HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/11/1999 Work Session
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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF
THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD
MONDAY, JANUARY 11,1999
The City of Springfield Council met in Work Session in the Jesse Maine Room, 225 Fifth Street,
. Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, January 11, 1999 at 6:05 p.ffi. with Mayor Maine presiding.
ATTENDANCE
Present were Mayor Maine and Councilors Ballew, Fitch, Hatfield, Leiken, Lundberg and
Simmons. Also present were City Manager Mike Kelly, Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi,
Senior Management Analyst Rosie Pryor, Administrative Aide Shari Higgins, Development
Service Director Susan Daluddung, Senior Management Analyst Cynthia Pappas, Public Works
Director Dan Brown, Transportation Planning Engineer Masood Mirza and members of staff.
1. Bus Rapid Transit and Springfield Transit Station.
Senior Management Analyst Cynthia Pappas said Councilor Fitch represented council on the Bus
Rapid Transit (BRT) Committee and Councilor Ballew represented council on the Transit Station
Siting Committee. Ms. Pappas introduced Dave Kleger, Cindy Watson, Sean Wilson, Dan Egan,
and Don Lutes present from the BRT Committee. She introduced Virginia Lauritsen who serves
on the Transit Station Siting Committee, and Hillary Wylie, Springfield's representative on the
Lane Transit District (L TD) Board of Directors.
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Ms. Wylie spoke about items regarding the station relocation and how hard L TD is working for
Springfield. Although there is much interest, there are still many questions to answer. Ms. Wylie
said either herself or Ms. Lauritsen, would assist Councilor Ballew in providing updates and new
information to the City Council when appropriate. She shared some ofthe committee's goals.
Ms. Wylie said Springfield had three appointed representatives on the BRT Steering Committee,
Councilor Fitch, Dave Jewett, and John Lively. She then introduced Planning and Development
Manager Stefano Viggiano. Mr. Viggiano made a presentation on the current BRT process and
public involvement It included elements of the project planning for the pilot corridor with a
segment-by-segment concept. He provided a summary of the decision process and the public
involvement techniques used for each of the segments. Mr. Viggiano used visuals including the
elements ofBRT, maps of routes and planning areas. He explained mailings which residents in the
BRT area received and detailed a recent open house and interactive workshop. He provided an
explanation of the BR T pilot corridor areas, which at the end of Phase I would tie Springfield and
Eugene's downtown areas.
Mr. Viggiano introduced Graham Carey, Project Engineer from LTD. He spoke of the local
opportunities which BRT presents. He reviewed the results from the Franklin/UO and Glenwood
segments. He showed photo's and visuals which enable corridor needs to be met, such as greenery,
trees, track sharing, opportunities for running BRT in the middle of streets, a median station,
neighborhood connections, etc. Mr. Carey explained both the existing and proposed conditions of
the Glenwood area.
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Work Session Meeting - 1/11/99
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Mr. Carey reviewed BRT "seed" ideas for the downtown Springfield segment. He said downtown
Springfield would be the third BR T pilot corridor segment to be worked on, per their planning
phases. He showed council the preliminary options and planned public process concept. The seed
ideas included: flowing with bus lanes which take over one lane; single lane guide ways with buses
operating in two directions; and two lane bus ways with one lane in one direction with curb guide
ways. Mr. Graham said these seed ideas are just the beginning of the process and that L TD is
trying to draw input and opinions from community members.
Councilor Fi~ch provided information on BRT the from Steering Committee standpoint She said
they are concerned with some seed ideas that would cut off access to businesses in commercial
areas. Although the committee likes the process for creating ideas, they are concerned over both
technical issues and service at intersections.
Councilor Simmons said discussion needs to occur regarding the flow off of Main Street versus
onto it He discussed the railroad property and the shift from Main Street onto the old trolley
route, which would create avenues for change and growth, as well as dynamic transportation
options. Councilor Simmons challenged L TD to look at both options for critical fit, moving
forward very cautiously.
Councilor Hatfield said there is still much planning to do and felt L TD should consider review of
other options also. He said he is supportive ofBRT, but felt the community should look at tying it
in with a new transit station.
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Councilor Leiken said L TD should continue listen to local businesses..Jt is important to the project
to be aggressive, but he cautioned L TD to carefully weigh all options.
Councilor Lundberg felt the concept should move forward, but she said she was not comfortable in
giving her consent without looking at all the components as one large project She said L TD
should continue to plan and seek input, but she would like to be presented with more information.
Councilor Ballew said she heard consistent comments from the council and agreed L TD should
continue with the planning phases, but not rush the project. She suggested L TD survey non-riders
also, and keep council abreast of the process as it continues.
Mayor Maine encouraged council to make staff aware of the city's concerns as the process
continues. She felt staff must continue to be aware of the different needs between the two cities
(Springfield and Eugene) within the same corridor. She shared her concern over moving from
concept to design. She asked questions regarding reduction of travel time, expense, and park and
ride.
Councilor Fitch thanked city staff member Masood Mirza for working on technical issues with
L TD staff. She said she felt the council's comfort level would increase as some issues recently
presented are dealt with and the answers are provided.
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Mr. Viggiano then presented an update on the Springfield Station Study. He shared the vision
statement, which included more than transit needs, but overall community needs. He showed a
map of the station relocation site, including reconstruction ofthe current station site.
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Work Session Meeting - 1/11/99
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Mr. Viggiano explained the sites being reviewed in detail, and the tie for the station relocation to
BRT. Mr. Viggiano closed his presentation with the project evaluation criteria and timelines,
shown using visuals.
Mayor Maine asked if funding for BR T is tied the funding for the Springfield Station. Mr.
Viggiano replied no, as there is currently no identified funding for the station siting or relocation
project What is occurring now is the study, to help further define and guide the project. He
explained how L TD was previously successful in obtaining federal funding for the new Eugene
Transit Station.
Councilor Simmons suggested L TD review an inter-model concept, as there is more to surface
transportation issues in the community, other than BRT.
Councilor Ballew provided her compliments to staff on both the project study and the committees
work She said it is responsive to the community comments. Councilor Ballew explained how the
siting list was determined and how the current eight options became viable options.
Ms. Pappas closed by thanking the council, L TD staff, and committee members present She said
future updates would be brought back to council after the scheduled February public comment
sessions. Mayor Maine agreed and asked staff to continue to meld in with other transportation.:
plans, planning issues and city concerns, to come up with the best solution for our transportation
system.
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Councilor Simmons asked if BR T would be tied to changes occurring inthe Glenwood Refinement'
Plan. Ms. Pappas said changes to the refinement plan are not currently budgeted, only the transfer
conforming Eugene's zoning to Springfield's zoning.
2. Mohawk Boulevard Specific Development Plan.
Ms. Pappas said in 1996, the city received a transportation land growth grant to look at the
revitalization of Mohawk area. The development plan is intended to facilitate development of a
vibrant, mixed-use area along the segment of Mohawk Boulevard bounded by the Eugene,..
Springfield Highway on the north, E Street to the south, 21st Street to the east, and 12th Street,
Willamalane Park and 10th Street to the west. Ms. Pappas said the plan emphasizes the pedestrian .. .
design, enhanced transit service and integration of the hospital and the park, with existing
commercial uses.
Ms. Pappas explained the membership of the Citizen Advisory Committee consisting of property
owners, residents and business owners, as well as ex-officio representatives from the Planning
Commission and City Council. Councilor Ballew is the council liaison and Don Lutes is the
Planning Commission representative to the committee.
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Ms. Pappas said after the draft plan was developed, that public workshops were held through an
extensive public review process. Many good ideas from community members and area residents
were considered in the final plan. She referred council to page two of the development plan and
reviewed the key principals, and pages 19 and 20, which explain the Metro Plan and Springfield
Development Code (SDC) amendments recommended.
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Work Session Meeting - 1/11/99
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Councilor Hatfield explained the amount of work which had gone into the process, including
discussions on the level of adequate parking and the' specificity of design concepts (proposed
alignment of streets and pedestrian access). He referenced page 12, and the need to see small-
tenant redevelopment and for major anchors to make the concept feasible. He also explained the
parking section of the development plan, per page 22. He said the city can not reduce parking
below a certain level without it becoming a deterrent to business. Councilor Hatfield spoke of two
additional ideas: 1) retail rejuvenation, and 2) providing zone changes to mixed use. He felt both
would provide redevelopment opportunities in the area.
Councilor Leiken supported Councilor Hatfield's input and said he agreed with the concept of the
plan. He felt commercial development should be given additional options, such as mixed use
zoning, and that the city needs to improve the area as an alternative to the Gateway area.
Planning Commission member Don Lutes provided comments which included access issues and the
element of splitting property to provide pedestrian access. He felt there is enormous potential in
keeping commercial business in the area. Although it may take some time and effort, there are still
many businesses in the Mohawk area that are doing well and thriving, and there is room for more
to come also.
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Mayor Maine discussed options which would assist developers, including mixed use zoning. There
was a discussion on whether mixed use zoning would apply only to the Mohawk development plan
area or for the entire city. Ms. Pappas said the zoning would allow developers options that are not
available today and could easily be applied to other areas of the city through an overlay. Councilor
Fitch supported the concept of mixed use and felt it could benefit other areas of the city also.
Councilor Ballew said the committee looked at area demographics, but that an age component was
not included. Although there is currently no funding allocated for the redevelopment of the area,
she felt the plan had a good outcome and was critical to. future revitalization of the city.
Councilor Simmons felt is was a good plan also, as it assists the development community with
options to improve the quality of the Mohawk area. Successes are market driven and it provides
for the market economy.
Mayor Maine felt the city should not limit planning views and development revitalization efforts
only to the downtown area, that all city areas should be studied, and offered her support for the
Mohawk plan. Questions were answered regarding the recommended public improvements, as
described on page 16. A discussion continued concerning a continuous center median, traffic
mitigation and street projects. Mayor Maine said she agreed with the Metro Plan Amendments as
proposed, but had concerns with the SDC amendments dealing with parking and landscaping
requirements. Ms. Pappas said the language concerning parking could be changed and that the
enhanced entryway landscaping was not a development expense, but a city expense (when on city
property).
Mr. Lutes commented during the development of the model for mixed-use zoning that many aspects
will again be reviewed and considered by both the Planning Commission and the City Council.
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Work Session Meeting - 1/11/99
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Councilor Hatfield said the development plan is consistent with the committees desires for mixed
use design standards and that it will take new ordinance adoption for mixing residential and office
versus commercial. He said there should be a level of flexibility for development while maintaining
clear and understandable standards for the developers.
Development Services Director Susan Daluddung said a mixed use zoning draft would be worked
on by staff in the Spring, after the planning work subsides on the Glenwood Jurisdictional
Transfer.
Ms. Pappas said a public hearing would be held on January 19, at which further community input
would be collected. A discussion occurred on the desired language concerning parking and
landscaping of the SDC Amendments. Ms. Daluddung, Ms. Pappas, and City Attorney Joe Leahy
agreed to provide alternative language at the time of the public hearing.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.ffi.
Minutes Recorder - Shari Higgins
~1vl~
Maureen Maine, Mayor
ATTEST:
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