The City of Eugene Hearings Official has approved the University’s plans to expand the Len Casanova Center and build a new sports facility adjacent to Autzen Stadium, issuing both projects conditional Willamette Greenway Permits on the heels of a March 16 public hearing.
On Nov. 19, 2010, the University’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics submitted plans to the City calling for the expansion of its football operations center, in addition to constructing a new complex for its soccer and lacrosse programs. According to athletic department press releases, the 130,000-square-foot football facility will be funded entirely by private donations from Phil and Penny Knight. The school’s application for the two structures — each located approximately 2,000 feet north of the Willamette River — was deemed complete on Jan. 25, moving on to the public hearing phase of development.
Local community activist Zachary Vishanoff attended last month’s hearing out of a concern that campus and community members were not aware they could remark about the pending land use decision.
“They are not asking for public input really,” Vishanoff said. “The proper notification has not occurred.”
At the hearing, the activist took issue with the fact that the two buildings would reduce parking availability near the stadium, incensing neighborhood residents and creating safety hazards. Per Eugene City Code, 4,749 parking spaces must be provided on or within 1,000 feet of the stadium complex site — currently 5,519. The proposed construction would eliminate 453 spots, still satisfying the stated minimum with 5,066 spaces.
“The City has made a habit of approving UO facilities even through they have inadequate parking,” Vishanoff said.
Since an appeal of the Hearing Official’s approval costs approximately $3,209 per project, Vishanoff said the development efforts were nearly impossible to reverse because opponents would have to muster funds to combat what they are essentially receiving for free.
“The assumption becomes that once a $100 million gift is on the table, it is a done deal,” Vishanoff said. “I wanted the people who were most passionate about this … to fund an appeal.”
The Casanova Center expansion blueprint calls for a 25,000-square-foot weight room adjacent to three new grass and synthetic turf practice fields, while the soccer and lacrosse facility will include a stadium, synthetic-turf field, field lighting and associated site improvements.
[email protected]