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Home My WebLink AboutPublic Testimony (through 9-4-18) To:HearingsOfficial,c/oNickGioello,AssociatePlanner;CityofEugenePlanningDivision Subject:UofONorthCampusConditionalUsePermitandWillametteGreenwayPermit Date:September1,2018 From:JamesNeu,350.EUGVolunteer DearHearingsOfficial, TherequestbytheUniversityofOregonfortheproposedUofONorthCampusConditionalUsePermit andWillametteGreenwayPermitisforthedevelopmentofuniversityuses,associateduniversity researchuses,athleticfields,pedestrianandbicycleenhancementsandrestorationofriparianareas. Theproposedathleticfieldsdonotalignenvironmentallywiththeproximitytothesouthbankofthe WillametteRiver ortotheeastendoftheproposedDowntownRiverfrontParkProject.Theproposed athleticfieldswouldhaveaprofoundimpactontheCityofEugeneandtheWillametteRiver. Theapplicationconspicuouslydoesnotspecifythetypeormaterialstheproposedathleticfieldswould becomposedof.However,itdoesmentionͻĭğƩĻŅǒƌconsiderationforsurfacematerialforŅźĻƌķƭͼͲͻǤĻğƩ roundplayingŅźĻƌķƭͼͲͻƦƩĻǝĻƓƷźƚƓofstormdrainagerunoffandstormdrainƒğƷĻƩźğƌƭͼwhichsuggests anartificialsurfacefortheathleticfieldcomposition.Themajorityofartificialathleticfieldsare constructedofcrumbrubber,grounduptiresthatmakeupthebaseofartificialturf,whichhas scientificallybeenproventobehighlytoxicandcausecancerinhumans.Everyplanproposedbythe Universityforthissite,withnoalternativessuggestedbytheAssociateVicePresidentofCampus Planning,saiditwouldbealogicalconclusionartificialturfwouldbeused. AccordingtotheCityofEugeneLandDevelopmentCodesection9.3700,SRPRiverfrontParkSpecial AreaZonewhichencompassesthisareastates,ͻŷĻfundamentalpurposeoftheSRPRiverfrontPark SpecialAreaZoneistoprovideforactivitiesandusesthatcomplementtheresearchandeducational functionsoftheOregonState(OSU)SystemofHigherEducationingeneralandtheUniversityofOregon (UO)inƦğƩƷźĭǒƌğƩ͵ͼTheobjectivesarestatedmorespecificallyinsubsections;2.)ͻƚencouragearange ofprimaryusesthatcomplementtheresearchandeducationalactivitiesoftheOSUSystemofHigher EducationingeneralandtheUofOinƦğƩƷźĭǒƌğƩͼͲ4.)ͻƚrecognizethenaturalamenitiesofthesite, balancingtheopportunityfordevelopmenttousethoseamenitieswiththeƦǒĬƌźĭ͸ƭinterestinproper protectionand,whereappropriate,useofƷŷĻƒͼͲ5.)ͻƚprovidearegulatorycontextthatallows developmentofasuccessfulresearchanddevelopmentparkofbenefittoboththeUofOandthe metropolitanğƩĻğͼͲ6.)ͻƚprovideareviewprocessthatencouragesadesigncharacterizedbydiversity ofbuildingmassandotherfeatureswhichfosterasenseofinterestinandexcitementaboutthe developmentandwhichcomplementtheWillametteRiverandtheaźƌƌƩğĭĻ͵ͼNoneoftheaboveland useobjectivespertaintoathleticfieldsandmoreexplicitlypromoteresearchandeducationalfunctions aswellasmaintainingthenaturalamenitiesofthesite. AccordingtotheCityofEugeneLandDevelopmentCodesection9.3710subsection1.b,PrimaryUses,it ƭƷğƷĻƭͲͼLaboratories,offices,andothernonmanufacturingfacilitiesforbasicorappliedresearchand developmentthatcomplementtheresearchandeducationalactivitiesofOSSystemofHigherEducation ingeneralortheUofOinƦğƩƷźĭǒƌğƩ͵ͼTheintentoftheLandDevelopmentCodewasforbiological researchandmaintainingariparianzone,notthethreeathleticfieldsof305,000sq.ft. Petroleumbasedcrumbrubbercontainslead,aneurotoxin,cadmium,zinc,carbonblack,and dibenzopyrenes,aknowncarcinogen.Thissurfacebecomesmuchhotterthannaturalturf,offgases toxics,isinhaledandinjestedduringuse,andbecauseofitshardbaseismorepronetoinjuryandcan leadtoinfectionriskssuchasMRSA.Thefineparticlesofcrumbrubberthatinfiltratetheartificial substrate,theplasticmaterialthatresemblesbladesofgrass,becomeafinedustorfinesizeparticles whendisturbedbyactivity.Whenthesurfaceissubjectedtolargeamountsofwater,thefinesize rubberparticlesfloatandrunoffthesurface.Ittakesmanytonsofcrumbrubbertocoverthesurfaceof justoneathleticfield,letalonethreefields.Fieldturfinstallersrecommend2.53lbs.ofcrumbrubber persquarefootoffieldsurface.Theproposedathleticfieldis305,000sq.ft.whichwouldrequire anywherefrom381to457tonsoftoxicandfloatablecrumbrubbertobeappliedtothesurface.Should thisareawithinЋЉЉ͸oftheriverbankbecomeinundatedorflooded,thecrumbrubberwouldbecome toxicflotsamandfloatdownrivercontaminatingtheriverbankdownstream. Naturalgrassturffieldsuseenormousamountsofwatertokeepthemgreenandalive.Landscapers recommend.62gallonsor1inchofwaterpersquareft.ofturftwotimesaweek.Thesethreefields wouldrequire380,000gallonsofwateraweek.Theyalsorequireregularapplicationsofpesticidesand herbicidestokeepthemfreeofinvasivebroadleafplantsandinsectsthatinhibitsturfgrowth.After herbicidalandpesticidalapplications,theirrigatedturfwoulddraintolowlyingareasdistributingthese nonnaturalfossilfuelproductsintotheWillametteRiver. Therehavebeenmanystudiesdonebybiologistsontheeffectsofartificialnightlighttobirdsduring migrationthatrevealsthelightisdetrimentaltotheirmovement.Theintensityofthelightbleaches visualpigmentssothatbirdsbecomeblindedandthefactthatbirdsareattractedtolightatnight resultsinmortalityfromcollision.Rainyandmistylightwithalowovercastceilingisespecially hazardoustomigratorybirdswhichwouldbefromOctoberthroughAprilintheWillametteValley.Upto fiftyspeciesofbirdsmigrateatnightwithherons,egrets,andkingfishersthatfrequentthebanksofthe WillametteRiverbeingsomeofthem.Thefencingofthefacilitywoulddisruptthenaturalpathand traveloftheanimalsthatliveintheareathatfeedandforagealongtheriverriparianzone. TheproposedandinprocessDowntownRiverfrontParkisatransformationalprojecttakenonbythe CityofEugeneandaprivatedevelopmentagencythatlookstorehabilitate16acresofwhatusedtobe EugeneWaterandElectricBoardproperty.TheCityofEugenepurchasedthepropertywhichhas envisionedahotel,condominiums,lowincomehousing,ariverfrontpark,greenspaceextensionsand wetlands,urbanagriculture,andpollinatorknoll,alllocatedwestandconnectedtotheUofONorth Campussite.Thelightingfromtheproposedathleticfieldswouldbeaninvasiveintrusionintothis projectespeciallyfortheresidentsofthehousingfacilitiesoftheproposedDowntownRiverfrontPark Project. Therehavebeenoverthreedecadesofstudent,faculty,andcommunityprotests,fivelawsuits,twoUof OSenateResolutions,anAssociatedStudentUnionofOregonResolution,aStudentSenateResolution, petitions,andacampuswidevotetokeepthisnorthcampusareaundevelopedandnatural. ThispermitproposaldoesnotaddresswhethertheUniversityofOregonhasdoneacostbenefitanalysis forevaluatingalternatives,arequirementestablishedin1958.Thereisnoevidencethattheproposal hasdeterminedthecostsandbenefitsofthealternativescenariosfortheriverfront:officebuildingsand playingfieldsvs.restoration,academicresearchandpublicuse.Thistypeofstudymustbedonebefore adeterminationofthistypeofusecanbeallowedespeciallyforapermitof30years. IurgetheHearingsOfficialtorecommendnottoallowtheinstallationofathleticturffieldsandbanksof sportsfieldlightsfortheUofONorthCampusConditionalUsePermitandtheWillametteGreenway Permit.Thisareashouldbekeptariparianzoneandresearchstudyareaforenvironmentalsciences, biology,andlandscapearchitecturestudents,andanaturalhabitatforthestudentsofOregonandthe publicandresidentsofEugenetoenjoy. Thankyouforyourconsiderationinthismatter. JamesNeu 3072WebsterSt. Eugene,Or.97404 August 29, 2018 Hearings Official c/o Nick Gioello, Associate Planner City of Eugene Planning and Development 99 W 10 th Ave Eugene, OR 97401 RE: CU 18-0001/WG 18-0002 UO North Campus Dear Hearings Official: I participated in the Community Stakeholder Focus Group for the North Campus Conditional Use Permit project on behalf of Travel Lane County. Travel Lane County, the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region’s destination marketing organization. Our mission is to attract overnight visitors to Lane County and we target leisure travelers, sports event planners and meetings/convention planners. We are blessed with tremendous tourism assets in the county. This includes the riverfront paths and connections to the Willamette river, which is why we were excited to participate in the stakeholder group. Travel Lane County supports the University of Oregon’s proposed CUP because it can facilitate projects that would enhance, restore, and activate its riverfront land and revitalize the area. An improved riverfront would be a huge benefit not only to the University, but to the thousands of locals and visitors who will participate in active and passive recreation opportunities, an enhanced scenic experience, and much-improved river access. Seeking to connect people to the river, the CUP application proposes active uses nearby to contribute to a safe environment. The addition of sports facilities in this area is very exciting and something the community needs more of in order to facilitate active lifestyles. Travel Lane County partners with the University to utilize meeting and sports facilities that attract thousands of attendees each year. The North Campus development provides new opportunities for these partnerships to grow the visitor industry. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Travel Lane County appreciates how the University carefully considered feedback from us and the community. An example of how the team listened and responded to the feedback is demonstrated in the proposal, which goes above and beyond the code criteria in areas including the provision of a 200-foot development setback, double the code requirement. Travel Lane County respectfully asks that the University’s application be approved. Sincerely, Andy Vobora Vice President of Stakeholder Relations EUGENE, CASCADES & COAST SPORTS TRAVEL LANE COUNTY 754 Olive St PO Box 10286 Eugene OR 97440 541.484.5307 EugeneCascadesCoastSports.orgEugeneCascadesCoast.org August 22, 2018 Hearings Official c/o Nick Gioello, Associate Planner City of Eugene Planning and Development th 99 W 10 Ave Eugene, OR 97401 RE: CU 18-0001/WG 18-0002 UO North Campus Dear Mr. Gioello, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Conditional Use Permit / Willamette Greenway Permit proposal for the University of Oregon North Campus. The University of Oregon reached out to Willamette Riverkeeper early on in the CUP process to share information and receive feedback on the proposal. As such, we were especially intrigued with the possibilities in this proposal to address riparian restoration, water quality and river recreation improvements. In general, this proposal represents an opportunity for increased community engagement with students and the general public to help restore and protect a key riparian area while improving water quality and providing safe and enjoyable river recreation access. Restoration activities, such as removing invasive species and replanting with native trees and shrubs, will improve wildlife habitat, help control soil erosion and potentially improve water quality. Another possible benefit of this proposal might include improving the stormwater filtration process through use of special materials used to create new athletic fields. Additionally, creating an inviting natural area for legitimate recreation opportunities may help decrease illegal camping and drug use along the riverbank in this area. Willamette Riverkeeper supports the overall vision of this project along with the following considerations: Given the length of the riverbank here, it may make sense to establish an additional human powered craft access point in addition to the one on the upstream end of the property. It would seem that any lighting installed at the site should conform to Bird Friendly Building standards that are being widely implemented. Given the construction that will occur to lay back the riverbank, a survey of freshwater species should be done adjacent to the river bank - with the desire to protect any existing Western Pearlshell mussels being a significant consideration. We applaud the University of Oregon for its desire to create a 200 ft setback from the top of the river bank. This will help protect the ecological integrity of the Willamette River floodplain in this area, while providing to the maximum extent possible, open space, or vegetation between active areas and the Willamette river; protection and enhancement of the natural vegetative fringe along the river; and necessary and adequate public access to and along the river. Sincerely, Michelle Emmons Willamette Riverkeeper South Valley Advocate 454 Willamette Street Eugene, OR 97402 541.913.4318 michelle@willametteriverkeeper.org GIOELLO Nick R From:HOSTICK Robin A Sent:Tuesday, August 28, 2018 2:20 PM To:GIOELLO Nick R Subject:FW: UO North Campus Conditional Use Permit - Update and Public Hearing FW: Eugene Riverfront Redevelopment; ATT00001.htm Attachments: FYI CƩƚƒʹBRAUDDenny {ĻƓƷʹTuesday,August28,20181:36PM ƚʹHOSTICKRobinA<Robin.A.Hostick@ci.eugene.or.us> {ǒĬƆĻĭƷʹFwd:UONorthCampusConditionalUsePermitUpdateandPublicHearing SentfrommyiPhone Beginforwardedmessage: CƩƚƒʹ"KevinShanley"<KShanley@swagroup.com> ƚʹ"eeng@uoregon.edu"<eeng@uoregon.edu> /ĭʹ"BRAUDDenny"<Denny.Braud@ci.eugene.or.us> {ǒĬƆĻĭƷʹ hbƚƩƷŷ/ğƒƦǒƭ/ƚƓķźƷźƚƓğƌ ƭĻtĻƩƒźƷ ƦķğƷĻğƓķtǒĬƌźĭIĻğƩźƓŭ Dear Emily, I’m relatively new to Eugene, having moved here in ‘retirement’ about four and a half years ago, but I’m very interested in various growth strategies for the City of Eugene, such as Envision Eugene, and its constituent parts, such as the long term growth of the University campus. I have not previously participated in any of the public outreach for the North Campus area, and for that I apologize, but I have been interested in, closely following, and providing specific input and comments to the redevelopment plans for the EWEB property and the associated proposed Riverfront Park, which has been moving forward with more dispatch, perhaps, than the North Campus planning process. Perhaps the North Campus planning process might need to be updated to accommodate new conditions brought forward by this new development to the west of the University properties. One of my key comments to the EWEB development team has been its poor pedestrian and vehicular connectivity to the rest of the city transportation systems due to the UPRR railroad corridor. Good connectivity is, in my opinion, important from a standpoint of the long-term commercial viability of the site, but even more importantly from a short term life safety standpoint. I have suggested and advocated for a second grade separated railroad crossing for the site because the current plan only provides one railroad crossing-free direction of access: from East 4 Avenue. It is quite easy to imagine a scenario of a major emergency event calling th for fire truck and/or ambulance access to this major new development with the tracks blocked by a long, stalled UPRR freight train sitting on the tracks. (It is even conceivable that all or part of the Ferry Street Bridge Viaduct could collapse during the anticipated 1 Cascadia Fault earthquake, cutting off virtually all access to the eastern half of the proposed development, including the existing EWEB building.) I’ve shown how a new grade separated undercrossing would be potentially feasible at the east end of E8th Avenue, which would replace the existing grade crossing near that location. But we all know how difficult and time consuming it can be to work with UPRR and the cost of a new undercrossing would not be trivial in terms of the limited amount of new development on the EWEB site and so I’m not sanguine about seeing an E8th Avenue undercrossing come to fruition. (See Page 1 and 6 on the attached PDF) A clear alternative is therefore to connect the existing Agate Street/Riverfront Parkway undercrossing to the EWEB site with a small park-like drive parallel to the railroad tracks to provide a second connection. I expect that this has been proposed before and I expect this has probably been thoroughly resisted by individuals who want the entirety of the land between the railroad tracks and the river to be an exclusive natural area. I would counter that within the UGB there should be a priority placed on community life safety and public convenience for access to natural areas, recreation space and developable land for all ages and types of city residents, including those not able to hike or bike distances, like the aged or disabled. A continuation of Riverfront Parkway along the tracks would provide just that kind of access, especially if it was designed as a slow speed park drive, with continuous, metered parallel parking (which is in itself an effective traffic-calming tool). The parking meters limit and govern duration of parking and obviously provide a source of revenue for the University and City. The drive could be closed to public through-traffic for special riverfront or campus celebrations and events, and the pavement surface used for booths and stages to limit impacts to adjacent green space. The drive would continue to provide access even as we see major changes in our transportation modalities, including to increased ride sharing, electric vehicle use (including e-bikes), and possibly a transition someday to autonomous vehicles. The drive could also be constructed in phases, starting with the travel lanes and limited parking, but planned to accommodate more parking if the demand is there in the future. Perhaps if the Conditional Use Permit is really only an interim placeholder until the University has clearly identified demand for northward growth, then it might not be important to include a vehicular connection north of the railroad tracks, but the EWEB redevelopment seems to be moving forward at a deliberate pace with significant public and private areas of the project intended to be open for occupancy and open to the public by 2021 and that seems to call for some possible commitments by both the City and the University (and the interested public) to providing for adequate public safety and adequate long-term equitable access to the Willamette riverfront open space. I have two conflicting meetings the evening of the Conditional Use public hearing on September 12, so I am respectfully submitting these observations to you in writing. Best regards, Kevin KevinShanley,FASLA 2805UniversityStreet EugeneOR97403 5416502628cell 2 Department of Physics 27 August 2018 Hearings Official c/o Nick Gioello, Associate Planner City of Eugene Planning and Development th 99 W 10 Ave Eugene, OR 97401 RE: CU 18-0001/WG 18-0002 UO North Campus Dear Hearings Official: Thank you for the opportunity to comment. I am a member of the University of Oregon physics faculty and a veteran member and current chair of the UO Campus Planning Committee, though comments here are my own. Just as the City of Eugene is working diligently to broaden community connections to our riverfront through preparations for Downtown Riverfront projects, so is the University of Oregon planning for riverfront development that systematically brings more of the UO community to the riverside. Goals for UO development, embodied in its application for a North Campus Conditional Use Permit (NC-CUP), are attuned to its culturally- and internationally-diverse population of 29,000 students, staff and faculty who hail from home-town landscapes ranging from desert to rainforest. I support the proposed UO North Campus Conditional Use Permit application for the following reasons: 1.)³ ²¤³² ²¨£¤ ΑΔ ®¥ ³§¤ ΓΑ ¢±¤² ®±³§ ®¥ ³§¤ ± ¨«±® £ ³± ¢ª² ¥®± ¢®²¤±µ ³¨®Ǿ ¨¢«´£¨¦ ±¨¯ ±¨ ¤§ ¢¤¬¤³ £ ±¤²³®± ³¨® ¶¨³§¨ ¹®¤ ΑΏΏ ¥¤¤³ ¥±®¬ ³§¤ ±¨µ¤± ³®¯ ®¥ ¡ ª £ ¨ ®¤ ¯« ¢¤ ¶§¤±¤ ³§¤ ¬¨««± ¢¤ ¢®¤¢³² ³® ³§¤ ±¨µ¤±ȁ !®³§¤± Η ¢±¤² ¨² ²¤³ ²¨£¤ ¥®± ®³§¤± ®¯¤ ²¯ ¢¤ȁ "¸ £¤£¨¢ ³¨¦ ¬®²³ ®¥ ³§¤ .®±³§ # ¬¯´² ¢±¤ ¦¤ ³® ¢®²¤±µ ³¨® £ ®¯¤ ²¯ ¢¤Ǿ £ ¯±®¯®²¨¦ £¤µ¤«®¯¬¤³ ¶¤«« ¡¤«®¶ ¶§ ³ ¨² ««®¶¤£ ¨ ³§¤ ¢®£¤Ǿ ³§¤ ¯±®¯®²¤£ #50 ¬¤¤³² £ ¶¤««-¤·¢¤¤£² ³§¤ ¯¯±®µ « ¢±¨³¤±¨ ȁ 2.)³ ¯±®µ¨£¤² ¥®± ´¯ ³® ΕΗǾΕΏΏ ²¥ ®¥ ¡´¨«£¨¦ ¥®®³¯±¨³ ®±³§ ®¥ ³§¤ ³± ¢ª²Ǿ ¤°´ ³¨¦ ³® Γυ ®¥ ³§¤ ¤ȁ 4§¨² ®¥¥¤±² ®¯¯®±³´¨³¨¤² ¥®± µ ±¨®´² ´¨µ¤±²¨³¸ ¢ £¤¬¨¢ £ ±¤²¤ ±¢§ ´²¤²Ǿ ²´¢§ ² ¨£®®±-®´³£®®± ¢« ²²±®®¬²Ǿ ¶§¤±¤ ²³´£¤³² ¶®´«£ § µ¤ ®¯¯®±³´¨³¸ ³® ¤¦ ¦¤ ¶¨³§ ³§¤ ±¨µ¤±¥±®³³ ª¨¦ ¶ ³¤± ² ¬¯«¤²Ǿ ¬®¨³®±¨¦ ±¨¯ ±¨ ±¤²³®± ³¨® ¯±®©¤¢³²Ǿ ¬ ¯¯¨¦ ¤±®²¨® £ ²¤£¨¬¤³ ³¨® ¯ ³³¤±²¤µ¤±¸ ¢« ²² ¯¤±¨®£ȁ 4§¤ ¯±®¯®²¤£ ¡´¨«£¨¦ ²¨³¤² ¶®´«£ ¡¤ ³´¢ª¤£ ¨ £¨²¢±¤³¤«¸ ¤·³ ³® ³§¤ ± ¨«±® £ ³± ¢ª² £ «¨¬¨³¤£ ¨ §¤¨¦§³ £ ¥®®³¯±¨³Ǿ £ ¢®´«£ ¡¤ « ±¦¤«¸ ²§¨¤«£¤£ ¥±®¬ µ¨¤¶ ¡¸ ³±¤¤² ¯« ³¤£ ¡¤³¶¤¤ ³§¤¬ £ ³§¤ ¯¤£¤²³±¨ ȝ¡¨¢¸¢«¤ ¯ ³§ ³® ³§¤ ®±³§ȁ DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS 1274 University of Oregon, Eugene OR 97403-1274 (541) 346-4751 (541) 346-5861 TFwww.physics.uoregon.edu An equal-opportunity, affirmative-action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act 3.4§¤ .# #50 ¯¯«¨¢ ³¨® ¨² ³§¤ ±¤²´«³ ®¥ ¬®±¤ ³§ Β ¸¤ ±² ®¥ ¯« ¨¦Ǿ ¨¢«´£¨¦ ±®¡´²³ # ¬¯´² 0« ¨¦ £ & ¢¨«¨³¨¤² - ¦¤¬¤³ ¨² ¤¦ ¦¨¦ ³§¤ ¯´¡«¨¢ ¨ £¤µ¤«®¯¨¦ .®±³§ # ¬¯´² ¬¤£¬¤³ ³® ¨³² ¶ ±£-¶¨¨¦ # ¬¯´² 0« ȁ 4§¤ « ³³¤± ¦®µ¤±² 5/ £¤µ¤«®¯¬¤³Ǿ £ ¥®´£ ³¨® « ³® §®¶ ³§¤ 5/ ¢®¤¢³² ³® ¨³² ¯¤®¯«¤Ǿ ¤¤±¦¸ ´²¤ £ ³´± « ¤µ¨±®¬¤³ȁ &®««®¶¨¦ # ¬¯´² 0« ¯±®¢¤£´±¤²Ǿ ¤ ¢§ ¨£¨µ¨£´ « ¯±®©¤¢³ ¯±®¯®²¤£ ¥®± £¤µ¤«®¯¬¤³ «®¦ ³§¤ ±¨µ¤±¥±®³ ¶®´«£ ¤³ ¨« ¬´«³¨¯«¤ ¯´¡«¨¢ ¨¯´³ ¯±®¢¤²²¤² ¡¤¥®±¤ ±¤¢®¬¬¤£ ³¨®² ±¤ ¯ ²²¤£ «®¦ȁ I consider it a privilege to have a job working in an environment as beautiful and well-planned as the UO campus. Part of my mission as a member of the UO science faculty is to broaden participation in science-related careers by students from many different backgrounds and landscapes. The North Campus Conditional Use Permit application in front of you today provides, systematically, for riverside activities and uses that serve that purpose. Thus I strongly support this application. Dean Livelybrooks, Ph.D. Department of Physics, University of Oregon - 2 - August 24, 2018 Hearings Official c/o Nick Gioello, Associate Planner City of Eugene Planning and Development 99 W 10 th Ave Eugene, OR 97401 RE: CU 18-0001/WG 18-0002 UO North Campus Dear Mr. Gioello: By way of background I have been a resident of Eugene since 1950. During that time, I have made it a point to do whatever I can to protect both the Willamette and McKenzie rivers that flow through our communities. roposed U of O project will only enhance the Willamette river corridor in the vicinity of the proposed CUP. As recently as last week I was in a drift boat with City Manager Jon Ruiz and we witnessed numerous transient camps, several of which are on the banks of the U of O ownership. I believe that by increasing the activity and awareness of the riparian areas that this behavior will diminish and that we will be able to help restore the riverbanks to their natural state. I wholeheartedly support the CUP as proposed. allowing projects that would enhance, restore, and activate its riverfront land. I support the proposed CUP because it: Seeks to connect people to the river by facilitating improved access to the river. Proposes a 25-acre continuous conservation area along the river, which has the potential to be a landmark project for providing educational opportunities and encouraging stewardship. Proposes a 200-foot development setback from the river top-of-bank, double the required setback of 100 feet. It proposes active uses near the river to contribute to a safe environment. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. The universitygoes above and beyond the code criteria and should be approved. Respectfully Submitted John H Brown Evans, Elder, Brown & Seubert 101 east Broadway Ste 101 Eugene, OR 97401 john@eebcre.com University of Oregon Police Department Office of the Chief August 22, 2018 Hearings Official c/o Nick Gioello, Associate Planner City of Eugene Planning and Development th 99 W 10 Ave Eugene, OR 97401 RE: CU 18-0001/WG 18-0002 UO North Campus Dear Hearings Official: Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Conditional Use Permit and Willamette Greenway Permit application for the University of Oregon’s North Campus. As chief of police at the University of Oregon, my mission is to create an exceptionally safe and secure campus and I care deeply about the safety of students, faculty, staff, and the community. The proposed CUP sets forth a vision that will not only enhance the outdoor space, but will have a positive impact on the general safety of the area. By providing opportunities to improve river access for legitimate activities, open up views, and locate active uses near the riverfront, the CUP will make the area much easier for UOPD to patrol and a markedly less attractive space for those seeking to harm others. By creating opportunities for beautification and utilization, this CUP intrinsically increases the safety of those who take advantage of all it has to offer. The proposed CUP goes well beyond meeting the code in many respects. I fully support the approval of this conditional use permit. Sincerely, Matthew Carmichael Chief of Police The University of Oregon Office of the Chief - University of Oregon Police Department T th 2141 E 15 Ave, Eugene, Oregon 97403 541-346-2919 http://police.uoregon.edu