spaces area between The End of River View Street, north of 30th Avenue, and west of Moon Mountain. The new proposed subject site is a big improvement from the original development plan. My hopes are that you and your fellow City Planners will see the benefit of restricting the development sites to one specific area. Breaking up this beautiful wooded area will have devastating consequences on the surrounding environment. The plan of building "Low Density Residential Areas" in multiple places reminds me of clear cutting a forest and leaving a stand of three or four trees here and there. I have heard arguments from our cities Parks and Open Spaces department, that South Eugene has enough paths that lead to the Ridge Line Trail System, enough of their share of Parks and Open Spaces, too many compared to the rest of the city. This area is a beautiful geological fact. Everyone in Eugene, all of Lane County, and people visiting from other countries will remember and enjoy it. Personally I feel a sense of pride that it has remained. I thank the trees for being there, and sharing themselves with me. I say this out loud. People are losing their touch with the natural world. They don't care about it because they don't see it, don't touch it, don't smell it, and don't hear it. What a great experience it would be to show children how everyone can help save a little bit of nature in their own city. Maybe they would understand that woods and open spaces don't = development or _ Hopefully they will learn that this equation is not good for humanity. Not good for all living things. I have shared my feelings of the beauty and solitude of this area with many hikers, bikers, bird watchers, black berry pickers, every one who enjoys this gift. Each person is awe struck that this area is here in Eugene. When I tell these people that these forests will be divided and that there are plans to develop most of the area into subdivisions, they are very angry and very very sad. "Where do I write to?" "Who do I write to?" "What can I do?" Most feel a sense of hopelessness. "Wliy don't we hear about these things?" "Nothing will ever change." "City planners work with developers, they see money." There is a sense of apathy. I've walked these woods for years. The beauty and diversity are enonnous. The variety of trees, the bird calls, many hawks, osprey, tree bats, wild flowers that I have never seen before. I have even seen the elusive Bob Cat. Many native Oregonians never see a Bob Cat in their life time! I feel proud that these elusive animals feel secure enough to stay. There is at least one spring I hear that flows all year round. I would like to ask every person on The City Planning Commission, all The City Commissioners, The Mayor and the out of state developers, (why is this happening?) to take an afternoon walk through this wild wooded area. I hope that they will understand the importance of this proposal. What will happen to the wild life if this area is broken up? The balance of nature will be effected. The deer and plethora of raccoon and opossum will over populate. Their natural predators will be forced to leave. Doesn't it make sense that people will report seeing a cougar in their back yard and deer eating their gardens? When habitat shrinks animals become pests to get rid of Who was here first? Finally there is the very real danger of over burdening fire fighting recourses. Read the USDA Fire Fighting Resources. Saving homes has become as important, or more important than saving forest these days. "This fire is not contained, but so far no structures have been damaged." You hear it on the news almost every night during fire season. Every summer this problem grows and grows as the wild fires increase, the climate dries, and summers start sooner and end later. People, (usually with high incomes who can afford building or buying a home in the woods) want to build away from the city and look out their windows at the beautiful wooded landscape. There is some illogical thinking going on here. Even though many in Eugene no nothing of this proposal. After I explain it to them, they are outraged! I have not met a person who doesn't feel strongly that their voices must be heard. Something must change. Planners and developers must listen. Many in Eugene and surrounding areas are working very hard to convince the City Planners and Developers, that YES we can make changes ! Why do we find it so easy to hear plans of developing new buildings, new shopping areas, and more expensive student housing? Why don't we hear about the environment that surrounds us? The areas we all can enjoy? How about sustainability? Has any of our cities Planning Division communicated with Portland's Urban Sustainability Commissioners? Nick Fish, Amanda Fritz, Steve Novick, and Dan Saltzman? Why are the majority of these Developers from out of state? It's our city. It takes many voices to move a mountain of bureaucrats. We will be heard. Thank You A o 1 Erik Berg Johansen Assistant P1amler City of Eugene Planing Division erik.berg@cl.eugene.ci.eugene.or.us all z s -~-tea The End Of River View Street, north of 30th Avenue, west of Moon Mountain I am very pleased to receive your notice about the second Public Hearing to reconsider the boundary lines between the "low density residential zoning" 400 homes) and the Parks and Open Spaces area between The End of River View Street, north of 30t" Avenue, and west of Moon Mountain. The new proposed subject site is a big improvement from the original development plan. My hopes are that you and your fellow City Planners will see the benefit of restricting the development sites to one specific area . Breaking up this beautiful wooded area will have devastating consequences on the surrounding environment. The plan of building "Low Density Residential Areas" in multiple places reminds me of clear cutting a forest and leaving a stand of three or four trees here and there. I have heard arguments from our cities Parks and Open Spaces department, that South Eugene has enough paths that lead to the Ridge Line Trail System, enough of their share of Parks and Open Spaces, too many compared to the rest of the city. This area is a beautiful geological fact. Everyone in Eugene, all of Lane County, and people visiting from other countries will remember and enjoy it. Personally I feel a sense of pride that it has remained. I thank the trees for being there, and sharing themselves with me. I say this out loud. People are losing their touch with the natural world. They don't care about it because they don't see it, don't touch it, don't smell it, and don't hear it. What a great experience it would be to show children how everyone can help save a little bit of nature in their own city. Maybe they would understand that woods and open spaces don't = development or _ Hopefully they will learn that this equation is not good for humanity. Not good for all living things. I have shared my feelings of the beauty and solitude of this area with many hikers, bikers, bird watchers, black berry pickers, every one who enjoys this gift. Each person is awe struck that this area is here in Eugene. When I tell these people that these forests will be divided and that there are plans to develop most of the area into subdivisions, they are very angry and very very sad. "Where do I write to?" "Who do I write to?" "What can I do?" Most feel a sense of hopelessness. "Why don't we hear about these things?" "Nothing will ever change." "City planners work with developers, they see money." There is a sense of apathy. I've walked these woods for years. The beauty and diversity are enormous. The variety of trees, the bird calls, many hawks, osprey, tree bats, wild flowers that I have never seen before. I have even seen the elusive Bob Cat. Many native Oregonians never see a Bob Cat in their life time! I feel proud that these elusive animals feel secure enough to stay. There is at least one spring I hear that flows all year round. I would like to ask every person on The City Planning Commission, all The City Commissioners, The Mayor and the out of state developers, (why is this happening?) to take an afternoon walk through this wild wooded area. I hope that they will understand the importance of this proposal. What will happen to the wild life if this area is broken up? The balance of nature will be effected. The deer and plethora of raccoon and opossum will over populate. Their natural predators will be forced to leave. Doesn't it make sense that people will report seeing a cougar in their back yard and deer eating their gardens? When habitat shrinks animals become pests to get rid of Who was here first? Finally there is the very real danger of over burdening fire fighting recourses. Read the USDA Fire Fighting Resources. Saving homes has become as important, or more important than saving forest these days. "This fire is not contained, but so far no structures have been damaged." You hear it on the news almost every night during fire season. Every summer this problem grows and grows as the wild fires increase, the climate dries, and summers start sooner and end later. People, (usually with high incomes who can afford building or buying a home in the woods) want to build away from the city and look out their windows at the beautiful wooded landscape. There is some illogical thinking going on here. Even though many in Eugene no nothing of this proposal. After I explain it to them, they are outraged! I have not met a person who doesn't feel strongly that their voices must be heard. Something must change. Planners and developers must listen. Many in Eugene and surrounding areas are working very hard to convince the City Planners and Developers, that YES we can make changes ! Why do we find it so easy to hear plans of developing new buildings, new shopping areas, and more expensive student housing? Why don't we hear about the environment that surrounds us? The areas we all can enjoy? How about sustainabiiity? Has any of our cities Planning Division cominunicated with Portland's Urban Susta'ability Coininissioners? Nick Fish, Amanda Fritz, Steve Novick, and Dan Saltzman? Why are the majority of these Developers from out of state? It's our city. It takes many voices to move a mountain of bureaucrats. We will be heard. Th r i a n k You BE -J S Erik From: Trevor Petach <trevor.petach@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, September 16, 2016 1:59 PM To: BERG-JOHANSEN Erik Subject: Comment on Land Use Application: Z 16-002 Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Flagged Hi Erik, I noticed your name on the land use permit application for changing the zoning of four parcels from AG to R-1 in south Eugene. I'm not sure exactly what the zoning change would mean, but I gather that the owners would like to re-zone the lots so that building homes would be permitted (and that building is not permitted right now). Is that correct? In any case, those parcels abut some of the best remaining potential parkland around Eugene (near Moon Mountain and Bloomberg). In my view, additional open space and hiking trails would make Eugene a significantly better community, and I am opposed to any development that might hinder protection of and access to future parks. I would only be in favor of the re-zoning if the property owners make significant contributions towards increasing the amount of parkland or improving access to existing parkland. Perhaps one way to contribute would be by donating some (say -50%) of the land to Eugene Parks and Recreation or giving conservation easements for trails to cross the properties. Additionally, I think that any more than four structures total on the four properties would significantly degrade the quality of the existing ribbon and moon mountain trails. I won't be able to attend the hearing on the 21 st, but I hope you can take into account these sentiments. Thanks, and best, Trevor Petach Resident 2990 Capital Dr (HI) i I am very pleased to receive your notice about the second Public Hearin to reconsider the boundary lines between the "low density residential zoning" 400 homes) and the Parks and Open Spaces area between The End o River View Street, north of 30th Avenue, and west o Moon om twin. these people that these forests will be divided and that there are plans to develop most of the area into subdivisions, they are very angry and very very sad. "Where do I write to?" "Who do I write to?" "What can I do?" Most feel a sense of hopelessness. "Why don't we hear about these things?" "Nothing will ever change." "City planners work with developers, they see money." There is a sense of apathy. I've walked these woods for years. The beauty and diversity are enonnous. The variety of trees, the bird calls, many hawks, osprey, tree bats, wild flowers that I have never seen before. I have even seen the elusive Bob Cat. Many native Oregonians never see a Bob Cat in their life time! I feel proud that these elusive animals feel secure enough to stay. There is at least one spring I hear that flows all year round. I would like to ask every person on The City Planning Commission, all The City Commissioners, The Mayor and the out of state developers, (why is this happening?) to take an afternoon walk through this wild wooded area. I hope that they will understand the importance of this proposal. What will happen to the wild life if this area is broken up? The balance of nature will be effected. The deer and plethora of raccoon and opossum will over populate. Their natural predators will be forced to leave. Doesn't it make sense that people will report seeing a cougar in their back yard and deer eating their gardens? When habitat shrinks animals become pests to get rid of Who was here first? Finally there is the very real danger of over burdening fire fighting recourses. Read the USDA Fire Fighting Resources. Saving homes has become as important, or more important than saving forest these days. "This fire is not contained, but so far no structures have been damaged." You hear it on the news almost every night during fire season. Every summer this problem grows and grows as the wild fires increase, the climate dries, and summers start sooner and end later. People, (usually with high incomes who can afford building or buying a home in the woods) want to build away from the city and look out their windows at the beautiful wooded landscape. There is some illogical thinking going on here. Even though many in Eugene no nothing of this proposal. After I explain it to them, they are outraged! I have not met a person who doesn't feel strongly that their voices must be heard. Something must change. Planners and developers must listen. Many in Eugene and surrounding areas are working very hard to convince the City Planners and Developers, that YES we can make changes ! Why do we find it so easy to hear plans of developing new buildings, new shopping areas, Thank You