HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Testimony (9-4-18 to 9-7-18)
September 6, 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:
Thank you for the opportunity to comment
Willamette Greenway Permit application for North Campus. Several of us participated in the recreation
focus group for the project and are also users of the Riverfront Fields. The Department of Physical
Education and Recreations vision is that being active and seeking balance is a way of life. Club Sports
provides students the opportunity to compete, establish leadership opportunities, and form bonds that last
a lifetime.
Our recreation fields on campus, including the two existing fields along the river, are at full capacity. In a
given year, over 6,000 students participate physical education classes, intramurals, and club sports on our
campus fields. In addition, several thousand students use these fields for open recreation. The proposed
CUP offers opportunities to meet future needs on campus, and it is important to have options for recreation
fields that are close to classes and where students live. In its proposal, the university has carefully balanced
its long-term needs for physical education classes and student recreation with its other needs and interests
of the community.
Intramural and recreation programs have existed at the University of Oregon since the early 1920's. Our
programs provide opportunities for all students to take part in some phase of planned recreation at a time
that is convenient to their schedule. We believe opportunities provided should meet students' needs in the
areas of: 1) exercise and fitness, 2) stress reduction, 3) a sense of group belonging, 4) social interaction, 5)
relaxation, 6) self-testing and competition. All of these opportunities are ultimately aimed at fulfilling our
core purpose which is to educate, engage and inspire the campus community to live active, balanced lives.
North Campus represents great potential, should the opportunity to create spaces for these kinds of
activities emerge.
The proposed CUP not only exceeds the criteria in the city code, it creates a potential vision for the future
that will meet the essential needs of our students and be of tremendous benefit to students and the
Division of Student Life
Department of Physical Education and Recreation
1273 University of Oregon, Eugene OR 97403-1273
541-346-4183 | 541-346-1359 uorec.uoregon.edu
FAX
Sincerely,
Brent Harrison, Interim Co-Director, Physical Education and Recreation
Tiffany Lundy, Interim Co-Director, Physical Education and Recreation
Chantelle Russell, Associate Director for Physical Education
Amanda Deml, Assistant Director for Intramural Sports
Ben Prahl, Director of Club Sports
Syrina Revis, Student, Student Recreation Center Advisory Board, Vice-Chair
Rhaine Levesque, Student, Team President
Chesley Lindsey, Student, -President/Club Sports Advisory Board
Sam Eccles, Student, President/Club Sports Advisory Board
Aaron Doe, Student, Intramural Sports Supervisor/Participant
The University of Oregon
Division of Student Life
Department of Physical Education and Recreation
1273 University of Oregon, Eugene OR 97403-1273
541-346-4183 | 541-346-1359 uorec.uoregon.edu
FAX
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
UNIVERSITY SENATE
1715 Franklin Blvd, Eugene OR 97403 T (541) 346-4439
An equal-opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
UNIVERSITY SENATE
1715 Franklin Blvd, Eugene OR 97403 T (541) 346-4439
An equal-opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
UNIVERSITY SENATE
1715 Franklin Blvd, Eugene OR 97403 T (541) 346-4439
An equal-opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
UNIVERSITY SENATE
1715 Franklin Blvd, Eugene OR 97403 T (541) 346-4439
An equal-opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
UNIVERSITY SENATE
1715 Franklin Blvd, Eugene OR 97403 T (541) 346-4439
An equal-opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
UNIVERSITY SENATE
1715 Franklin Blvd, Eugene OR 97403 T (541) 346-4439
An equal-opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
Christopher S Bell
GIOELLO Nick R
From:R.B. Garden <clubs900@gmail.com>
Sent:Friday, September 07, 2018 8:03 AM
To:GIOELLO Nick R
Subject:U of O Conditional Use Permit
I'm unable to attend your meeting about this issue and I'm not in favor of
a conditional
use permit for 30 years to install athletic fields on state owned property just south of the Frohenmayer
Bridge (Autzen Bridge) along the south bank of the Willamette River known as north campus.
This looks like it could be an environmental disaster. It's too close the the river. The choice of turf in the
stadium will either waste water (a precious resource) or be made out a environmentally questionable materials.
The river environment (animals and plant life) will be adversely effected by having a stadium is this location.
Light pollution, noise pollution and hazards to birds are all considerations that point to this project being
undesirable.
Please do not do this. Do not permit this project to move forward in this location.
Rouanna Garden
1860 F St
Springfield, OR
1
GIOELLO Nick R
From:Henry D Hakanson <hhakanso@uoregon.edu>
Sent:Friday, September 07, 2018 1:49 PM
To:GIOELLO Nick R
Subject:North Campus Conditional Use Permit Concerns
DearMr.Gioello,
IamHenryH,aUOstudentand6thgenerationOregonian.Iamconcernedabouttheupcominghearingregardingthe
UO'sambitiontodeveloptheriverfrontareaintheir"NorthCampus"plan.
TheUniversityofOregonhasn'tjustifiedtheirrequestfora30yearConditionalUsePermitfortheNorthCampus.If
granted,thepermitwouldlockinaplanthat's20timeslongerthanistypicallyallowed.
Overthenext30years,thepotentialforchangesinriverprotectionstandards,highereducation,andglobalwarming
cannotbepredictedandmaybesubstantial.
IrequestthattheCityinsteadrequireanincrementalapproachtodevelopmentusingthenormal18monthduration,so
thattheUO'sriverfrontplanscanrespondtoevolvingneedsinachangingworld.
Furthermore,playingfieldsnorthoftherailroadtracksshouldnotbeallowed.Inalllikelihood,thesewillbeheavily
illuminated,syntheticplayingfields.Evidenceismountingthatthematerialsusedinartificialplayingfieldsare
carcinogenic,whichtogetherwithintenseillumination,willbeharmfultoourcommunityandtheriverecosystem.
Andeveniftheyarenotsynthetic,abrieflookattheUO'sdraftplanmapsshowsthatmanynaturalhabitats,suchasthe
pondswhereplantsgrowandgeeseeat,willbedisrupted.
Finally,IrequestathreeweektimelineextensionfromthetheUniversityofOregonsoanadditionalhearingmaybe
scheduledduringthetimewhentheUniversityisinsessionandsomeofthemostimpactedcommunitymembers
(facultyandstudents)areavailabletocomment.IftheUniversitywantsa30yearpermititoughttobeabletoableto
waitamerethreeweekssothatstudentsandfacultycanreadilyparticipateinthepublicprocess.
Sincerely,
HenryHakanson
1
GIOELLO Nick R
From:Chris Roth <cnroth@gmail.com>
Sent:Friday, September 07, 2018 7:14 AM
To:GIOELLO Nick R
Subject:comments on UO Riverfront Conditional Use Permit application
Dear Mr. Gioello,
The University of Oregon hasn't justified their request for a 30-year Conditional Use Permit for the North Campus. If
granted, the permit would lock in a plan that’s 20-times longer than is typically allowed. Over the next 30-years, the
potential for changes in river protection standards, higher education, and global warming cannot be predicted and may be
substantial.
I request that the City instead require an incremental approach to development using the normal 18-month duration, so
that the UO's riverfront plans can respond to evolving needs in a changing world.
Furthermore, playing fields north of the railroad tracks should not be allowed. In all likelihood, these will be heavily-
illuminated, synthetic playing fields. Evidence is mounting that the materials used in artificial playing fields are
carcinogenic, which together with intense illumination, will be harmful to our community and the river ecosystem.
Finally, I request a three week timeline extension from the the University of Oregon so an additional hearing may be
scheduled during the time when the University is in session and some of the most-impacted community members (faculty
and students) are available to comment. If the University wants a permit it ought to be able to able to wait three more
weeks so that students and faculty can readily participate in the public process.
Sincerely,
Chris Roth
1