Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 27, 1978)
Council hears hospital parking arguments By CHRIS NORMAN Of the Emerald The complex question of limit ing neighborhood growth arose before the Eugene City Council Wednesday when a neighbor hood group presented a case against Sacred Heart General Hospital’s proposed six-story park ing structure. After the West University Neighbor's (WUN) presentation and a hospital spokesperson s comments, the council voted to request both sides enter into talks to maintain open communication lines. Council member Jack Delay in terpreted WUN’s request for the city council to intervene in the parking structure’s construction as an attempt to “plan now before the project is undertaken.’’ WUN charges in a letter sent to the council, which appeared in Monday’s Emerald, that the proposed parking structure would violate the city's zoning code under the ‘entirely closed build ing” rule, would contribute to "neighborhood blight," would add to traffic congestion, would in crease auto pollution and would present night-time safety hazards. “We can accept that we don’t have up-to-date zoning for that part of town," Delay says. If nei ther group can begin talks now, “I’m willing to ask the council that full consideration be given to this matter." Council member Scott Lieual len adds the issue of limited neighborhood growth can’t be side-stepped by the council. "People are uptight about a runaway building boom that is changing the community," he says. “They say, ‘Look, were being overrun by this issue’ (be fore they can bring together an opposing or alternative plan).” The proposed parking structure is planned for the southwest corner of 13th Avenue and Hilyard House Blend Coffee $4.25/lb. And a free cup when you buy a pound. MON-THURS 8:30 AM - 10 PM FRI & SAT 8:30 AM - 12 PM In the Atrium SUN 11:00 AM - 10 PM 99 w. 10th 687-0830 >■*★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★** * * ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ ASUO PRESENTS REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES Victor ATIYEH, Roger MARTIN & Tom McCALL in a debate IN THE EMU BALLROOM NOON, FRIDAY — APRIL 28 £★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★' ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ Street. The hospital’s adopted plan, drafted by the Careage Corp., of Bellevue, Wash., will cost about $1.75 million, says Dick Williams, hospital associate administrator. The nine-month construction period is scheduled to begin in June or July, but no bids are out yet. Brad Perkins, WUN spokesper son, told the council, “We re sit ting here at a desperate point, not knowing if the building permit will be applied for. We want assur ance from the council that if the building permit is applied for, we are notified.” Previously, WUN has been dis appointed that Sacred Heart hasn't kept it informed of all the parking structure's development stages. Gordon Rennie, the hospital’s director of public relations, de clined to respond to WUN’s charges before the council be cause he says he hasn’t had a chance to read the letter. But later in a telephone interview, he did respond to the allegations. Rennie said there are no code violations. But the WUN letter claims the parking structure is zoned in an area that must have “entirely closed” buildings — in ef fect sealed, much like an office building is sealed in glass. Rennie also said city traffic en gineers were consulted in the planning stages, and he believes the parking structure won’t add to traffic congestion or pollution be cause of the hospital employee shift changes. “These cars are already here,” he said. "They are already being acccwmujumeu. i ney aieri i going to be dumped out all at once into the streets.” Of the estimated 500 employee cars, Rennie says about 150 will disperse at the peak shift change at 3 p.m. One hundred cars will leave in the next hour, 50 more by 6 p.m. Rennie also rejects WUN's night-time safety hazard argu ment because of lack of evidence. In any event, Williams says an at tendant will probably be stationed at the parking structure and all but the first level will be closed off. "We're neighbors, too," Rennie said. “Obviously, the hospital doesn’t want to create a monster that we can't live with. But there are limitations that we must work within that many people are un aware of.” Council favors bicycle bridge over Franklin Boulevard If you are one of the many stu dents who has scurried across the first three lanes of Franklin Boulevard, perched on the island, and then scurried across the next three lanes, there is a chance the scurrying won’t be necessary in the future. A proposed Franklin Boulevard overpass for bikers and pedes trians was approved Wednesday by the Eugene City Council. The proposal was one of seven addi tions to the Eugene Bikeway Mas ter Plan the council approved. The bike bridge would extend from the open space between Sci ence III and Oregon Hall across Franklin to the canoe shack, ac cording to Jim Johnston, a univer sity planner. Johnston says he’s been work ing on the proposal for over three years and that just because the council approves it doesn’t mean it will be implemented. The bridge would be built by the University using state funds allocated by the legislature. But before it gets to the legislature the proposal must get the approval of University, Pres. William Boyd and the State Board of Higher Education. The bridge would help reduce congestion on the Franklin and Onyx Street intersection, and pro vide a safe alternate way for hand icapped people, bicyclists, and pedestrians to cross the Boulevard. Council member Tom Williams questioned the proposal, saying “I hear all the marvelous things it will do. But why would anyone ride up an overpass — my experience has been that bike riders will not go one-eighth of an inch out of the way if there is a quicker, more dangerous, faster way.” Diane Bishop, city bicyclist coordinaor, stated that the Jeffer son overpass bike bridge has been used a lot and that the Frank lin bridge would not be nearly as Tired of the same old tune? Spice up your life with a SPRING FLING Coming May loth. steep as the Jefferson one be cause the incline must be approp riate for wheelchairs. Spraying draws protest in Oakridge Oakridge residents protested U.S. Forest Service herbicide spraying near the city’s water supply Wednesday, with a “brush-in.” Jan Schuetze, spokesperson for the group said about 35 area residents, armed with chainsaws, machetes, axes and bare hands, cleared brush from around small conifers. The group cleared 10 acres in about three and one-half hours, she said. The Oakridge City Council’s appeal to Forest Service Chief John McGuire to halt spraying near the Salmon Creek watershed, which supplies the city’s water, was turned down last Friday. However, Willamette Forest Supervisor John Alcock an nounced Monday the spraying program would be reduced from 450 acres in the Salmon Creek drainage to only one unit of 34 acres. Alcock also said the buffer zone along streams would be increased from 100 to 200 feet. The citizen’s group plans to finish manual clearing of the unit Saturday, she said, depending on the weather. “We want to show the Forest Service we can do it effectively.” In spite of their efforts, Schuetze said, the area may be sprayed with herbcides. Accord ing to her, a Forest Service spokesperson said the area didn’t look dear enough; “he said they’d probably go ahead and spray anyway.” I i A note from Bring this ad and get 33Vs% OFF LIST PRICE of any new GUITAR in our store when purchased with its case at the regular price. Limit one coupon per customer. No trades on this offer. Offer expires May 6, 1978 34-5-8289
