Residents press council to halt Amazon distribution center over traffic, environment and permitting concerns
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Summary
Dozens of public commenters told the Eugene City Council they oppose a proposed Amazon distribution center near the airport, citing alleged permit-code violations, potential loss of wetlands, increased truck traffic (2,600 daily trips cited by a commenter), and risks from surveillance partnerships; speakers urged delay, further study, and stronger conditional-use conditions.
A large portion of the Feb. 23 Eugene City Council public comment period focused on opposition to a proposed Amazon distribution center near the airport and along Highway 99.
Speakers raised multiple concerns: Stan Taylor (Ward 1) argued the permit process violated Eugene City Code requirements for a traffic impact analysis (citing Eugene City Code 9-88670 and the Institute of Transportation Engineers trip-generation manual) and said the city’s peak-hour calculations were misapplied. Taylor urged the council to revisit permitting and indicated residents might seek legal remedies if the process is not corrected.
Multiple commenters — including Erica Lyon, Faye Ratchford, Hava Cronin, Laura Schulte and Charmaine Landing — cited environmental and public-health risks. Charmaine Landing summarized five objections, including potential job-quality losses, automation-driven job losses, alleged ties to ICE via data sharing, conflicts with the Clear Lake overlay’s sustainability goals and a claim that the site would generate about '2,600 daily vehicle trips.' Landing asked the council to require traffic mitigation (reduced speed zone, a turn lane and a traffic signal) or to deny the project.
Erica Lyon additionally accused federal agents of using excessive force against local protesters and criticized local police for supporting federal operations; those remarks were presented as testimony from a community member and were not developed into formal council action during the meeting.
Several speakers questioned transparency and suggested permit reviewers failed to apply required standards; community members called for delays until the new city manager is in place and for stronger conditional-use permit enforcement. Councilor Keating asked staff for an update on conditional-use permit enforcement; City Manager Pro Tem Rodriguez said planning staff would prepare a memo on options and limitations for council action and that the memo was forthcoming.
The council neither voted on nor took immediate action to halt the Amazon project during the meeting; public comments concluded and staff promised follow-up information to the council.
