By Christy Solo & Wayne Lee – Editor and Sports Editor
Eagle Point
The local city council held a brief 30-minute meeting due to a rare agenda that contained no new business and no old business. The council was briefed on some upcoming development projects as well as the status of the project for outdoor pickleball courts at Little Butte School (proposals were coming in) by Marshall. The council also spoke about the upcoming 9-11 flag walk.
The planning commission meeting centered around phase 7 of the Sienna Hills subdivision. The five-acre parcel at the intersection of Barton Rd. and Hwy. 62 is the final piece of the puzzle that began more than 20 years ago. The main objection came from homeowners bordering the south side of the project.
As one homeowner explained, the previous 10 years saw nothing but single-family homes built and they expected more of the same. What they didn’t realize was the property was zoned for multi-family housing and the proposal included three large two-story multi-family townhomes to be built just feet away from their backyards, eliminating any privacy they previously enjoyed.
There were suggestions of not having second-floor windows that faced the homes, but the commission voted to approve the project.
The city council’s last meeting of the month focused on local development with proposals regarding expansion of the UGB as well as the Fellows West Subdivision to build 41 homes off Alta Vista. Several concerns were raised regarding the density and its’ ability to accommodate emergency vehicles as well as constructing homes next to property that is zoned for commercial use. In the end the council voted 4-2 to deny approval.
Next up was a hearing on the proposed expansion of the UGB designed to provide affordable homes for first-time home buyers and retirees looking to scale down to something smaller. Due to the size of the project and its impact on the surrounding community, the council decided to break the project into a pair of hearings, the first to address the expansion plan itself and a later hearing in October regarding zoning.
As with most developments, traffic and safety impacts were the main concerns, especially along Alta Vista Dr. which has no sidewalks. The council agreed to proceed on the proposal to develop 49.9 acres according to the requirements of SB 1537 which allows the one-time expansion with restrictions. They scheduled the second hearing for the end of October.
The Eagles’ football team had a rough month as they traveled to rival Crater where the Comets posted a 49-14 win. The team then hosted Thurston for their first game on the newly installed turf but were blanked 42-0. They finished out the month with a 20-0 loss at North Eugene followed by a 14-7 loss to visiting Willamette.
In the meantime, EPSD 9 adopted a new policy restricting the use of electronic devices on campus during school hours.
Shady Cove
The Sept. 4 council meeting was a bit rough. There were several changes to the agenda because necessary documents had not been included in the agenda packet.
Parry did not give a staff report.
Recreation and Tourism Chair Mary Pulcini announced during her report that all remaining R&T members would resign at “the end of December.”
She said that all currently planned events would take place, but that the group wasn’t working well together due to the fallout of “what’s happened with Jon Ball and Kathy Nuckles.”
Note: R&T members ended up resigning effective Nov. 1 – before the scheduled Veterans Day and Christmas Tree Lighting events.
Richardson announced the city’s auditors required a “second set of eyes” to review the 22/23 audit because the auditors themselves had to do work normally done by staff. Richardson said she would follow up with auditors recommended by the main auditor.
The citywide water feasibility study was tabled – likely until 2027 – as it was based on the assumption the city would receive the requested $5 million from the state.
There was a motion to extend the deadline for council applications to Sept. 12 because the wrong deadline had been posted on the city’s website. The motion carried 3/0.
Subsequently, Winfrey made a motion that council would appoint to the vacant seats in their Sept. 18 meeting.
Mitchell made a friendly amendment that they would conduct all the interviews but could not promise to appoint if they did not have enough or sufficiently qualified applicants. The amended motion carried 3/0.
Parry did present a Plan B for monies for the Hannah’s Way project, suggesting the city take monies from the Capital Replacement and Capital Improvement funds.
Richardson said those two funds were retired via the final budget resolution in June, so no longer existed and another Plan B would need to be created.
The Sept. 11 Planning Commission meeting turned into a workshop because the notary did not arrive in time to witness the swearing in of commissioners – so they did not have a quorum. The notary did arrive near the end of the meeting so planning would be ready for their next meeting.
Contract planner Slaughter gave a planning report centered on the DLCD grant for the overhaul of the city’s planning ordinances. While the city did not yet have confirmation of the grant, Slaughter was optimistic.
He said he felt planning should only meet once every other month despite the planning commissioners’ request to meet at least monthly.
Slaughter felt they would be “very busy” if/when the city got the DLCD grant, but commissioners stood firm on their request for monthly meetings.
Former planning Chair Hank Hohenstein spoke up during public comment saying he felt planning should keep their twice monthly meeting schedule.
No decision was made during the meeting.
The much-anticipated Sept. 18 city council meeting was cut short and no appointments were made.
The meeting adjourned after only 21 minutes due to constant interruptions by applicant Jared Considine. Interruptions included talking over other individuals, making inappropriate gestures and openly mocking at least one citizen as they spoke.
Insert (upper right) Considine threw a gesture at council, mocked another citizen, shuffled papers, took phone video and approached Mayor Lena Richardson all while other citizens were giving their public comments.
Considine was arrested after the meeting on two counts of second-degree disorderly conduct for an altercation in the parking lot of City Hall after adjournment.
Anticipating the meeting might get heated, Mayor Lena Richardson had asked Administrator Michele Parry to have a sheriff’s deputy present at the meeting. Parry said none were available.
Later the Sheriff advised Richardson no one had asked for a deputy to attend the meeting, and one would have been available if requested.
Other September news: The first case of the fungus which causes (fatal) white nose syndrome in bats was detected in Oregon.
