The
initial target date of Fall 2014 for
OSU-Cascades to have its new 4-year campus ready for freshman appears to have
come up against the realities of the land use process.
OSU-Cascades officials announced in late April that,
after conferring with Bend city planners, the original date would likely be
difficult to meet.
The delay was attributed to the city’s expectation that
land use permits for the 56-acre campus would be delayed by an expected appeal.
That would put the issue before a hearings officer for public testimony instead
of in line for a less cumbersome administrative review and decision by planning
staff.
An organization, going by Truth in Site and made up
mostly of west side neighbors to the planned campus, has vocally opposed
selection of the site along Mt. Washington Drive and SW Chandler Avenue. The
initial 10 acres planned for student housing, administrative and classroom
space is adjacent to another 46 acres that was a former pumice mine.
The opposition group contends that site selection did not
adequately consdier parking and traffic impacts, and the potential for noise
and other disturbances in the neighborhood.
Truth in Site has maintained that the city’s Juniper
Ridge property in northeast Bend would be a better location. But OSU officials
have said that location would not appeal to incoming students given it’s
distance from the city core, and would be more expensive to develop
infrastructure.
Antipating the possible delay, OSU has said it will be
able to provide temporary classrooms and housing on Bend’s west side for
incoming freshman in 2015. The
university also said hiring of academic faculty for the 2014 class is already
underway.
