HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/23/1997 Work Session
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MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION MEETING
OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD
MONDAY, JUNE 23,197
The City of Springfield Council met in Work Session at Springfield City Hall, Jesse Maine
Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, June 23, 1997, at 7:06 p.m. with
Mayor Morrisette presiding.
Present were Mayor Morrisette and Councilors Ballew, Beyer (7:30 p.m.), Burge, Maine and
Shaver. Councilor Dahlquist was absent (excused). Also present were City Manager Mike
Kelly, Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi, City Recorder Eileen Stein, Administrative Aide
Shari Higgins, and members of the staff.
1. Intergovernmental Agreement Regarding Transit Signal Priority.
City Recorder/Administrative Assistant Eileen Stein introduced this item. She said the city
has been asked to review a proposed Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of
Springfield and the Lane Transit District (LTD) regarding transit signal priority and provide
staff direction to modify and/or enter into the agreement. Ms. Stein said she worked with
L TD staff, Councilor Shaver, and city staff on the proposed agreement content.
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Councilor Shaver stated why he provided input to staff to support the agreement. He
explained there are unanswered questions on how the transit signal priority would affect the
city. He felt the modifications that needed to take place should be addressed and the
unanswered questions should be answered. He said city staffwill assist with the pilot project
and would be reimbursed up to $10,000 for their services. Once the study is complete, then
identified mitigating factors would be discussed between the two agencies. At that time, if
consensus between the two agencies do not occur, then the further discussions or project
dissolution would occur.
Council discussed Senate Bill 150 which would provide the authority for transit signal
priority technology to be used for emergency response and transit operations. Ms. Stein
explained L TD has applied for a loan through the Oregon Transportation Infrastructure Bank
(OTIB) to assist them in implementing a transit signal preemption pilot project in the
metropolitan area. As part of the loan application process, LTD is required to enter
intergovernmental agreements with various local road authorities. Ms. Stein said staff is in
agreement with the recommendations as amended.
Councilor Burge showed concern over Item A-2, #4, and said it should add, "the city at it's
sole discretion." He asked to see to study, as he has concern over the validity for transit.
L TD representative Steffano Vigganio answered Council questions and responded to concerns
about preemption versus priority. He explained priority can be set within certain agreeable
parameters.
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Councilor Shaver said there are two phases to the project: 1) research half of the project,
hence this agreement; and 2) implement half of the project, which would not occur without
researching the new transportation/traffic software capabilities and careful review of the
results.
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Public Works Director Dan Brown said some preemption techniques would not impair the
traffic signal settings and is hoping that concerns will be addressed through the study to
satisfy the city's traffic engineers.
After further discussion, Council provided consensus to enter into the Intergovernmental
Agreement with L TD regarding transit signal priority.
2. Proposed Amendments to Springfield Development Code Articles 2 and 32, Local Street
Standards, Jo. No. 97-03-066.
Planner II Lydia Neill said staff is responding to Council's request to discuss the proposed
standards for requiring a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) in the amendments to the Springfield
Development Code (SDC) Articles 2 and 32, Local Street Standards. Staff is proposing to
decrease the average daily trips required to trigger the inclusion of a TIA from 1,000 to 250
(minor) and 500 (major). Ms. Neill explained minor TIA requirements provide basic
information concerning description of the project, existing conditions, average daily trips
(ADT) and trip assignment associated with the site.
Major TIA would only be required when trips exceed 500 ADT and include all components
included in the minor study in addition to an analysis of traffic volumes and a level of service
(LOS) analysis of the site at full build out.
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Ms. Neill explained staff had revised the original numbers since her first council presentation
on this issue. Staff tried to provide a number for TIA requirements which is pertinent to the
review process. Ms. Neill clarified that a development which would generate 1,000 trips is a
very large development in Springfield. She answered questions from Councilor Burge
regarding specific TIA information. Councilor Burge suggested a minor include all trips of
500 to 1,000 and a major to include any trips over 1,000.
Councilor Shaver said after discussions with staff that some things can not continue to be
reviewed at by staff due to current FTE levels. He felt with neighborhoods increasing in size,
that TIA's should occur at a lesser amount than 500. Councilor Shaver added that Springfield
is changing, society is changing and said this revised TIA is appropriate for Springfield at this
time.
Councilor Maine said council should take more care in planning for transportation congestion
and felt 100 ADT seemed to have changed to trigger at TIA, but she could support 500 ADT.
Ms. Neill explained staff has only 30 days to accept an application and there is a critical time
period for obtaining traffic information. Since staff levels are decreasing and TIAs are
becoming more cumbersome, she said staff recommendation was a needed component of a
land use application.
Councilor Burge said this would be passing off the duties and responsibilities of government,
by transfer, to the public. He asked if this process circumvents Ballot Measures 47 and 50.
Councilor Burge asked Transportation Plan Engineer Masood Mirza how a trip is identified.
Mr. Mirza explained how trips are calculated.
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Traffic Engineer Brian Barnett explained that "passer-by" trips are not included in true
transportation studies and how commercial land use trips are also calculated differently. He
further explained how private engineering studies are compiled and reviewed by staff.
By consensus, Council agreed to support staffs recommendation and stated their approval for
the proposed amendments to the SDC.
3. Periodic Review Update - Residential and Commercial Land Use Allocations.
Planning Manager Greg Mott introduced the item and said Council was being asked to discuss
the Supply and Demand Analysis prepared for the two Periodic Review work tasks of
residential and commercial land use allocations. He introduced City Planner II Robin
Johnson, and Claire VanBloom, from Lane Council of Governments (L-COG).
Mr. Mott referenced the Metro Area General Plan Designations Map and showed Council
specific areas which are being reviewed by staff.
Ms. Johnson provided a staff report of the residential lands and housing study process. She
also provided a copy of the Residential Lands and Housing Study CAC. She explained
timelines for the remaining work plan on the study for 1997-98.
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Ms. VanBloom discussed population figures in relation to the TransPlan area. She also
discussed demographics and the range of residential land demands. She also discussed the
preliminary Supply and Demand Analysis. She explained the methodology for Supply and
Demand Analysis for the Residential Land and Housing Study. She gave an overview of
maps related to service availability for future development and site inventory for the
metropolitan area.
Mr. Mott said the cost for development has recently increased for high density residential, and
thus the average density in Springfield between high and medium in about 16 units per acres,
which is still well under what is allowed for high density.
Mr. Mott discussed the areas in Springfield which are high density. Council discussed the
transition areas between low density and medium density.
Council discussed open space with medium and high density. Ms. Johnson said the design
guidelines for multi-unit housing will be available on July 1. She suggested Council hold a
work session to review and discuss design implementation and future guideline standards.
Councilor Shaver said this topic addresses livability and density issues. The policy issues will
directly affect livability in Springfield for the future. He further discussed this issue and
suggested Springfield not allow any more medium or high density in Springfield. He also
suggested looking at major changes to metro plan regarding density and zoning.
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Mayor Morrisette said Springfield needs an upscale retirement development in Springfield.
He spoke about the Willamette Oaks project located in Eugene and its zoning. Ms. Johnson
explained that the property was medium density, planned unit development.
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Councilor Maine raised the issue of how Springfield will customize zoning for areas which
are liked and areas which need to be changed. She also raised the question of how people are
living today and how council should plan for the future. She is concerned that zoning for the
future might be impacted by the needs of the community zoning today. She wishes Eugene
and Springfield were split regarding the study.
Councilor Burge said medium density does not have to be just investment level housing.
Councilor Shaver said you can have buffer zones between zoning and place separate sewer,
power, etc. to provide for future condominium development. He said this type of a scenario
would service today's needs with future developments in mind.
Mr. Mott discussed the population expectations for the year 2015. He said this estimate was
between 70,000 - 75,000, inside the city limits of Springfield. He said the city should be able
to accommodate that increased population within the city limits with the land use
designations as shown in the Metro Plan map. He said m9st elements of the plan are geared
towards the population figures and if too many changes are made to the residential inventory,
then changes would occur to other zones and the services which they may be able to provide
to the residential citizens.
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Councilor Maine said this is a design issue. She said not everyone wants to live in a single
family dwelling and the city should attract certain developers who place buffers and livability
issues first for residential areas.
Mayor Morrisette said staff should not develop high or medium density in the fringe area,
outside of the city limits. He suggested placing higher density in the limits and use more bus
transit.
Council discussed zoning density and the future development of Springfield in detail.
Councilor Burge discussed the benefits of multi-family developments. Councilor Shaver
agreed that there was a need to increase the quality of multi-family developments. Maybe
some higher density should be moved to Eugene.
Councilor Ballew discussed the need for balance between commercial and industrial, not
residential. Councilor Burge explained the cost difference between residential, commercial
and industrial, which was not much different. Councilor Beyer shared many of the same
concerns stated by Councilor Ballew.
Councilor Shaver said this was the appropriate time to respond and provide input. The state
will not let Eugene/Springfield out of periodic review until the process is completed. Mr.
Mott said the state does not compare the two cities, but the plan area itself is in compliance
with the state land use goals. Mr. Mott said the findings used show that the City is using
state-accepted methodology to forecast population and employment.
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Mr. Mott stated the plan needs to show the natural evolution of the commercial development.
He said the increase of each of the zones must show, at a metropolitan level, that the city is in
compliance with State Goal 10, which is housing. Mr. Mott said the dialogue needs to begin
now if Springfield wants to change future zonings.
Council also discussed inventory changing and how that would affect the attributes which
would influence future industries coming to Springfield.
Staff said the Housing Task Force will meet in early July, following development of the
policy discussion.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Minutes Recorder - Shari Higgins/Julie Wilson
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