The dialogue surrounding the design of the University’s proposed East Campus Children’s Center may finally be reaching a close .
Eugene Hearings Official Virginia Gustafson approved the University’s conditional use permit Sept. 20. This paves the way for the University to continue progress, although neighbors may appeal the decision.
Gustafson “determined that the design of the building was compatible with the surrounding area,” Senior City Planner Teresa Bishow said.
Some members of the Fairmount Neighborhood Association, as well as concerned citizens, have been fighting the development since its inception. They consider the center to be an encroachment on the historical area because it is not a residential-style building.
“I think it’s institutional, and it doesn’t fit the character (of the neighborhood) very well,” Fairmount Neighborhood Association member and former President Jeff Osanka told the Emerald on Aug. 21.
All of the services and clients from the east campus and EMU child care facilities would relocate to the new center when it opens.
The proposed ECCC would be located in the Fairmount Neighborhood at East 17th Avenue and Moss Street, east of the University’s School of Law.
Some supported the proposal, but most decried the children’s center at a July 24 City Hall hearing. About a dozen citizens spoke against the proposed site, and three spoke in favor of it. The hearing was extended, and the proposal was discussed and debated in greater detail at an Aug. 21 meeting.
Gustafson presided at both hearings, reviewing the University’s conditional use and site review permit applications for the child care site. The University needed to meet certain criteria in order for Gustafson to approve the permit.
These criteria included a requirement stating that the building blend in with the surrounding area and be consistent with neighborhood plan policy, Associate City Planner Kent Kullby told the Emerald on July 9.
University officials said they think the structure plans now fit the requirements.
“I thought the University made a very good case that we met the criteria for the conditional use permit,” Student Activities Director Gregg Lobisser said.
Lobisser said he did not think the arguments against the revised plans were particularly strong, and that he was positive the University would find it easier to begin construction.
However, there is still some contention among Fairmount neighborhood residents.
Associate City Planner Kent Kullby said that although Gustafson approved the permits, some of the neighbors will probably appeal the decision. The deadline to submit appeals is 5 p.m. today.