HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/19/2003 Regular
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MINUTES
Springfield City Council
Springfield Council Chamber-225 Fifth Street, Springfield
Wednesday, February 19,2003 7:00 P.M.
PRESENT: Anne Ballew, Dave Ralston, Tammy Fitch, Stu Burge, John Woodrow
The meeting of the Springfield City Council was called to order by Mayor Sid Leiken.
City Recorder Kirn Krebs called the roll. All members of the council were present.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Leiken led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Request for Metro Plan and Gateway Refinement Plan Amendments Jo. No. 2002-
08-243 and Jo No. 2002-08-244 (PeaceHealth)
ORDINANCE NO. I-AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE METROPOLITAN AREA
GENERAL PLAN DIAGRAM BY REDESIGNATING UP TO 33 ACRES OF LAND
FROM MEDIUM-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL AT
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THE GATEWAY MEDIUM-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL SITE AND DECLARING AN
EMERGENCY.
Mayor Leiken reopened the public hearing.
City Attorney Joe Leahy determined that the council had no ex parte contacts or conflicts of
interest to declare
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Dave Carvo, 4010 East 16th Avenue, Eugene, did not think that job creation was relevant to the
decision before the council as the jobs would be filled by the same people within a 50-mile
radius no matter the location of the project. He maintained that those jobs would bring no tax
dollars to the community. Mr. Carvo cited other State facilities in Portland and Salem that were
around five-storeys in height and said they appeared to work fine in those communities. He
questioned whether Springfield could afford or needed a regional medical facility. Mr. Carvo
said that he heard a presentation that morning at the Springfield Chamber of Commerce
indicating that $250 million in debt would be incurred by the community as a result of the project
and citizens would pay those costs in tax dollars or increased medical costs. Mr. Carvo did not
think it was appropriate for "a bunch of people from Bellevue to tell us" if the plan should be
changed. He thought it should be a local decision. He said that the in-lieu-of-taxes paid by the
hospital would not be enough. Mr. Carvo did not think that BR T would be funded and
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questioned how traffic would be addressed in its absence.
Mike Schmid, 111 Southwest Fifth Avenue, Portland, KPFF Consulting Engineers, said that the
proposed site could be served by utilities as the development occurred. PeaceHealth would pay
for those costs as well as a significant cost of off-site improvements. He said that storm drainage
facilities would be sized appropriately, and water treated before it left the site. Discharge would
occur at rates that the system could bear. Mr. Schmid said that the hospital would be located
above the 500-year flood elevation. Emergency access routes to the hospital would be designed
to exceed Springfield standards. Mr. Schmid concluded by saying the site infrastructure would
be designed to meet or exceed City standards, to comply with local implementing policies, and to
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be consistent with Statewide planning goals 7 and II.
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Bob Bumstead, 1770 Skyline Boulevard, Eugene, spoke to what he termed the hospital's impact
on the healing environment of the McKenzie River. He said the wild character of the river in this
area was enjoyed by many recreationalists. It would become an even more important resource in
the future for people to be able to connect to the wild areas close to their urban homes. He hoped
that the hospital would not disturb the already functioning healing environment the river offered
to people now. Mr. Bumstead said that if the hospital project was not limited, it would have
maximum flexibility to intrude on the resource. He said that a hospital that was lower in height
would better suit the character of the landscape. He noted the importance of the river to
Springfield's character and suggested the City's logo would have to be changed to reflect the
presence of the hospital. He displayed a sample City logo showing a tall building dominating the
skyline to illustrate his remarks. Mr. Bumstead did not think that was what was wanted. He
asked the council to support the commission's height restriction.
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Glen Love, 393 Full Vue Drive, Eugene, represented the McKenzie Flyfishers. He said that his
organization felt a strong sense of protection and stewardship for the river. He said he spoke for
the river. Mr. Love was sorry to see the river overtaken by urban growth. He recognized the
need for a new hospital and suggested it was a better located in a more urban area. He wanted
the river to be left alone, but if the proposal was to be approved, his organization favored the
height restriction recommended by the Planning Commission, supported building setbacks well
away from the top of the river bank, and asked that the riparian areas left in their natural state.
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Mr. Love said population pressures were behind such conflicts, and urged the council to
recognize those pressures as it considered how to preserve the McKenzie River from
development.
Mark Radabaugh, 635 Capital Street, Salem, representing the Department of Land
Conservation and Development (DLCD), noted thathis agency had submitted a letter on
February 14 focusing on the remaining State goal compliance issues. He said that the Planning'
Commission's recommendation moved toward resolution of some those issues, in particular
those related to nodal development and transportation, but there was more work to be done. Mr.
Radabaugh said the letter outlined a conceptual framework for getting to compliance with the
goals. He highlighted his agency's concerns that the core elements ofthe hospital facilities must
be the center of a node. That must be specifically addressed in the legislative documents the
council approved. He suggested that amendments to the Commercial Lands Study might be
needed. Mr. Radabaugh noted that the application applied the Medical Services zone to an
medium-density residential district. He maintained that the main hospital facilities must be
designated Commercial as well. Mr. Radabaugh referred to case law in support of his comments.
He said that his third concern was the fact the application changed the residential balance onthe
site, arid more housing was heeded as the job base of the center was developed.
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Tom Linniger, 45881 McI<.enzie Highway, Vida, a member of Board of County Commissioners,
" emphasized his interest in strengthening the partnership between the board and Springfield
council. He invited the council to join with the board in discussing mutual concerns related to
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the development proposal. Mr. Linniger shared the views of those he represented in east Lane
County, who lived outside the city limits but considered themselves part of the broader
Springfield community. He said that those residents were worried about their access to some
type of medical care. They were also worried about a westward shift in hospital resources in lane
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County. Mr. Linniger said that those who live east of Springfield and who make up about 20
percent of McKemie-Willamette Hospital's clientele were concerned it would take them longer
to reach PeaceHealth in an emergency. He emphasized the importance of readily accessible
emergency care to county residents. Mr. Linniger said that ifthe council approved the
development proposal, he suggested it meet with the board to discuss ways to streamline access
to the hospital for those living outside the city limits.
him to discuss their concerns.
Ken Hammwas not present when called on to speak.
Cynthia Hart, 3130 Garne Farm Road, Springfield, expressed support for the application. She
said the neighborhood association did not represent all neighbors. She addressed the issue of
traffic, stressing the poor traffic conditions on Game Farm Road. She said that volume was high
and traffic traveled at fast rates of speed. She looked forward to the extension of Pioneer
Parkway and praised PeaceHealth for its financial contribution to the project. Ms. Hart noted her
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long-time residence in the area and said she was convinced PeaceHealth would be good stewards
of the land. She said she had no opinion on the height issue, suggesting that compromise was
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Martin Thiele, 670 Mallard Avenue, Springfield, supported ~eaceHealth's application and
looked forward to having a modem, state-of-the-art facility in the community. He had seen the
area in question grow and said the land in question would eventually be developed. He
suggested that PeaceHealth's ownership would create more public access to the site than
housing. He believed that additional high-density residential and medium-density residential
development in the area would attract a less desirable type of resident. Mr. Thiele said that if the
project were built, people would be able to bicycle and walk in the area. He termed the area ideal
fora hospital because ofthe easy access from many directions.
Jan Wilson, Coalition for Health Options in Central Eugene-Springfield (CHOICES), PO Box
70753, Eugene, acknowledged that both area hospitals needed new facilities. However, she
believed the issues before the council were about how to preserve the character of the
neighborhood and protect the view from across the water and the city. She said that residential
development was envisioned in the Gateway Refinement Plan, which stated that the medium-
density residential area was important to meet the future housing needs of the community. Ms.
Wilson noted that residential development was limited to 35 feet so the proposed 60-foot height
limit already exceeded what was envisioned for the area.
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Ms. Wilson believed that if the existing designation would not allow what PeaceHealth wished to
build, then it had picked the wrong location. She opined that high-rise development always
belonged in the downtown urban core. Ms. Wilson said that the costs to the community from the
development would be "enormous." Beside the loss of river views, she cited the change of
character of the area, an increase in traffic, what she termed "the forced relocation of
Springfield's community hospital," and lost nodal development opportunities. Ms. Wilson
asserted that the application was not consistent with Statewide planning goals.
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Robin Jacqua, 34322 McKenzie View Drive, Eugene, sa~d she had owned property adjacent to
Springfield and attempted to keep it beautiful for the city of Springfield. She provided the
council with copies of photos of her property to illustrate the beauty of the area. She said her
family was working with the City on habitat analysis and water quality improvement on the
island in the River Bend area. She said that PeaceHealth had cooperated in that effort as well by
moving the proposed hospital 100 feet back from the river. However, she was horrified by the
hospital's proposal for a ten-storey facility and zone change request. She described the
Beaverton Nike campus development and its combination oflow- and medium-rise buildings and
suggested it could be used as a model by PeaceHealth. She shared pictures of that facility with
the council.
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Bill Carpenter, 680 T Street, Springfield, said he was one of the Planning Commissioners who
voted in support of the application. He was persuaded to support the application by its nodal
development potential but believed that there had to be conditions on the application. He was
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still in support of a height restriction, but suggested as a compromise a 90- foot height. He
provided exhibits for the record, one of which was a copy of the logo shared with the council by
Mr. Bumstead. He said that the height contemplated by PeaceHealth was not suitable for the
site, and he believed some restriction was needed or PeaceHealth would attempt to build as high
as possible. Mr. Carpenter called for initial design conditions that recognized the small-town
scale of Springfield. He said that a high-rise was not needed for a world class hospital facility,
noting that the Mayo Clinic had a five-story hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona. He shared
photographs of that facility with the council. Mr. Carpenter invited the council to contact him if
they wished to take a float trip of the area.
Jan Nelson was not present when called on to speak.
. Carmen Urbina, 788 Blackfoot Street, Eugene, said the Latino community, when surveyed in
1994, indicated its greatest need was affordable, accessible medical care. She said that currently,
there were three medical stations serving Latinos in Lane County; almost 4,000 uninsured, low-
income people with a wide range of ailments had been served. That was made possible by
PeaceHealth's assistance. Ms. Urbina said that PeaceHealth had been a collaborator, a funder,
and a good neighbor. She supported the application.
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Edward Winter was not present when called on to speak.
Hanali Rosen, 1771 B Street, questioned whether the decision on the application was a foregone
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conclusion and if something "fishy" was going on. She urged the council to follow proper
procedures and ensure there were no hidden agendas. Ms. Rosen said the River Bend site's
carrying capacity should be considered. She called for more details of what was planned for the
site, suggesting that analysis of five or six alternatives should be a condition of approval of the
application.
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Jim Hale, 1750 Linnea Avenue, Eugene, said that the two hospitals were expensive enterprises
and were nearly monopolistic. He said that the question was whether to allow a regional
monopoly to move into the area already served by McKenzie- Willamette Hospital. He preferred
to use McKenzie- Will am ette Hospital even though he lived in Eugene. He questioned the future
of McKenzie-Willamette Hospital. He said that the sites identified by the City of Eugene were in
mllltiple ownership and the owners did not want to sell. Mr; Hale did not know if McKenzie-
Willamette Hospital would find a home in the Eugene community. He asked the council to deny
the application and make a decision all could collaborate on and which lead t.o a decision about
the appropriate locations for both hospitals.
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Tim Malloy, 909 South 67th Street, Springfield, supported the application. After initial
skepticism about the proposal, he had been convinced by the testimony subrnitted to the Planning
Commission to change his mind. Mr. Malloy was concerned about traffic, but believed that the
traffic issues could be resolved, serving both PeaceHealth and those living in the area. He had
been concerned about whether this was what Springfield wanted, but after review of the materials
and testimony now believed the hospital was a good fitfor the area. He did not think
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PeaceHealth's move had anything to do with McKenzie-Willamette Hospital.
Regarding the testimony suggesting that the decision before the council should be a joint
decision of the three jurisdictions, Mr. Malloy asked why the decision was not a regional one
until it got to Springfield. He asked why the decision was not a regional decision when it was to
be made by Eugene. Regarding the height limitation, Mr. Malloy thought there should be some
height limitation. He was unsure that 60 feet was the correct height, and preferred the staff-
recommended condition related to height.
There being no other request-to-speak cards remaining, Mayor Leiken closed the oral portion of
the public testimony and said the written record would remain open for seven days, closing at 5
p.m. on February 26,2003.
Mr. Stephens indicated that a council work session on the item was scheduled for March 17,
2003, to make staff aware of any issues prior to the scheduled council deliberation on March 31,
2003. He invited council questions.
Responding toa question from Councilor Fitch, Mr. Stephens indicated his intent to send out the
written testimony received since February 13 to the council following the close of the public
hearing. Councilor Ralston asked that the council receive the testimony earlier if possible.
Mr. Leahy cautioned the council that it should not reach any conclusions or do any deliberation
until the record was closed.
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Mayor Leiken asked if the applicant would participate in the March 17 work session, or just staff.
Mr. Leahy asked for time to consider what was legally appropriate. Mr. Leahy advised the
council that if it requested new information from staff it might have to reopen the record to give
the applicant and public time to respond to that information.
Mr. Ralston asked Mr. Radabaugh why he was recommending that the hospital itselfbe
designated Commercial. Mr. Radabaugh said that DCLD was recommending that the site be
commercial because of the reality of the land use. The hospital was not a medium-density
residential facility, but a commercial-office complex.
Mayor Leiken asked council members to be prepared with questions at the work session.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Leiken adjourned the meeting at 7:55 p.m.
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Minutes Recorder - Kimberly Young
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Kim Krebs, City Recorder
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