HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Testimony (9-12-18 after 10:00am)
GIOELLO Nick R
From:Selena Blick <sblick18@gmail.com>
Sent:Wednesday, September 12, 2018 3:57 PM
To:GIOELLO Nick R
Subject:UO North Campus CUP
DearNickGioello,
MynameisSelenaBlickandIjustgraduatedthisspringfromtheUniversityofOregon.DuringmytimeatUofO,I
directedtheClimateJusticeLeague,ledtheStudentSustainabilityNetwork,workedintheStudentSustainabilityCenter,
hadseveralmeetingswithSustainabilityDirectorSteveMitalandPresidentSchill,andwasevenawardedtheStudent
LeadershipinSustainabilityAwardlastspring.ThisisjusttosaythatIwasprettyinvolvedinenvironmentalissueson
campus,andyetIwasstillcompletelyunawareoftheUofhƭplanstodeveloptheriverfrontuntilafteritwasvotedon
bytheCampusPlanningCommitteelastfall,almostayearandahalfaftertheprojectwasinitiallystarted.
Theuniversitywilltellyouthattheydidathoroughinvestigationofissuesregardingtheriverfrontandevenhostedtwo
openhousesabouttheplan,resultinginover80comments.Over80commentssoundslikealotuntilyoucompareitto
the23,000studentsatUofO,the2,000facultymembers,andtheother140,000Eugenecommunitymembersthat
wouldbeaffectedbythisproject,mostofwhomdonotevenknowthatźƷƭhappening.IftheUofOdidsuchagoodjob
planningthisproject,whydidtheUniversitySenatefeeltheneedtopassaresolutionagainstitlastspring?AndiftheU
ofOissodedicatedtohearingĻǝĻƩǤƚƓĻƭopinionsonthisproject,whyisthishearingbeingheldtwoweeksbefore
studentsandfacultycomebacktocampus?
IunderstandthattheuniversityneedsthispermittoconstructbuildingsfortheKnightcampus,butthereisnoneedfor
themtoincludetheareanorthoftherailroadtracksinthisrushedproposal.Furthermore,thereisnoneedforthis
permittolastfor30years.EvenaperfectplanforƷƚķğǤƭriverfrontwilllikelynotbeperfect30yearsfromnowdueto
changesintheecosystem,theuniversity,andevenourglobalclimate.Attheveryleast,thispermitshouldberestricted
to10yearsorlesssothattheuniversitycanreevaluatetheirplanatthispoint.
Twentyfiveyearsago,AltonBakerParkwasalmostturnedintoagiantgolfcourse.NowźƷƭoneofthetopplacestogo
inEugene.ŷĻƩĻƭawaytomakethisriverfrontpropertynotonlyenvironmentallysustainable,butagemoftheEugene
community,justlikeitsneighboracrosstheriverΑandbuildinggiantturffieldsonitisnotit.TheWillametteriver
ecosystem,thefuturestudentsofUofO,andtheentireEugenecommunitydeservebetterthanthis.
Sincerely,
SelenaBlick
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GIOELLO Nick R
From:David Zarzycki <dmzarzycki@gmail.com>
Sent:Wednesday, September 12, 2018 3:24 PM
To:GIOELLO Nick R
Subject:30 year lease of riverfront property to U of O.
I wanted to state that I believe that construction of astro turf athletic fields and multiple buildings near the
Autzen footbridge would be a mistake, and thus would urge a vote against the proposal to execute a 30 year
lease under those circumstances.
Open space and access to the river seem much more in the public interest from my perspective.
Regards,
David Zarzycki
--
David Zarzycki - General Contractor, Inc.
344 River Road
Eugene, OR. 97404
541-688-0243
website:http://www.dzarzycki.com/
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GIOELLO Nick R
From:lita@efn.org
Sent:Wednesday, September 12, 2018 1:50 PM
To:GIOELLO Nick R
Subject:UO CUP request
HelloMr.Gioello,
IopposetheUniversityofOregon'srequestfora30yearNorthCampusCUP.
TheUOtreatsthisinvaluablespaceasacommodity.ItonceconsidereditasessentialtotheRiverfrontResearchPark.Its
currentplantoendallplansisquitedifferent.TheUniversityasksforthreedecadesofabsolutecontrolwhenitsown
lackofvisionandplanningforesightresultedintheexpirationofapreviousCUP.TheproposedCUPisnotrespectfulof
thesite'spotentialasrestoredhabitatcontributingtothehealthoftheWillametteRIver.TheUOseestheriverasa
merevisualenhancementtowhateveritmaybuildthere,ratherthanavitalarterywhichnowsuffersdegradationwith
everylinearfootittravelsthroughoururbanarea.
IftheUOwasseriousaboutriverhealthitwoulddoeverythingBUTinstallpetroleumbasedturfandartificiallightingon
toweringpoles.Restorationandenhancementoftheentiresiteiswhatiscalledfor,notconversionintoasterilephoto
opforprospectivestudents.
DavidSonnichsen
2435SkylineBlvd.
Eugene,Oregon97403
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September12,2018
HearingsOfficial
c/oNickGioello,AssociatePlanner
CityofEugenePlanningandDevelopment
99W10 th Ave
Eugene,OR97401
RE:CU18001/WG18002UONorthCampus
DearHearingsOfficial:
TheEugeneAreaChamberofCommercerequestsyoursupportforapprovaloftheUniversityofhƩĻŭƚƓƭNorth
CampusPlanConditionalUsePermit.Ourorganizationstronglysupportsthisprojectandtheopportunityfor
social,environmentalandeconomicdevelopmentthatitprovidestoourcommunity.
The
hƭCUPproposalisaimedatprovidingopportunitiestoconnectmembersofthecommunityandvisitors
alike,tooneofourmostuniqueelementsΑtheWillametteRiver.Theproposalstrivestoprovidecleanandsafe
accesstotheriver,whileprotectingtheconservationareasalongtheriver,withsetbacksfarexceedingthose
required.Additionally,thisprojectwillprovideeducationalandrecreationalopportunitiesforboththe
universitystudentsandthecommunityalike.TheEugeneChamberfeelsthatthisprojectstrikesaunique
balanceinsupportingthevaluesthatexistbetweendiversemembersofthecommunityandsupportsitsvision,
demonstratedinthisplan.
AssetssuchastheUONorthCampusPlanprovideessentialsocial,environmentalandeconomicopportunities
andservicesthatcontributetotheoverallhealth,safety,prosperityandwellbeingofthecommunity.These
resourceshaveandwillcontinuetobevitaltotheeconomicgrownandsustainabilityofthebusiness
community.Byprovidingopportunitiestoenhancethequalityoflifeformembersofourcommunity,wewill
continuetoattract,retain,growandimprovethebusinessenvironment,forthebenefitofthecommunityat
large.
OnbehalfoftheEugeneChamberofCommerceandourmembers,weaskforyoursupportoftheUONorth
CampusPlanConditionalUsePermit.Thankyouforyourconsideration.
Sincerely,
BrittanyQuickWarner
PresidentandCEO,EugeneAreaChamberofCommerce
1401WillametteStreetP.O.Box1107Eugene,OR974401107Tel:541.484.1314Fax:541.484.4942eugenechamber.com
GIOELLO Nick R
From:Kathy Ging <kathy@kathyging.com>
Sent:Wednesday, September 12, 2018 11:24 AM
To:GIOELLO Nick R
Subject:I oppose the current UO plan river front re-development- RE hearing today
I oppose the current UO plan river front re-development including the use or artificial urf, habitat
destruction and many other bona fide reasons why mre time and community input from
preservationations viewpoints should be considered.
The UO should be required to provide the public benefits described in the Master Plan such
as riverbank restoration, the bike path, etc. before other development occurs north of the railroad
track. The University's plan calls for the restoration "when funds are available." The University didn't
make good on its promises in the 1988 Master Plan to restore the riverfront. Will they do so this time?
T
heir plan should be "phased" to ensure accountability.
Playing fields are an inappropriate use of the riverfront
. Over the last 30 years standards for
habitat protection have become more rigorous as scientists understand the fragility of
riparian ecosystems.With the uncertainties associated with climate change and an emerging
awareness regarding the toxicity of synthetic fields, protecting the public interest requires us to take a
That means no playing fields or buildings.
precautionary approach to special habitat.
The UO can voluntarily stop the clock on their permit application so an additional hearing can be
scheduled when school is in session. If the University wants a 30-year permit it ought to be able to
able to wait a mere three or four weeks so the people most affect by the proposed development
(students and faculty) can fully participate in the public process. Thank you for denying this re-
development.
~-~ ~-~
Kathy Ging, M.A., G.R.I.541-342-8461 Email: kathy@kathyging.com
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GIOELLO Nick R
From:Mari Galloway <marigalloway9@gmail.com>
Sent:Wednesday, September 12, 2018 4:07 PM
To:GIOELLO Nick R
Subject:Riverfront Development Proposal
CUP Testimony.docx
Attachments:
To whom it may concern,
Please find my testimony regarding the UO Riverfront Conditional Use Permit in the attached. I am a citizen of
Eugene and live at 585 E 19th Ave. Thank you!
-Mari
--
Mari Galloway
1
HearingsOfficial,
MynameisMariGalloway,andIamcurrentlyasecondyearlawstudentattheUniversityof
OregonSchoolofLaw.Iamanavidrunnerandbikerandthoroughlyenjoytheriverfrontareato
commute,recreate,anddestressfromschool.WhenIwasapprisedofthe
ƓźǝĻƩƭźƷǤƭplantoinstall
artificialturffieldsin
hƭnaturalriverfront,Iwasdeeplydisappointed.Iagreewithmostofthe
ƓźǝĻƩƭźƷǤƭproposeddevelopmentandrecognizethesentimentthatimprovementsneedtobemadein
theareaforenvironmentalandsafetyconcerns.However,installmentsoflargeartificialturffieldson
thelastremainingnaturalareaoncampusrunscountertotheĭźƷǤƭownzoningregulationsandinterest
inkeepingtheWillamettefreeofƦƚƌƌǒƷźƚƓΓź͵Ļ͵rubberpellets.Fortheforegoingreasons,theCUP
shouldbereducedtothenormalapprovaltimeof18months.EC9.7340(2)
Theproposeddevelopmenttakesplaceinariverfrontparkspecialareazone.EC9.3700.Accordingto
EugeneCode,thefundamentalpurposetothisdesignationistoͻƦƩƚǝźķĻforactivitiesandusesthat
complementtheresearchandeducationfunctionsof...UniversityofhƩĻŭƚƓ͵ͼ EC9.3700.ThoughEC
9.3710(3)allowsUOtoconstructrecreationalfacilities,installinganartificialturffieldrunscounterto
theriverŅƩƚƓƷƭͻŅǒƓķğƒĻƓƷğƌƦǒƩƦƚƭĻͼandallofthefactorsthatcomprisethatpurpose.Anartificial
turffieldhardlycomportswithaͻƭǒĭĭĻƭƭŅǒƌresearchanddevelopmentƦğƩƉ͵ͼ
Furthermore,whilethe
ƓźǝĻƩƭźƷǤƭattemptstoalleviateenvironmentalconcernsbycreatingawider
bufferthanrequiredandplantingnativeplantsareappreciated,itstilldetractsfromtheƦǒĬƌźĭƭ
interest.Notably,thesemitigationmeasuresfailtoprovideassurancethatrubberpelletsfromthefields
willnotnegativelyimpacttheWillametteRiver.Moreover,theEugenecodedoesnotspecifically
addressandaccountforimpactscreatingfromartificialturffields.UOclaimsthe200ftsetbackis
sufficienttopreventrunoffissues,buttherearenoassurancesthatthisistrue.Variousstudieshave
shownthealarmingeffectsofcutorscrappedrubberonsurroundingmarinebiota.See KelloughRM.,
Effectsofscrapautomobiletiresinwater,OntarioMinistryoftheEnvironment,Toronto,Waste
ManagementBranch,1991;InGualtieri,etal.,Toxicityoftiredebrisleachates,Environment
International 31(2005):АЋЌΑ730;Sullivan,J.AnAssessmentofEnvironmentalToxicityandPotential
ContaminationfromArtificialTurfusingShreddedorCrumbRubber,NorwegianInstituteforWater
Research(2008).
TheconcernoftheartificialƷǒƩŅƭimpactsontheWillametteriverandsurroundingecosystemsraise
issueswithadditionalEugenecitycodesthatrequirecompliancewithMetroPlanpolicies.Therein,
developmentsarerequiredtobecompatiblewithenvironmentalqualitiesofwaterfeatures.EC
9.3725(1)(a).Concernsraisedwithpotentialrunofffromartificialturffailtocomplywithenvironmental
qualityrequirements.
Inlieuofthepublicinterestregardingthesensitivityoftherivercoupledwithuncertaintyofthe
potentialseverenegativeimpactsfromturfpelletsshouldrequireashorterperiodofapproval.This
wouldallowtimetofacilitatenecessaryadaptivemanagementmeasuresthatcanpreventharmto
aquaticecosystems.Fortheaforementionedreasons,Iurgeyoutoreducetheapprovaltothenormal
18monthsenumeratedintheCUPtimeextensioncode.EC9.7340(2).
Respectfully,
MariGalloway
GIOELLO Nick R
From:paula fleitell comcast <pfleitell@comcast.net>
Sent:Wednesday, September 12, 2018 3:17 PM
To:GIOELLO Nick R
Subject:Re: city council hearing regarding the U of O proposed 30yr use
PleasesubmitmycommentstotheCityCouncilasofficialtestimonytonightinregardstotheUniversityofOregon,30
yearleaserequest.
MynameisPaulaFleitell,andIamacitizenofEugene.IworkedatEWEBforacoupledecades,andIgotadegreefrom
theUniversityofOregonsoIamveryfamiliarwiththepropertyinquestion.Asanavidwalkerandoutdoorenthusiastin
Eugene,thatlandformeisasdevelopedasIwouldliketoseeit.IftheEWEBpropertygetsdevelopedasplanned,it
wouldbewisetokeepthenextturnintheriverundevelopedandaswildaspossible.TheproposalfromtheUofOis
toodeveloped,toolongatimeperiod,tooclosetotheriver.Whataboutastroturfandtheriver?Rightnow,itisopen
fortheentireEugenepopulationtoenjoywithonly1bigsoccerfield.Thatisenough.\[ĻƷƭkeeptheriverwalkwithas
muchbreathingspaceaspossible.
>OnSep12,2018,at11:26AM,GIOELLONickR<NGioello@eugeneor.gov>wrote:
>
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