Over ten years ago the city proposed a nodal zone overlay on the commercial district on south Willamette street . The merchants organized and wrote letters and testified that the new proposal was economically premature and unneeded . The planning commission rubber stamped the new zone and there was a significant  merchant presence and testimony at the city council vote. The council tied and mayor Torrey cast the deciding vote to defeat the node.  The Swarz plan really is the same proposal enlarged to include residential  units and rezoning of residential property. I think the city is really "selling " a plan instead of asking for real input . The same dog and pony show was used with the lane reduction on Willamette street. The city has a agenda and plan and  a foregone conclusion already formulated. The new  city - county transportation plan , Swarz , Willamette street lane reduction, and the old nodal zone overlay were , or are ,all being "sold " as opposed to being needed.